Honolulu Botanical Gardens

Long-Range Planning for Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

Master Plan Presentation

Mahalo to everyone who helped guide the future of Ho‘omaluhia! On August 5, 2026 dozens of community members joined botanical garden staff and our consultants (ecoLogic & StudioOutside) for an interactive presentation of Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden’s near final Master Plan. These renderings are part of what was presented at that time.

The effort to create a long-range plan for the island’s largest and most popular botanical garden began last fall, and included two prior community meetings.

The phased plan was developed based on input from those meetings, intended to guide the garden’s future for the next two decades.

Proposed garden improvements include an enhanced entrance further away from nearby homes, renovated facilities with more interactive features, and community gathering areas.

With over 729,000 visitors to the garden tallied last year, one concept already gaining traction is a tourist entrance fee, similar to Hanauma Bay, which will help offset the cost of these improvements.

The final Master Plan is expected in Fall 2026, which will include more details about the vision to keep the botanical garden thriving for future generations! It will be posted on this website.

About the Planning Process

Since opening in 1982, Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden has become an essential part of the Windward Oʻahu community. With a record-breaking 724,000 visitors in 2025, the Garden continues to thrive as a cherished botanical destination for relaxation, education, and recreation.

In 2025, as we celebrated 43 years of service, Honolulu Botanical Gardens embarked on the Garden’s first-ever master planning process. Since last September, community input has been gathered through public workshops, focus groups, and stakeholder meetings — and that feedback is now reflected in a final draft long-range plan, which will be shared at our upcoming informational session (see events below).

The Goals of the Long-Range Planning Process:

- Enhance Visitor Experience: Ensure a meaningful, inclusive, and educational experience for all who visit the Garden with an initial focus on managing visitation and alleviating congestion to improve public safety.
- Engage the Community and Provide Accessibility: Expand the Garden’s role as a community resource responsive to the needs of Koʻolaupoko residents.
- Preserve Environmental, Cultural, and Historical Resources: Acknowledge and integrating the cultural heritage of the ʻāina and its historical significance in the Garden’s future development.
- Provide Botanical and Facility Development: Plan for the future improvements and care of the diverse plant collections, garden infrastructure, public facilities, educational spaces, and visitor amenities.

In the news:

We are grateful to all of you who have participated in this year-long journey! Together, we can ensure that Hoʻomaluhia remains a treasured place for peace and tranquility for generations to come.