limahuli garden and preserve

At the far end of the north shore, lies this ancient valley. Breathtaking and serene, one could spend a few hours in meditative wonder, gazing at it's beauty. Walking sticks are also available and useful, for some of the trails. Do try to visit.

My family and I visited the Limahuli Gardens just after it opened on a week day. It was not crowded and made for a lovely 2-hour self guided stroll. We opted for the self-guided tour because the entrance fee was rather expensive ($20/adult). However, kids are free. FYI: The guided tour is $40/adult. Although it is expensive, you are given a very informative handbook to keep. The booklet takes you on a self-guided tour through the gardens and provides so much background on the species and the history of the islands. We'll hold on to these guide booklets for years to come! The grounds are well maintained and there are water stations are set up all along the pathway. We highly recommend this for a morning or afternoon activity with the family.

Limahuli is one of three National Tropical Botanical Gardens on the island of Kaua’i. This stunningly beautiful valley surrounded by towering peaks and cliffs is the site of one of the earliest settlements by Polynesian voyagers. The ancient Hawai’ians developed a system of natural resource management as a means to live sustainably in this island ecosystem. Fresh water from the mountains was channeled to irrigate lava-rock terraces for growing their staple food kalo (taro) and other edibles and plants used for their fibers or medicinal purposes. The conservation efforts at Limahilu are substantial. Some of the rarest plants endemic to Kaua’i and in danger of extinction can be found here. Open 5 days a week from Tuesday – Saturday, 9:30am-4:00pm. A very well written, informative booklet leads the visitor on a self-guided tour through the garden. (Guided tours are available once a day at 10am). Step into the past and marvel at the beauty all around you! Limahuli was one of the highlights of our visit.

We visited Limahuli Garden and Preserve in December 2014. We had lots of time to kill between checking out and catching our plane. This was the best place we could have gone. The self-guided tour is great and you can roam and take in the beauty of the area at your own pace. I can only echo all the positive things said by the other reviewers. Well worth the drive and price of admission.

These gardens are near the very northeast end of Kuhio highway. There is a narrow one way driveway that loops back down to the main road. Parking can be a little sparse but between the parking lot and long driveway, you could fit at least 20 cars or so. Otherwise, you'd have to park along the main road and do a 5 minute hike up the driveway.The entrance fee is $20 each and you get an informative pamphlet that guides you thru the property explaining the various plant species. The gardens are extremely well kept and a lot of the vegetation is well marked with informative plaques.These gardens are trying to preserve many of the nearly extinct plant life that was present before the first humans started invading the islands with outside plant life. You learn that over 95 percent of the original plant life has been taken over by imported invasive species.The walking tour takes you up some windy trails but the paths are well groomed and there are many easy steps that gets you up the hill. The self guided tour should be done at a very slow and easy pace which helps you see and read everything. If you take your time, even the elderly can get thru the walk. Our walk was a little under 2 hours and we enjoyed every minute of it. This time of year, most flowering plants were not in bloom but even so, the gardens were still spectacular. There are also many stops along the way where you can relax on benches and soak up the views. 3 of the stops have water coolers so there's no need to pack a water bottle unless you want to.This was a great way to spend a relaxing few hours just strolling around.

In all fairness we didn't get to see the garden because at 10:30 in the morning there were no parking places left and the road is much too narrow and dangerous to try to park on. Make plans accordingly.

We visited Limahuli Garden and Preserve not knowing quite what to expect. An outstanding experience not to be missed. Remember that this is a Garden Preserve and contains a variety of plants in their natural habitat and not like other flower gardens. It can be viewed by self or by arranging a guided tour. Reasonable admission fee, walking sticks to use and guide booklet explaining numbered sites is provided available at the small gift shop. There are hills and lots of walking so wear comfortable shoes and take your water bottle. Provides a look into the past of how watering systems were used as well as what preservation strategies are employed at present. There are plenty of areas to sit, but bring something to sit on due to dampness.I do not recommend for those with cardiac or pulmonary compromise that exacerbates with activity. Parking is available, but limited.

This was our first trip to the Limahuli Gardens. We were greeted by such a nice and friendly lady who got us set-up with our tour guide, Freddie. The tour lasted about 2.5 hours. It was very interesting to hear so much about the natural beauty and history of Kauai. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable, engaging and kept our interest the entire tour. His ancient stories were so neat to hear! The plant life is so beautiful and amazing to hear how they take such pride and responsibility in preserving these native plants, some of which only one or two remain in the wild.I highly recommend this tour for your full of beauty and history.

At the end of the north highway is a gem! Self guided botanical garden tour is spectacular. many very rare plants and lots of explanations of the area, the plants, and the history. Worth the spectacular drive to get there .....only open tuesday - sunday though.

Beautiful and fascinating place to visit. We allowed about 3 hours. The property has an extensive collection of native plants and flowers ; some of them extremely rare. In some cases, they are so rare that no-one alive can remember their names. Highlights are too numerous to mention, however, the taro terraces are worthy of note, as well as the area dedicated to invasive species. Gorgeous views of the ocean and mountains. Some beautiful tranquil areas just to sit and enjoy the scenery and perfect flowers.

We hadn't planned to stop but on the way back from the end of the road decided to take advantage of being there in nice weather. The valley area is beautiful with the views of the mountains and ocean. I was impressed by their efforts to save endangered plants and they have the only remaining plants of some species. It was interesting to see the section of non-native invasive species that have changed the landscape of Kauai. We spent about 1.5 hour on the trail but it could take longer if one read all of the information. Not many of the plants were flowering but it was still beautiful. You do climb about 200 feet in elevation and some of the trail has uneven steps, etc. They provide benches for resting and water in a couple of places. The $20 was worth it to enjoy the beauty and help in their mission.

This was a beautiful spot and the self-guided tour was incredibly educational. The collection of rare and endangered endemic species was one-of-a-kind. We spent two hours here and enjoyed every minute.

We thoroughly enjoyed our recent visit to Limahuli Garden and Preserve. What a lovely enchanting place. Our kids (college age) wanted to hike for a couple of hours on the N'apali Coast trail. So we dropped them at the trail head and took the short drive back to Limahuli. What a great choice! You learn so much about the history and biodiversity of the islands. Don't miss it!

A former board member of a botanical garden on the mainland, I have had the opportunity to experience a number of gardens and parks. From that perspective, I heartily recommend Lumahuli. We did the self guided tour and progressed through the exhibits at a leisurely pace. As noted by other reviewers,the setting of the garden in the shadow of Makana and overlooking the ocean is spectacular, in and of itself. I was humbled by how much I didn't know about the Garden Island, its history and its flora. By the time you complete the tour, you fully appreciate the mission of this garden. The cost of admission is well worth it.

The walk through the gardens is beautiful, even now, mid winter. The signs and booklet give comprehensive information about the plants and trees, and about aspects of Kauai's natural environment. In addition the views are spectacular. The entry fee of $20 is worth every penny, and contributes to the maintenance of this idyllic spot.