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Garden of Eden Arboretum
MM 10.5
Recommended
A privately maintained botanical garden of about 26 acres at Mile 10.5, with graveled paths winding past labeled trees, a duck pond, and overlooks toward the coast and Puʻohokamoa Falls. There's an admission fee, but the grounds are tidy, calm, and easy to wander at your own pace.
⏱ 1 – 2 hrs at stop
🚗 51 min from Pāʻia
At a glance
What to expect: Planted garden, easy paths — Roughly two miles of graveled trails through some 700 labeled plant species, with overlooks toward the coast, Keopuka Rock, and Upper Puʻohokamoa Falls.
The plantings: Labeled trees and flowers — A working arboretum begun in 1991, including a large collection of ti (kī), a century-old mango tree, lily ponds, and roaming ducks.
Access & parking: Paid entry, free parking — An admission fee is charged at the entry booth ($20 per adult, less for children); on-site parking is free. There's a small visitor center, restrooms, a gift shop, and a food truck.
Best time: Earlier in the day — It's a popular stop and fills through mid-morning. Arriving early means quieter paths and softer light for the overlooks.
About Garden of Eden Arboretum
The Garden of Eden sits at Mile 10.5, a private arboretum of roughly 26 acres spread across a hillside above the Hāna Highway. It was started in 1991 by arborist Alan Bradbury, and the grounds have been planted and labeled ever since — somewhere around 700 species, from native Hawaiian plants to one of the larger ti collections in the islands.
The appeal here is the ease of it. Around two miles of graveled paths wind past a duck pond, a lily pond, and a mango tree said to be more than a century old, with benches and shaded overlooks along the way. None of it is strenuous, and the maintained setting is a calm contrast to the rougher stops elsewhere on the road.
Two of the views are worth the walk to the far edges of the property: a panorama out to the coast and Keopuka Rock (featured in the opening of the first Jurassic Park film) and an overlook of Upper Puʻohokamoa Falls, which you can't see from anywhere else.
Good to know
Like many parts of this region, this is a lush, wet hillside, so mosquitoes can be persistent. They sell repellent.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Garden of Eden Arboretum worth it?
- Yes. The admission fee can add up for a family but this is a curated and manicured jungle experience. If you want an easy, well-maintained garden walk with coastal overlooks and a rare view of Upper Puʻohokamoa Falls, the admission fee is worthwhile. On the other hand, those who don't really enjoy being in nature won't find anything here that changes their mind.
- How much does the Garden of Eden cost?
- There's an admission fee paid at the entry booth of $20 per adult, with reduced rates for children and young kids free. Parking is free and there's no online booking.
- Can you see a waterfall at the Garden of Eden?
- Yes. Paths lead to an overlook of Upper Puʻohokamoa Falls, a view you can't get from the highway. There's no public access down to the falls or its pool, so it's a vantage point rather than a swimming stop.
- How long should you spend at the Garden of Eden?
- Most people spend one to two hours walking the roughly two miles of graveled paths and pausing at the overlooks.
- Are there restrooms at the Garden of Eden?
- Yes. The visitor center has restrooms. Access to a clean toilet is a nice bonus, otherwise the next option are the less pleasant toilets at nearby Kaumahina State Wayside Park.