Set in a 60-acre basin within the landmark Koko Crater in eastern Oahu is a lovely botanical garden featuring a dryland collection of plants that is a model of xeriscape concepts supporting a drought-tolerant landscape in tune with the surrounding environment. Koko Head is known geologically as a tuff cone and forms the south-west side of Hanauma Bay. The 642-foot summit of Koko Head includes two craters.
The two-mile loop trail meanders through various dryland plant collections from around the world as well as native Hawaiian plants. The major collections at Koko Crater Botanical Garden are arranged according to geography including the Americas, Hawaii, Madagascar, and Africa. Significant collections of cacti, baobabs, dryland palms, aloes, Euphorbias, and Adeniums are also thriving, as is a notable stand of Hawaiian wiliwili trees. Koko Crater Botanical Garden, part of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens.
Tours
While the inner slopes feature garden plantings the outer crater is colorful with collections of bougainvillea and plumeria cultivars. A self-guided tour through the garden lasts about 1-1/2 hours, or you can make an appointment for a guided tour by calling (808) 522-7063.
Access
Koko Crater Botanical Garden is located at the end of Kokonani Street. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Admission is free but there are no facilities.