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    Liliuokalani Gardens

    4.4 (141 reviews)

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    Marissa N.

    Beautiful, feral cats, mongoose, many dog walkers, plenty of tiny fish in the ponds. Awe inspiring trees.

    James K.

    Great place for a little walk. There's a fair amount to see if you want to take some time to stroll around. Super mellow, peaceful vibes out here. Always love stopping by

    Bird
    Long D.

    Very well maintain Japanese garden in the heart of Hilo, next to the bay with pond, bridge, trees, shades, and benches along winding paths and many Torii gates. Plenty of parking. Lots of birds and flowers too. Stop, Take a relax moment to enjoy the peaceful surrounding and beautiful view.

    Lawn area
    Joanne J.

    Pretty place to walk with beautiful views. Great place to have your kids burn energy. The pools of water have little baby fish that the kids will enjoy.

    Liliuokalani Gardens is a peaceful escape from Hilo
    Jenny W.

    Liliuokalani Gardens is a free Japanese botanical garden in downtown Hilo, located along the bay. They are well-kept and interesting. It wasn't one of our favorite botanical gardens that we've visited - and it wasn't one we learned a lot from because there weren't labeled plants - but it offered a peaceful walk escape from Hilo. Tip - not a great spot for sunrise (in March at least) - we had read that Coconut Island that you can walk to from the park is one of the greatest spots for sunrise in the area ... but the sun rose behind the hotels.

    "Enjoying our Mochi at the park" 9/30.23
    Judy C.

    I love having our lunch "picnic lunch" & our mochi at Liliuokalani Gardens. Recommended by both of my co-workers, I had this park on the list to visit. (But before stopping to get food and mochi of course). Loved hanging out at this park during our visits, February and September 23. This park is super beautiful, nice and green and very spacious! I loved seeing the pond, bridges, bamboo plants, Japanese teahouse and Japanese themed garden at this park. Lots of great photo opts here, very great place for a picnic, to relax and do outdoorsy park kine things here. Although we didn't get to explore much and walk around the entire park due to time and hot weather, I can't wait for next visit to do this. Liliuokalani Park and Gardens is a 24 acre located on Banyan Drive, The park's site was donated by Queen Liliuokalani, lies southeast of downtown Hilo. This park is maintained by the County of Hawaii and non-profit Friends of Liliuokalani Gardens. First time visiting Hilo, I really recommend Lilioukalani park, different scenery from the beaches and rocks, don't forget to grab your lunch, drinks, sweets, and just relax and enjoy the greenery, the nice green scenery!! Plenty parking, benches, & bring your towel to sit on the grass. Enjoy!

    Ada Z.

    Such a beautiful park/garden! It is pretty crowded, so we spent a while circling to look for parking. We saw people picnicking, fishing, and just sunbathing. The water isn't too deep, but still deep for younger children, and it's not fenced so they could slip in easily. It's a pretty spacious park, so it's perfect for a nice stroll!

    Jon O.

    A beautiful well-maintained garden to visit in Hilo. Take a walk on the pathways through the ponds and see Japanese stone temples, bridges, and fish. Lots of benches to sit and take in the scenery, or to enjoy a bento lunch. Nearby is Hilo Bay, and if you're lucky you can spot sea turtles swimming in the waves!

    Leah N.

    This is a neat park. It is very relaxing on today, Tuesday morning. Our hotel is located close to this park therefore I see local people walked here around the park for exercising a lot. This park is pretty. Great for pictures. The ponds have little fish (minnow), that I saw. Great for pinic in the park or just sit to relax and take in the view.

    Michael B.

    The gardens are free to enter and enjoy. There's free street parking all around them. This is as much a city park as it is a Japanese garden area. There are picnic tables and benches on both sides and many birds and trees. The water in the Japanese garden could be cleaner but it doesn't distract too much. Be careful on the concrete bridges as they do hold water when it rains and they don't drain.

    Cool
    Helen L.

    So peaceful, like a japanese garden. Hugh. Wide. Banyan trees. Japanese bridge. Lots of picture vantage points.

    Staci W.

    The gardens are not as big as I expected but seem to be nicely maintained and well organized. The garden seems very relaxing especially right on the water.

    Alexander G.

    Hilo offers so many outdoor activities, it's one of the greenest places I've ever been. Liliuokalani Gardens is one of the most magical and easily accessible. Right off of Banyan Drive with most of the major hotels, it's simple to get here walking or a quick drive from Hilo town. It's a sprawling seaside garden with ponds, rock walls, views of Hilo bay, gazebos, benches, and memorials. There is plenty of free parking at multiple spots, easy to leave the car and walk around. The Garden is primarily Japanese styled, but has plants and trees from all over the world. The highlight for me on my last visit was getting to Hawaii's state bird, the nēnē, up close. It's serene here; quiet. It's a great place to walk in groups, walk dogs, or just explore alone. This is a must visit place during your visit to Hilo; it's a free activity for people of all ages.

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    This place was beautiful and quiet. Very peaceful to just take a walk and enjoy nature

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    2 years ago

    Beautiful location! Be sure to include a walk around the Mokuola islet (cross the bridge) and take note of the height of past tsunami, too!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Liliuokalani Gardens

    Review Highlights - Liliuokalani Gardens

    Located right by Hilo Bay and walking distance to Coconut Island it is great place for a photo opportunity.

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    Carlsmith Beach Park - Beautiful clear water

    Carlsmith Beach Park

    4.8(89 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    This Beach park happened by accident when my niece was looking for a place for us to eat lunch in…read moreKona. This happened to be the closest picnic area that we could come to, thanks to a little tik- tok video she watched. If you're looking for a traditional beach with sand, this isn't the place. But what you'll get instead are the famous black lava rock formations Kona is known for that spill into several lagoons full of crystal clear water. As for eating, there are plenty of places to lay down a blanket in the grass, picnic and relax. The park has several trash cans for you to use as well and I did happily notice that the park was clean. I did not have to use the bathroom here so I can't comment on that. What impressed me the most was that they had built in stairs for you to walk into the ocean. In my entire life of traveling, I've never seen a beach park with built in stairwells to walk into the lagoons. This was a treat for me. If I have one big tip, it's to remember to have your water shoes because the rocks are sharp to walk on and can easily cut you if you're not careful. I also did read that they do have outdoor showers but I didn't see them when we were here. Lots of folks brought their own snorkeling gear because there were a lot of fish, not to mention at least 3 turtles that I saw swimming around. As I'm writing this review, I'm already missing Kona and the uniqueness of this island. If you plan on going to Kona, you must come and enjoy this place. It's truly special and I would recommend it to anyone.

    After coming across social media post, Carlsmith Beach Park was a must visit for me! I added it to…read morethe list of places for my uber driver/hubby to take me. We missed it the very first time, the hubby took me to the wrong beach & had to re-route. I remember it is hard to find via GPS if you miss the turn. We found parking after the beach and walked down. When I walked to Carlsmith Beach to finally check it out for the very first time, my heart just melted and just had that Wow, grateful, OMG moments and also feels like DeJaVu. I also asked my husband to pinch me, that I am not dreaming. It was so nice to just experience this live in real life, such tranquil atmosphere, crystal clear waters. I just love the color of the water, the ocean, so beautiful! Carlsmith Beach Park in Hilo is a hidden gem for sure! After we took our tons of photos, enjoyed the scenery which I really wanted to stay longer but we had a busy day ahead. For next time I visit, I would love to picnic & enjoy lunch under the coconut, palm trees and go swimming. Although I didn't sea turtles during my visits, hopefully next time.

    Photos
    Carlsmith Beach Park
    Carlsmith Beach Park
    Carlsmith Beach Park - #intenslypassionatephotography

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    #intenslypassionatephotography

    Akaka Falls State Park - Flowers everywhere

    Akaka Falls State Park

    4.4(558 reviews)
    10.3 mi

    I don't know if I would call this a hike, so much as a paved loop walk. Try to come early as the…read moreparking lot can get really filled, spilling into "paid" parking on the side of the roadway. You probably won't spend longer than an hour hear, unless you really get obsessive about capturing those perfect photo shots to post on Instagram. The pictures people have posted pretty much speak for themselves. But nothing beats seeing this live waterfalls, flowing in-person. With the wind in your hair, the scent of all the lush plants and such. This is on the Hilo side of the Big Island that is Hawai'i, so check the weather plan around the tropical rains that may or may not happen around the weeks you visit. You may pass some roadside stalls along the way here, where they're selling freshly cut pineapple of incomparable sweetness and flavor. Overall, definitely a space to get your dose of shinrin-yoku/forest bathing to cleanse your etheric body and be present in the moment.

    This is more than just a waterfall, it's an experience where you immerse yourself in a rainforest…read moreand appreciate the beauty, sounds, smells, and little creatures around you. Although the entire hike is about half an hour, I would recommend you take your time and see everything around you. The hike itself is not strenuous. Some of the reviews indicate the steps were arduous, but our little 3-year-old had no problem. The paths are paved with railings. It didn't take long before we reached where Akaka falls was visible. It is beautiful against the mossy green backdrop. Then we climb the stairs to see the other waterfall, but when we got there, it was pretty anti-climatic. It's a small little fall, but still worth seeing. Overall, this is a beautiful spot to discover new plants, see a couple of waterfalls, and take a ton of pictures.

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    Akaka Falls State Park - At Akaka Falls State Park

    At Akaka Falls State Park

    Akaka Falls State Park - Signage for Akaka Falls State Park

    Signage for Akaka Falls State Park

    Akaka Falls State Park - Is there a Geico Office at Akaka Falls State Park?

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    Is there a Geico Office at Akaka Falls State Park?

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

    4.6(396 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    I'm smiling just thinking about this place because if I could ever imagine a tropical paradise,…read morethis would be it. Best money spent on the Big lsland. At $35 for adults, $25 for kids aged 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under-- it's money well spent. Some might call this place pricey but after coming here, I disagree. Places like this are so rare and unique that they can just take my money. I've never been to a garden so full of exotic plants, flowers that I'd never seen before, mini waterfalls, a pond, and to top it all off-- getting to see the ocean waves crashing onto the lava rocks at the end of the garden. Prior to this I had never seen orchids growing in the wild off of tree trunks. These guys were everywhere here. And how do I know this place is cool even for Gen Z?-- I caught my 20 year old nephew taking videos of a beautiful flower that he was admiring. Of course I didn't make a huge deal out of it because he would have blown me off. Once you walk the paths and over the bridges, you can see how meticulously this garden is maintained. When you find out the history of how Mr. Dan Lutkenhouse Sr. and his wife Pauline who bought this parcel of land back in 1977 and decided to turn it into a garden, you'll be even more amazed. There was no machinery used to turn this place into the garden it is today. It was 40 years of Dan and his assistant Terry Takiue who worked with *just* cane knives, sickles, picks, shovels and a chainsaw to clear paths through the jungle. Another fun fact: He had no formal training in botanical gardening... Insert mind blown emoji here... Can you imagine that?? I can only respect that these guys did this just so that we could enjoy this garden paradise for us and future generations to see. Bravo to this place coming from our fam that came and loved it.

    The variety of plant life here is huge. The walkways for the most part are very steep and paved…read more but there are also handrails and benches. The grounds are spectacular with so many varieties of flowers and flowering plants. The waterways and waterfalls have a calming effect splashing over rocks and between ferns. There is a small gift shop, but as far as refreshments go, they only sell popsicles or small boxes of water.

    Photos
    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - Feathery canopy keeps you cool as you walk

    Feathery canopy keeps you cool as you walk

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden - August 27, 2023

    August 27, 2023

    Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

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    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach

    4.6(19 reviews)
    10.3 mi

    Loved this 5 miles round trip hike to the beach. Huge variety of vegetation and most of the trail…read moretramps through a tree forest. The tree forest is interesting with some abandoned and vegetation encrusted old jeeps and cars, historic rock walls and towards the end, spur trails to the sea cliffs, and a collapsed lava tube. At the end is a gorgeous bay favored by sea turtles. We saw at least 23 turtles on our visit. Please note that this trail is muddy and very muddy in spots even when it has not been raining, and the footing is very uneven so it is not for the casual walker, for flip flops or any shoes that you don't mind getting very muddy. I found that having hiking poles was helpful in order to gage how thick the mud was at various places on the pathway. Go early as it is very humid by late morning or mid day.

    The Puna Trail that leads from the dirt parking lot to the secluded Shipman Beach (Ha'ena Beach) is…read more2-1/2 miles in each direction and consists of a jungle, lava rocks, and muddy conditions. It can be challenging especially during the rainy periods and at times it may seem forever until you reach the very end. Nevertheless, I was finally able to make it to the beach and it was worth it in the very end, though it's not one of these points of interest that I would want to do again. As for Shipman Beach, it's a nice place to relax at if it wasn't for the strong waves and currents particularly during the winter months. On better days, you might even see some sea turtles hanging out on the rocks nearby (do not approach them!). Best to apply bug repellant prior to hiking and make sure to scrub your shoes before and after at the trailhead brush.

    Photos
    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - One of at least 5 abandoned vehicles

    One of at least 5 abandoned vehicles

    Ha'ena Beach - aka Shipman Beach - Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

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    Instagram: @telephonesmopthie

    Liliuokalani Gardens - parks - Updated May 2026

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