Garden of Eden Loop

Garden of Eden Loop is a 0.82-mile circuit through the Garden of Eden Arboretum on Hāna Highway. It starts and ends at the Central Parking Lot, follows packed-gravel paths and climbs about 130 feet. Allow around 30 minutes to walk the circuit, then longer if you want to stop among the plants. The gardens contain about 2.5 miles of connected paths, so this is one compact loop rather than the whole visit. Admission is required, and National Park passes do not cover it.

The loop stays on visitor footpaths through the grounds and includes a short spur that retraces to its junction before the circuit continues. Gravel paths vary in grade: some garden routes are nearly level, while a few are more demanding. The grounds also contain private areas marked KAPU, so stay on signed visitor paths. The mapped circuit begins at the central lot and returns there; it does not include the separate entrance drive.

This is a botanical garden walk rather than a backcountry hike. The collection has more than 700 labeled specimens among palms, flowering plants, fruit trees and other tropical plantings. The larger grounds include a bamboo walk, mango orchard and anthurium garden; the posted map is useful if you want to branch from this circuit and see more. The site began as a tree farm in 1991 and opened to visitors in 1996. Its first name was Pua Nani, or “Flower from Heaven”; visitors began calling the lush grounds their Garden of Eden.

The wider path network reaches overlooks toward Keopuka Rock, the valley and Puohokamoa Falls. These are separate branches, so do not assume every viewpoint falls on this short loop. Keopuka Rock is the landmark associated with the opening scene of Jurassic Park. If a waterfall branch is part of your visit, keep to its overlook: swimming at Puohokamoa Falls is prohibited because flash floods can occur.

The entrance is at 10600 Hāna Highway near mile marker 10.5. Park in the signed Central Parking Lot after entering the arboretum. A food truck, picnic tables and restrooms are on the grounds near the entrance and central paths, not along the loop itself. The entrance gate is 9 feet 2 inches high; taller vehicles can use the café parking area. Dogs are not allowed because peacocks and ducks live on the property. Rain is common on this coast, and wet gravel can be slick; mosquitoes vary with conditions.