Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

"The negative reviews for this botanical garden are by people who simply don't understand what botanical gardens are meant to be. This facility has numerous endemic, native and culturally relevant species growing on their premises. For many of these species, this garden is one of the ONLY places you will have the opportunity to see them growing. These people are doing the extremely important work of preserving and even cultivating many rare species in an attempt to preserve plants that simply do not exist outside of Hawaii. It's lowland location in Kahalui limits it's inventory to predominantly lowland, dry adapted species, if people bothered to look into even a fraction of the biology of these species, they'd understand that many are drought deciduous and lose their leaves in the Hawaiian summer or periods of drought (as Hawaii is in now) I didn't see a single "dead" plant on the premises, thought some like Erythrina sandwichensis and the Polyscias species had dropped their leaves and we're dormant. This place is incredible if you want to see some biology that exists nowhere else on the planet. If you want some pretty photos of manicured, cultivated plants, you can go literally anywhere else, including the Home Depot garden center."

Benjamin Orzechowski

"If you like plants, appreciate xeriscaping, are intrigued by ethnobotany, enjoy history and strolling through pretty places, this is a WONDERFUL way to pass an hour! You can deep dive and spend longer but 30-60 mins will give you good appreciation.
Plants featured have ethnobotanical significance rather than typical showy gardens. You can see plants from several islands, including endangered plants not possible elsewhere. Learn which plants provided dyes, material for clothing and sails, were used in hula, religious offerings, torch oil etc.
The audio tour was informative and the voices were pleasant. (If you've ever had audio tours with an annoying voice you know what I mean)
There were classes on traditional plant use the day we visited. Students were preparing and weaving ahu'awa cordage, hala mats and ipu (gourd) preparation. The place is run and maintained by volunteers. They sell propagated plants, but are distributing plants for free to anyone affected by recent fires. This alone makes your $10 entry fee worth it.
There is shade and many places to sit in case anyone in your party is slightly less interested in plants than you are. It's mostly flat in case you have any one with mobility issues.
Free parking in front of the gardens, though the signage is confusing.
My only suggestion for improvement, and this is because I see blank canvases everywhere:
The gardens are on the site on an old zoo and garden, so there are little cement buildings that used to house animal displays. They are pretty stark and bleak. They should have one of the many talented island artists mural the heck out of them. I'm thinking pollinators, birds, animals previously held there. Each little building could have a theme.
Overall I learned new things, got in some steps and had nice conversations with volunteers. #winning"

Lynn Allin-Hall

"Always a joy to visit! And they have helped my haumāna with establishing a Native Hawaiian garden and growing it. Absolutely love it!"

Caroline Hartman