Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens

The grand, palm-lined entrance to Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens is one of the most photographed roads on Oʻahu. Once inside, guests are greeted by hundreds of native and non-native flora against the backdrop of the Koʻolau Mountain Range.

The 400-acre plot of land also offers overnight camping, a a serene lake with bamboo pole fishing and short walking trails.

The lake branches out into several streams, making for two separate, but joining paths. The first forms a semicircle around the lake and the second is a loop trail bounded by streams. Through the scented air of plumeria trees in thick bloom, you'll arrive at the lake with ducks waddling along its edges.

If you turn left you can make a leisurely stroll to the far side of the water. If you go right, follow signs for the 1.5-mile Stream Trail Loop. It's mostly an overgrown trail that runs through muddy thickets around nests of hau tree branches.

Through information boards, you'll learn that the body of water beside you is actually a dammed up reservoir that was dug out in the ’70s, meant to save nearby residences from the type of deadly floodwaters that had besieged the area in the ’60s.

Enjoy the tinkling of fresh stream water as you venture out of the forest and into an expansive patch of rolling grasses. Inviting benches dot the loop, as do several attractive bridges, including one over a koi pond. On afternoons, you can find families fishing out of the lake.

HOW TO GET THERE: From Waikīkī, take H-1 West to Pali Highway exit. Take Pali Highway through the mountains and turn left onto Kamehameha Highway. Turn left at Luluku Road and drive until it dead-ends at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kāneʻohe.