Aloha Ginny,

Hawaii is known for it's natural flora & very seldom will you find an area that is landscaped designed. You may want to contact University of Hawaii to find out more!

Aloha

I see you've already gotten some answers on another of the forums.

This may sound odd, but go to Ala Moana shopping center. They've done some very nice large-scale container plantings on the upper level that feature an impressive array of exotics as well as native plants and water features.

Thanks for the tips! But I still believe there must be designed spaces altho perhaps not open to the public.

Also have a look at book GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN GARDENS, there are some Hawaiian places in there.

Wow--great idea, bboy. I bought that book when it first came out but haven't looked at it in years. Yes, it has some great Hawaiian gardens. I'll have to see if any of them are now open to the public.

I did get tickets to Shangri La and I am also looking forward to the garden courtyards at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Will also do the Foster Botanical Garden. We are going to Kauai but just for a couple of days. We'll see the Allerton garden there.

Any more ideas out there? I am so excited about this trip.

I'm bumping this up because I did have a wonderful visit to Hawaii, especially to experience its history and its gardens. Thought others might be interested too--even you all who live there. We often never go see what is in our own backyard. I went to all of the gardens mentioned in the above post and they were memorable.

Hawaii's natural history and geology are extraordinary. Reading about it and seeing it made the experience of a lifetime. I am so happy about the new national monument in the northern islands, which hopefully will help preserve this special place.

"Sharon's Plants" in Waimanalo is a very good place to spend hours walking around or taking a tour from a golf cart.

Aloha,gracie55

Glad you had more than just a nice time.