Botany Department - Facilities Guide

Botanical Gardens

The Botany Department has a teaching garden adjacent to the building, and the campus itself has areas that were planted as botanical collections. Each island has one or more botanical gardens. Many have outstanding collections. We try to keep strong ties to these resources. The gardens you should know about include the following facilities.

Department Teaching Garden

This small courtyard garden, located next to St. John Plant Science Building,contains plants numerous introduced and native Hawaiian plants used in many botany courses, including Plant Physiology, Flowering Plant Families, Plants in the Hawaiian Environment, Ethnobotany, and Campus Plants.

Manoa Campus "Garden"

Although the policy of planting botanically interesting specimens has not been followed for many years, there are a number of unusual trees found on campus. Most of these are found around the old quad (Hawaii Hall to University Avenue), Hemenway Hall and Sinclair Library. A map identifying these trees and their locations is available in the Department Office.

The brochure with the map highlights the history of the plantings and describes particularly interesting plants.

National Tropical Botanical Garden

(formerly, Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden)

This non-profit corporation was chartered by an Act of Congress in 1964. Its primary collection is on the lands of the 400 acre estate on Kauai, with a 100 acre satellite garden on Maui and 10 acres (adjoining a 1000 acre preserve) at Lunahuli. The purposes of this garden include:

  • provide an educational and scientific center that includes gardens, library, herbarium, and laboratories for research in basic and applied tropical botany,
  • encourage fundamental research on tropical plants and the uses of these plants in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, medicine and other sciences,
  • disseminate information in publications,
  • collect and cultivate tropical plants threatened with extinction, and
  • provide a facility for education and recreation. The staff of the Garden include:
  • ???

    Call 332-7324 (Kauai) for more information. The Bulletin of the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden is published quarterly.

    Honolulu Botanical Gardens

    (City & County of Honolulu)

    What is commonly known as Foster Garden are really four separate gardens on Oahu, maintained for public enjoyment, research and education. At Foster Botanical Gardens, you can find unique specialty collections in addition to having a large general collection of tropical plants. One very unique speciality garden is the Prehistoric Glen, an interesting assemblage of primitive plants, including many rare cycads along with gymnosperms, ferns, and fern allies.

  • Foster Garden, 50 N. Vineyard, Honolulu. Hours: 9-4; seven days a week. Admission is $3.00. Phone: 533-3406.
    Staff at Foster Gardens includes:
  • Michael Kristensen, Director
  • Josh Sand, Horticulturist
  • Winnie Sigowo, Botanist
  • Derrick Miyamoto, Gradens Operations
  • Carlton ?, Garden Supervisor
  • Nathan Wong, Community Gardens Coordinator
  • Scott Mitamura, Orchid Propagator

  • Koko Crater Botanical Garden garden specializes in cacti and succlents. Native Hawaiian plants that have adapted to dry ecosystems are also well represented. Koko Crater is located behind in the volcanic crater behind Sandy Beach. For information call the Foster Garden phone number. Hiking in the garden can be done seven days a week and addmission is free..

  • Wahiawa Botanical Garden, 1396 California Avenue in Wahiawa, located in the middle of the island of Oahu. This garden specializes in introduced and native rainforest plants. Hours: 9-4; seven days a week. Addmission free. Phone: 621-7321. Staff at Wahiawa Botanical Garden includes:
  • Jonel Smith, Garden Supervisor

  • Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens is located at the end of Luluku Rd., off of Kamehameha Hwy in Kaneohe. The Hawaiian name, Ho'omaluhia, means place of peace and tranquility. This windward botanical garden is just that. Seven planted areas correspond to different tropical locations in the world. Hiking and camping is encouraged in this 400 acre tropical paradise. Hours: 9-3; seven days a week. Admission free. Phone: 235-6636. Staff at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden includes:
  • Martha McDaniel, Programs Coordinator
  • Olive Vanslow, Assistant Coordinator
  • Eileen ?, Garden Supervisor
  • Jonel Smith, Plant Propagator

  • Lyon Arboretum

    • (University: Oahu, Manoa Valley)

    The Arboretum was established by the Hawaiian Sugar Planter's Association in the 1920's as a place to test introduced trees as replacement species for reforesting Hawaii's watersheds. This University research unit, considered by some as one of the top ten botanical gardens in the United States, has greatly expanded its role in Hawaii and now supplements the maintenance of its living collection with classes, tours and lectures. The Arboretum collections of palms, gingers, aroids, and Heliconias are among the worlds best. Located at 3860 Manoa Rd., this amazing collection of tropical plants is only minutes from downtown Honolulu. Hours: 9-3 (Monday-Friday), 9-12 (Saturday). Phone: 988-3177. Cost: $1.00 donation per adult. 124 acres, greenhouses, nursery, herbarium, reference materials, instructional/administrative facilities. Look in the University Bulletin for announcement of tours, workshops, and classes.

    The staff of the Lyon Arboretum include:

  • Dr. Charlie Lamoureux Director
  • Robert Hirano, Research Assistant
  • Ray Baker, Grounds Superintendent
  • Ranjit Cooray, Education Specialist
  • Liz Huppman, Research Associate
  • Karen Shigematsu, Research Associate
  • Carol Nakamura, Greenhouse Manager
  • Ken Seamon, Groundskeeper
  • Toki Murakami, Secretary
  • Shirley ?,Lyon Arboretum Association Secretary
  • Jill Maughlin, Groundskeeper

  • Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden

    (Private: Oahu, North Shore)

    59-864 Kamehameha Hwy. Hours: 10-5:30; seven days a week. Phone: 638-8655. Cost: $9.95 per adult. Staff includes:

  • Keith Wooliams, Director
  • David Orr, Librarian and Reserach Associate

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

    (Non-profit foundation, 7 miles N of Hilo, on 4 mile scenic route)

    Hours: 8:30-5:30, 7 days a week.

    Maui Zoo and Botanical Garden

    This is perhaps the best collection of native species in the state.

    Halawa Xeriscape Garden

    This is a project of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. It is located at the Halawa Shaft in the back of Halawa Valley. Take H-1 ewa to the Stadium off-ramp. Stay in the far right lane and turn right at the first traffic light. Take the first left into Iwaiwa Street (The Panasonic building will be on your left). Take the first immediate right onto Iwaena Street to enter Central Park. Drive to the end of Iwaena Street. Enter the driveway in front of you and follow the road to the garden. A small parking lot is directly across from the garden. for information, call 527-6113.
    See also: Nature Reserves, Conservation Areas