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    KCC Cactus Garden

    5.0 (14 reviews)

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    Sandy M.

    I came across this garden while shopping at the KCC Farmer's Market this morning. It was before 10:00am so the light on the cacti made it great to photograph. What a visual treat!

    Cyndy K.

    Cyndy's Bottom Line: The garden is absolutely amazing and so is the man behind the garden. The Kapiolani Community College Cactus Garden (KCC) is a spectacular botanical garden specializing in cactus. Located on the Kapiolani Community College campus, near Parking Lot C. The garden was created by Moriso Teraoka in 1988. Mr. Teraoka was truly an amazing man. He was a Nisei, 100th Infantry Battalion Veteran and a perennial part-time student at KCC after he retired from the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. While attending KCC he asked school officials if he could start a garden especially because he enjoyed collecting plants. Mr. Teraoka donated the garden plants and enlisted help of friends, volunteers and expanded the size of the garden. Mr. Teraoka received a service award from the KCC chancellor for his volunteerism and awards from the campus community and neighborhood. The school received beautification awards from the the Outdoor Circle in 1990 and 1998. Kapiolani Community College Cactus Garden is on the list of botanical gardens and arboretums in the U.S. Highly recommend for the plant enthusiasts. A must visit.

    david t.

    After all the rain over the past months, the cacti seem to be popping. new growth and flowers. Fun place to photograph or just marvel at the strange plants. I shot some infrared to add to the strange shapes and sizes of the cacti.

    Patrick's Taxi Honolulu Hawaii W.

    The largest cactus garden on Oahu! Right there at KCC next to Diamond Head crater. Has all kines of cactus!! Highly recommended to visit if you love the spiky stuff! Don't go on Saturday as they have the KCC farmer's market and parking is full, otherwise free parking.

    Ebonie W.

    I stumbled upon this awesome Catcus Garden. There are so many various types of cactus' here, big, small, short, tall. I was able to walk through the garden, take pictures and I suppose you can touch at your own risk - hehe... But I'm so glad that I found this place. There is a picnic table that I saw people sitting at having a bite. The scenery is actually very relaxing and therapeutic. I found the experience very different in a way that I can say I've never seen a garden of this sort. I spent about an hour there, taking pictures, walking around and taking in the scenery.

    Nelson Q.

    YELP 365 CHALLENGE 2014-(136/365) "Nopales" Of all my years attending KCC ('89-'91) I never noticed this cactus garden until now!? all kinds of varieties I have never seen in my life. Many beautiful varieties and even some dangerous looking ones too! Created by Moriso Teraoka in 1988, it is truly a labor of love and definitely a sight to see. If you are in the area, or at the farmer's market on Saturday, come check it out! ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 5

    Arthur S.

    To my knowledge this is the only cactus garden on the island. Well the only cactus garden worth visiting if your a big fan of cactus gardens. There are so many different types of cactuses, many that give bloom to beautiful flowers, many with hair,any with no spines. All shapes and sizes. If your looking to do something unique while here I recommend visiting this garden. The garden is quite big and wraps around a whole section of the college. There are a few wildlife species mongoose, geckos, wild cats and mice.

    Gary N.

    Peaceful, serene, and pokey come to mind when I think of a cactus garden and this garden delivers! A variety of cacti are available for your viewing pleasure and the best part is that it's free! If you're in need of cacti, clippings can be obtained by following directions on nearby signs. Parking is usually readily available during off-peak times. A definite must visit if you want some place peaceful. The occasional mongoose, bird, and cat come out sometimes.

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    Review Highlights - KCC Cactus Garden

    “Created by Moriso Teraoka in 1988, it is truly a labor of love and definitely a sight to see.”

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Leahi Millennium Peace Circle Garden

    Leahi Millennium Peace Circle Garden

    4.8(12 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Diamond Head

    Kind of a sketchy place to run through when it is dark but it's definitely a nice effort at trying…read moreto give some greenery and a place of respite in this area. Would I venture into this place at night? No. But an effort was made and that is being acknowledged. I also enjoy seeing the resident feral cats that frequent this area when I go for my runs. They are so cute.

    Finding the peace…read more.. Literally as Yelp direction kept leading me to Kapiolani Community College though close but not where it's at as it's actually to the left of Diamond Head State Park entrance which is quite easy to find. This little park is a slight hidden place that's pretty green and decently maintained with a couple of areas for you to enjoy one is closer to the entrance that has a lovely peek of the Wilhemina Rise area and a lovely place that I thought would be the perfect photo op spot for a cool gift from a thoughtful friend with BunBun is this cool cooler tote from TJ's! Using one of a bunch of stones and some benches for a place to relax and noticed a giant rock with a plaque that's a time capsule which will be opened on October 24, 2049! The other section is a bit more shaded as this circular garden has some stones placed with various peace quotes and though wanted to take more pics there was a gentleman chilling and didn't want to disturb him and majority of the area does have a path for easy access between gardens and up to Diamond Head as I've been here countless times and never knew this area existed is quite insane lol! A great spot for those that can't do the hike but enjoy a bit peace of time. Thank you!

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    Leahi Millennium Peace Circle Garden
    Leahi Millennium Peace Circle Garden
    Leahi Millennium Peace Circle Garden

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    Moanalua Gardens

    Moanalua Gardens

    4.3(146 reviews)
    8.2 mi

    Moanalua Gardens is a nicely maintained wide open park with many large "Hitachi" monkeypod trees…read morespread out. Definitely more so a park than a garden. Been wanting to visit here for years as the last time was probably in elementary school for a field trip, and I forgot what exactly was here. It was closed during and after covid for years, then reopened to private functions only, and had no idea when it was reopened to the public. $10 for adults ($4 for Kama'aina and military) 7 for ages 6-12, under 6 (and Kama'aina and military) is free. Moanalua Gardens is conveniently located right next to the H-1 freeway. Heading westbound direction is very easy. Note: the parking entrance is literally right before the off ramp. Look for the "Moanalua Gardens" signs. Take the Tripler exit. Look for the entrance on the right. If you're on the off-ramp, you passed it. But that's okay! You can make a right (H-1 eastbound, you'll make a left at the Triper off-ramp), then left on Mahiole St, and turn in the next driveway. You'll drive through the service entrance to the parking lot. Plenty of parking! Pay at the entrance kiosk where they also sell snacks and drinks. Once inside, there's a moss/algae and leaf filled pond. There's koi fish, but the water is dark and murky, you can barely see their bright colors. King Kamehameha V's cottage that looks like a like a usual house. A Chinese style structure that looks like it has seen better days. Both are not accessible. As for the rest, the "Hitachi" monkeypod trees are all well maintained. Even though, there's PLENTY of monkeypod trees around the island, there's not many that's grown in this wide, umbrella shaped figure with branches close to the ground. Overall, it's cool to see the umbrella shaped Hitachi trees in a wide open, park-like space, but the other areas are not very well-maintained. There's not much else to do with some places restricted making it difficult to appreciate the history and importance. Charging $10 regular entrance fee, even the $4 Kama'aina fee, isn't worth it to just go in a what is basically a park. Isn't Hitachi paying atleast $400,000 per year to use the image of the tree in their advertising?

    5star beautiful trees,ginger, taro patch, mango trees, ulu, koi pond right off the freeway,…read moreliterally. Look for the green patina gates. Lots of free parking on a Monday morning . Entree fees are a bit pricey if u not a kamaaina @ $10, so minus a star. Restrooms available, no food or drink to buy, so bring your own bentos and mat,only about 4 tables. And its hawaii, so ants and flies!

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    Moanalua Gardens
    Moanalua Gardens
    Moanalua Gardens

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    Mari's Gardens

    Mari's Gardens

    4.7(200 reviews)
    17.8 mi
    •$$

    It's spring time! And oh boy does my little backyard need a refresh. I've been to their plant store…read morein town before, but this is more like a garden center rather than a houseplant store. I loved looking around at all the plants. As in most places in Hawai'i, if you're prone to getting bug bites (aka me), you might wanna spray on some protection or cover up. I love that they have a mix of plants, produce, and really cute products. Everything you'd need from moss poles, spray bottles, ceramic pots of all sizes. I even got a really cute plant sticker for my water bottle.

    first time to mari's garden was at one of their big events on the weekend during the summer! They…read morehad lots of plants, vendors, farm animals and cute displays all around their farm. I think they're typically not dog friendly - but i asked prior to the event if they were allowed if they were in strollers and they said yes! i did not want to make the drive over and get turned away! However, at the event itself i saw pets walking on leashes so maybe they became flexible day of? it was too hot on a summer day so poor doggies to be walking on hot pavement. :( i kept them away from the market inside and if i saw food planted on the ground etc. the food vendors had a separate area off to the side which was really hard to get to with a stroller with all the gravel so i decided to skip it too. at the event there was barely no parking - i luckily found street parking in the housing area and walked over which took about 15 minutes i think. During the event the road is super narrow and only one car can get in and out of the housing area around mari's garden.

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    Mari's Gardens
    Mari's Gardens
    Mari's Gardens

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    KCC Cactus Garden - gardens - Updated October 2026

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