The public is invited to attend a workshop to share ideas and feedback on a first-ever long-range masterplan for Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden located in Windward Oahu.
What You Need To Know
The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a community forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 at Windward Community College’s Hale Akoakoa building
The workshop will start with information about the long-range planning process after which attendees will have time to share their thoughts and ideas
Visit the dedicated website for the planning process, which will provide updates and details of future meetings
The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a community forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 at Windward Community College’s Hale Akoakoa building located at 45-720 Keaahala Road. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and attendees are encouraged to use the campus’ upper parking lot.
The workshop will start with information about the long-range planning process after which attendees will have time to share their thoughts and ideas. The initial goals of the long-range planning process include:
• Enhancing the visitor experience by ensuring a meaningful, inclusive, and educational experience for all who visit the garden, with an initial focus on managing visitation and alleviating congestion to improve public safety.
• Engaging the community and providing accessibility by expanding the garden’s role as a community resource responsive to the needs of Koʻolaupoko residents.
• Preserving environmental, cultural, and historical resources by acknowledging and integrating the cultural heritage of the ʻāina and its historical significance into the garden’s future development.
• Providing botanical and facility development by planning for future improvements and care of the diverse plant collections, garden infrastructure, public facilities, educational spaces and visitor amenities.
“We truly believe the best ideas come from the diverse communities we serve, and this planning process intends to tap into that collective ‘ike (knowledge),” said Honolulu Botanical Gardens Director Joshlyn Sand in a release.
“No final decisions are being made in this current workshop, as this is the first of several public opportunities. We are truly excited to launch this is a historic moment in Ho‘omaluhia’s 43-year history, as we help shape the future of this special place of refuge together,” Sand said.
Visit the dedicated website for the planning process, which will provide updates and details of future meetings.
The master plan for the garden is its first since opening in 1982. With attendance reaching nearly 724,000 visitors from July 2024 to June 2025, a public survey in October of this year helped determine that the garden would close every Thursday starting in 2026 to provide a breather for the garden, as well as time for staff to perform maintenance and programming improvements.
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