Botanical Gardens


		Botanical Gardens Whether strolling through the gardens or riding Nani Mau garden tram, visitor are serenaded by tropical birds and soothed by exotic fragrances and while viewing the spectacular island flowers and foliage. This tranquil garden provides a peaceful, rejuvenating sanctuary for both visitors and residents to enjoy the wonders of Hawaii natural beauty. Nani Mau's self-guided tour or narrated tram tour is an enlightening educational experience which provides visitors with information about Hawaiian history and culture focusing on the traditional Hawaiian use of the various tropical flowers and plants. Nani Mau's 30 minutes tram tour is a great way for young and old alike to explore this tropical paradise. Nani Mau gardens has a wide variety of tropical garden displays including: Orchid Display Fruit Orchard Ginger Garden Hibiscus Garden Anthurium Grove Palms & Coconut trees Makalapua Lookout Bell Tower Orchid Display Nani Mau Gardens highlights a wide variety of "show orchids" including Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, Epiphytes, Oncidium and Cattleya orchids. The orchids striking color and shapes are complimented by the soothing waterfalls that traverse the orchid display. These beautiful blossoms can also be viewed throughout the garden so be sure to "keep an eye out" for these tropical treasures.

		Fruit Orchard Nani Mau’s Fruit Orchard is a pleasant and fun area for both adults and children. Those who spend a little extra time in the fruit orchard are sure to spot, depending on the season, juicy flavorful Star Fruit, Mulberries, Lychees, Soursaps, Hawaiian oranges which can be picked and tasted. You can also find some important tropical plants for ancient Hawaiians in the fruit orchards such as Noni fruit, Kukui Nut tree (Hawaii State tree) and Breadfruit. One unique fruit featured in the orchard is the Noni fruit which was and still is an important medicinal plant utilized by practitioners of traditional Hawaiian medicine. The green or yellow Noni fruit and its stringent smell was thought to chase away aches and pains. In modern time Noni has enjoyed a re-emergence in popularity as many people utilize it to reduce high blood pressure, and alleviate diabetes and heart trouble. Noni Juice is now available in Nani Mau gift shop and has become a popular item for visitors to take back home.

		Ginger Garden Passing the Fruit Orchard and traversing further into the garden, visitors enjoy a cornucopia of tropical flower gardens. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of ginger plants of different colors, shapes and fragrances in the Ginger garden.

		Hibiscus Garden The hibiscus, the Hawaii state flower, comes in a beautiful array of shapes and color. These colorful flowers are often used as a natural fashion accessory worn behind one's ear. In Polynesian custom a hibiscus flower worn over the right ear indicates the wearer is single and looking for a mate where worn over the left ear indicates that one is "already taken". So be sure to wear the blossom over the proper ear so as to send the "right" signal!

		Anthurium Grove Anthurium is one of the most glorious tropical exotics in Hawaii and is a prominent blossom in the Big Island's bourgeoning flower export industry. Visitors will find brilliant heart shaped anthuriums in red, orange, pink and white growing under the 90% shade provided by Hawaiian Hapuu tree ferns, the manner in which these flowers were grown in by gone eras. The Hapuu ferns create a truly Hawaiian rain forest feel and a spectacular sight of themselves.

		Palms & Coconut Trees A wide variety of common and rare palms can be seen throughout the garden creating the classically feeling of tropical paradise. Palms varieties such as Ceiling Wax Palms, Royal palms, Manila Palms and Areca Palms have straight trunks with bursting crowns of fan shaped leaves are featured in the garden. Palms are also a prominent agricultural product of the Big Island that are exported largely for landscaping purposes. Makalapua Lookout Don’t forget to stop at the Makalapua Lookout to snap that memorable picture, for bird watching, or for just taking in the intoxicating beauty of Nani Mau's spectacular tropical landscape.

		Bell Tower The elegant Japanese style Bell Tower which was skillfully crafted from 20,000 boards without utilizing any nails or screws, is one of only 3 towers built utilizing this technique n the world (The other two are located in Canada and France). The Bell Tower stands peacefully on a quiet knoll over looking a steam that meanders through a grove of Golden Bamboo Grove.