Nestled in the lush mountains above the town of Wailua on the East Side is a hidden oasis where visitors are invited to explore the emerald greenery of nature and experience for themselves why Kaua‘i is known as the Garden Island. Featuring 30-acres of open meadows, the Keāhua Arboretum is a nature-lover’s dream where one can commune with the outdoors in its purest form. Along with babbling brooks darting through the nature preserve, the Keāhua Arboretum offers a meandering walking path, swimming holes, picnic spots, and the opportunity to view an extensive collection of native and non-native plants.

This popular day-spot can prove to be tricky to find, but the rewards of visiting the Keāhua Arboretum outweigh any struggles in finding this clandestine gem. Nearing the end of Kuamo‘o Road (Highway 580), you will notice the temperature beginning to dip and the air becoming a little crisper marking your approach to the arboretum. Pay close attention or you run the risk of driving right past the entrance that is accessible by driving across a man-made bridge built to accommodate both vehicular and foot traffic—in the past, the Keāhua Arboretum parking lot was only accessible by driving across a shallow pathway that cut right through the river with water overflowing the path year-round.

Once you arrive at the parking lot of the Keāhua Arboretum, you will be greeted by the dazzling array of flora and fauna grown in the area. Towering high in the sky you will find trees of rainbow eucalyptus whose astringent and intoxicating scent fills the air of the arboretum. Even more stunning is the appearance of these trees whose bark peels away to reveal a marbling of sienna, pistachio, purple, grey, and blue beneath the surface—truly a work of nature’s art.

Along the long walking path, more native and non-native plants can be found such as mango trees, which were introduced to the islands in the 1820s from India and the Philippines. The deep green leaves of this massive tree provide shade for those enjoying the well-maintained walking path while the fruits, often seen during summer months, provide a sweet treat for visitors to the area. Hau bushes can also be found at the arboretum, which were originally brought to the islands with the first Polynesian settlers via canoe. The strong branches of hau bushes were used by ancient Hawaiians to build the arches found in their imu ovens—traditional underground ovens found in the islands used to cook many Hawaiian dishes such as kālua pork (slow cooked pork) and lau lau (steamed pork, fish, or chicken wrapped in leaves). Native Hawaiians used hau bushes in additional ways such as to make cordage that was used to haul items or fasten things together.

One particular plant to seek out during a visit to the Keāhua Arboretum is the shrub of yellow hibiscus or pua aloalo in Hawaiian. Growing around 10-feet in height, the green, maple-like leaves of this plant contrast strikingly with the vivid yellow flowers that bloom daily and, although grown across the state except for Kaho‘olawe and Ni‘ihau, this state flower of Hawai‘i is a plant rarely found growing in the wild.

After enjoying a leisurely stroll along the walking path, visitors can enjoy the rest of the day at the arboretum by taking a break in a covered picnic area or lounging beneath the shade of a massive monkey pod tree. Introduced to Hawai‘i in 1847, these trees quickly became popular on the islands for their gigantic branch span and subsequent shade they provided. Typically growing up to 80-feet in height, the canopy of a monkey pod tree can reach greater than 100-feet in diameter providing lots of welcoming shade for picnickers to enjoy while listening to local birds chirping above.

In addition to being a popular spot to picnic or enjoy a nature walk, visitors to the Keāhua Arboretum are often also seen enjoying a horseback ride through the forest or a mountain bike ride along the trails. Once in a while, couples can even be seen exchanging wedding vows in the seclusion of nature.

Keāhua Arboretum is also an important site on the island because it provides the trailheads to two of the most famous hikes on the Island of Kaua‘i. The trailhead of the Kuilau Ridge Trail begins approximately 100-yards prior to the parking lot of the Keāhua Arboretum. This 4.2-mile round-trip hike was originally a road constructed to battle a fire in the mountains and is today known as an easy-to-moderate hike taking hikers into the mountains of Kaua‘i. After you’ve hiked a bit over a mile, there is a small clearing and picnic tables surrounded by native shrubs including the ‘ōhi‘a lehua, which is a flowering evergreen from the myrtle family that produces a flower laden with stamens ranging in color from red to yellow.

According to Hawaiian legend, Pele, the goddess of fire, had fallen in love with a handsome man named ‘Ōhi‘a who had already pledged his love to the beautiful Lehua. In a fit of jealously, Pele turned ‘Ōhi‘a into a twisted tree, which left Lehua heartbroken for her lost love. The gods, taking pity on Lehua turned her into a blossom to adorn the tree and now, according to legend, if you pluck the ‘ōhi‘a lehua blossom from its branches, the skies will weep in sadness for the lovers.

This landing also gives hikers a rare glimpse of Mt. Wai‘ale‘ale—a shield volcano and the second highest peak on the Island of Kaua‘i. Translating to “rippling” or “overflowing waters,” Mt. Wai‘ale‘ale’s climate is that of a tropical rainforest and this area is also known as one of the wettest spots on Earth with an average annual rainfall of about 450 inches. At the end of the trail, hikers can turn around and return to the arboretum or continue along the path that morphs into the Moalepe Trail, which takes hikers deeper into the forest and rewards those who continue along this moderate-to-difficult hike with stunning views of the mountains and oceans.

Another trailhead beginning at the Keāhua Arboretum is known as Powerline Trail measuring an intense 13-miles each way. Beginning in Wailua, the hike ends in the resort town of Princeville and follows the powerlines that were erected in the mountains. This rugged and unmaintained trail is for serious and experienced hikers only since many parts of the trail are steep or eroded and extremely slippery when wet. Although treacherous at times, the Powerline Trail offers an arduous challenge for skilled hikers looking for a test and takes those who venture through valleys to view native plants and waterfalls unseen by the eyes of many.

Whether visiting the Keāhua Arboretum for a relaxing day basking under the shade of trees or setting out from this spot for an adventure on one of the many hikes, the Keāhua Arboretum offers a variety of appeals and an opportunity to discover the hidden Kaua‘i.