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Keʻanae Arboretum
MM 16.7
Recommended
A free, flat rainforest walk at Mile 16.7, through one of the wetter, denser stretches of forest on the road. It's the best place along the highway to see rainbow eucalyptus up close without trespassing, and the path ends at a working taro patch set on terraces built centuries ago.
⏱ 30 – 45 min at stop
🚗 68 min from Pāʻia
✓ Free to access
At a glance
What to expect: Flat half-mile walk in — A mostly paved, level path of about half a mile each way, past labeled trees and a stream, ending near the taro terraces.
The plantings: Eucalyptus, paperbark, taro — Towering rainbow eucalyptus and paperbark trees plus native and canoe plants like taro at the end of the trail.
Access & parking: Free, small roadside pullout — Entry is free. Parking are a couple small, easy-to-miss roadside pullouts just past the entrance gate. No restrooms or services on site.
Time needed: About 30 to 60 minutes — You could spend 30 minutes here, but the ambiance invites you to slow down. Why not stay a while?
About Keʻanae Arboretum
The Keʻanae Arboretum sits at Mile 16.7, a free public garden tucked into a valley that takes some of the heaviest rainfall on the road — on the order of 150 to 200 inches a year. The result is a forest that feels dense and almost prehistoric, the air thick and the greenery layered well overhead.
The walk in is easy: a mostly paved, flat path of about half a mile, lined with labeled trees and following a stream for part of the way. Most visitors come for the rainbow eucalyptus, whose peeling bark shows streaks of orange, green, and purple. This is the best place to see them, rather than the roadside groves nearer Mile 6.5 that sit on private land. Paperbark trees and many other species fill out the collection.
Toward the end the path turns to gravel and reaches a taro patch that is actively tended by people who live in Keʻanae. Taro is Hawaiʻi's most important traditional crop, and the arboretum itself occupies agricultural terraces that Hawaiians built and farmed centuries ago, so it's worth treating the area with care.
Good to know
It's a wet valley, so mosquitoes are common and you'll need repellent (natural repellents make of botanicals like citronella do a great job of keeping them away).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Keʻanae Arboretum worth visiting?
- Yes! This is one of the best places in Hawaiʻi to experience a dense rainforest - in stark contrast to the dry resort areas of Maui. It's also the best spot on the road to see rainbow eucalyptus up close without trespassing, and the flat half-mile path ends at a working taro patch on centuries-old terraces.
- Is the Keʻanae Arboretum free?
- Yes. It's open during daylight hours. Parking aer a couple small roadside pullouts just past the entrance gate. If you reach the turn off to the Keʻanae Peninsula you've overshot.
- How long is the walk at the Keʻanae Arboretum?
- The main path is about half a mile each way and mostly flat and paved, turning to gravel near the far end. Most visitors spend thirty to forty-five minutes walking in to the taro terraces and back.
- Where can you see rainbow eucalyptus on the Road to Hāna?
- The Keʻanae Arboretum is the recommended place. The well-known roadside trees near Mile 6.5 are on private land, while the arboretum lets you see and photograph rainbow eucalyptus up close on public ground.
- Can you swim at the Keʻanae Arboretum?
- There are small stream pools along the way that some people wade into when flow is gentle, but it's not a developed swimming spot or especially inviting for swimming.