Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden: Best things to do in Hilo, HI

If you’re like most folks, when you think of Hawaii you imagine lush, dense rainforest. That’s precisely what you’ll find at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden (also called the Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden). This nonprofit reserve on the Big Island is one of the best things to do in Hilo, Hawaii, and is just 15 minutes outside of town. You will not regret visiting this incredible Hawaii botanical garden.

We found out about the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden by accident—and I’m so, so glad we did. What happened was Edie made friends with another little girl at Mauna Loa Beach. I got to chatting with the kiddo’s mom, who shared some of her recommendations of the best things to do in Hilo. (We were heading that way to visit Volcanoes National Park.) She practically made me promise we’d stop at these incredible Hawaii botanical gardens along the way.

I’m beyond grateful we did just that.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Family Travel Expert Catherine (@toandfrofam)

If you’re looking for things to do in Hilo, Hawaii, drive the 15 minutes to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. You’ll love the chance to stroll through a lush rainforest, peep tropical plants and take in the Big Island’s unforgettable scenery.

Beautiful Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

Visiting Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden remains a top highlight from our recent vacation on the Big Island. We stopped here on our way from Waikoloa on the Kohala Coast to Volcanoes National Park. The adventure helped break up our drive, gave us a chance to stretch our legs and let us experience the Big Island’s rainforest.

We brought in a picnic lunch, too. We sat on benches at a wooden table that overlooked the teal waters of Onomea Bay. The break was a perfect stopping point to refuel—and it’s hard to imagine a more scenic picnic spot.

The Hawaii botanical gardens trail felt steep in parts and included a few areas of stairs. Unfortunately, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is not wheelchair-accessible. My kids, who are 7 and 9, got a little tired walking up the boardwalk to the garden’s exit but the hike is definitely not strenuous.

This Big Island hike doesn’t require a lot of effort—but pays off in big ways. The bioreserve packs in a ton of biodiversity in a small area—so much that you’ll want to linger along the trail. Definitely pause on your adventure; you’ll be more likely to spot critters like the technicolor-hued gold dust day gecko! (This lizard isn’t native to Hawaii, but Maxine and Edie were still overjoyed to watch them.)

Many of the plant species aren’t native, either. That makes sense with Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden’s mission. It opened in the 1980s after years of curation and restoration. It had been choked with invasive species and was so overgrown that no one would have been able to visit. The founders cleaned up debris and even abandoned cars and appliances, creating the gardens and walking paths of today. When it was created, the founders included tropical plants from all over the globe so visitors could see them all.

Must-see botanical gardens: Big Island, Hawaii

Just over a mile-long trail winds through the rainforest on the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island. These botanical gardens grow rare and even endangered tropical plants—all for you to see up-close.

The trail starts on a boardwalk angling down a green hillside. Keep an eye out from the moment you enter these Hawaii botanical gardens. You’ll begin to spot orchids, dangling heliconia, lilies, bromeliads and more. It’s like stepping into the biggest, best florist ever.

You can think of these botanical gardens near Hilo like a living library or museum. Where else can you see such incredible diversity of plants you’d only read about otherwise? Edie appointed herself the job of identifying the bioreserve’s flowers and other plants. By the end of our Big Island hike, she began to point out heliconia and anthuriums on her own—without the help of the garden’s plant ID guide (or our help with pronunciation).

One thing I liked about Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden was how it was organized. The map is numbered so instead of wandering, Maxine led us along the path in sequential order. That way we saw everything and didn’t accidentally skip an area of this gorgeous botanical garden.

Good thing, too: You’ll want to see everything.

It’s practically impossible to pick a favorite spot from all the gems in the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. (I know because we tried!) The biggest highlights, though, were the waterfall (toward the start of the trail), the pond, the monkey pod trees and the crashing waves of Onomea Bay.

My kids’ minds were blown to see how bananas and pineapples grow. (They speculated that I might grow into a pineapple, given how much of it I ate on this trip!) That’s right: This Hawaii botanical garden includes varieties of both so my kids learned how these fruit start out before they reach our plates.

Best things to do in Hilo, Hawaii

When we recently stayed on the Big Island, we spent most of our time on the Kohala Coast—the island’s western, drier coast. I’m so grateful we spent a day on the eastern, rainier coast, too. The lush rainforest was such a change from the lava fields of the Kohala Coast—and a real wonder for Maxine and Edie.

If you’re looking for things to do in Hilo, Hawaii, don’t miss the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. The bioreserve is just a 15-minute drive north of Hilo—absolutely worth the short trip. (If you’re looking for something to entertain the whole family while driving, download or order my book, Road Trip Games & Activities for Kids!)

You can fully enjoy these Hawaii botanical gardens in a half-day, including drive time. That gives you an opportunity to check out other fun things to do in Hilo or nearby.

Tips to visit Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

I’m no mind-reader, but I feel pretty confident you now want to visit Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden on the Big Island. (How could you not?!) Let me lend you our firsthand experience so you can make the most of your trip. Follow these tips for a visit that’s memorable in all the best ways.

• Bring a picnic lunch. You can eat at benches throughout the botanical garden or post up at the picnic area at Onomea Bay.
• Prepare for rain. It’s a rainforest after all! The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden lies on the rainy side of the Big Island, so don’t be shocked if rain is in the forecast. The garden’s little shop, where you buy tickets, also sells rain ponchos.
• Use insect repellant. Mosquitoes love the humid climate near Hilo. We bought and applied bug repellant that we bought in the shop for a few dollars per wipe (per person).
• Make sure you’re up for the walk. Wheelchairs, scooters and crutches are not allowed in the garden; if you need mobility assistance, this may not be the destination for you. Strollers are allowed but kids must walk or be carried along the steep boardwalk.
• Pack plenty of water. You’ll get thirsty as you walk.

Still have more questions? See Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden FAQs below.

I can’t wait for your family to check out these incredible botanical gardens on the Big Island of Hawaii. If you’re planning an upcoming trip, don’t forget to pin this post for later!