With a climate unlike the rest of the United States, Hawaii is home to some of the country’s most unique botanical gardens, from the enchanting Liliuokalani Park and Gardens to Kauai’s famous Allerton Garden and the Koko Crater Cactus Garden and everything in between. These gardens feature thousands of species of tropical plants as well as flora indigenous to our beautiful gardens, and while they are all gorgeous in their own way, there is one garden that stands out in a crowd. Located on the slopes of Mount Haleakala, the Kula Botanical Garden is truly something special.
Created in 1968 as a native Hawaiian plant reserve by Warren McCord, Kula Botanical Garden is Maui’s first public garden, and is positively enchanting, to say the least.
Kula Botanical Garden/Website
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Featuring both tropical plants and native Hawaiian flora, the Kula Botanical Garden is unlike any garden you’ll find on the United States’ mainland.
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Kent Buckingham/Flickr
Covering approximately eight acres of hilly terrain at approximately 3,300 feet above sea level, this breathtaking secret garden is home to several paved paths meandering through the garden, perfect for exploring.
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The Kula Botanical Garden’s impressive assortment of colorful flora includes collections of protea, orchids, bromeliads, and native Hawaiian plants, as well as native trees like the koa and kukui.
Kent Buckingham/Flickr
Kent Buckingham/Flickr
The family-owned and operated garden may have modest beginnings (it was originally designed as a display garden for Warren McCord’s landscape architecture business), but has become a tourist destination for those visiting upcountry Maui over the last several decades.
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Tropical plants isn’t all you’ll find at this Maui attraction often used for weddings: the garden is also home to an aviary, a koi pond, stream, waterfalls, tiki exhibit, and covered bridge.
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Children will love checking out the Jackson Chameleon exhibit, perhaps the garden’s most unique feature.
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Breathtaking flowers are found around every corner, and you’re sure to find peace, serenity, and beauty everywhere you look at the Kula Botanical Garden.
4thfullmoon/Flickr
Andrea Young/Flickr
Fun fact: Kula Botanical Garden is one of the largest sellers of Christmas trees in the state of Hawaii. Check out their website for information on 2017 Christmas Tree Sale dates.
Kula Botanical Garden/Website
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4thfullmoon/Flickr
Kent Buckingham/Flickr
Dale Musselman/Flickr
Sean M./Yelp
Blaine Courts/Flickr
Andrea Young/Flickr
The enchanting Kula Botanical Garden is located at 638 Kekaulike Avenue and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission costs $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 6-12: children under 6 get in free. Not on Maui but still want to stroll through a peaceful Hawaiian garden? Check out these 16 picturesque gardens.
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