UH Hilo Botanical Palm Garden

UH Hilo Botanical Garden has two different parts. The Palm Garden is a sunken garden of lush palms from around the world, behind the Hale Ikena dorms. Park near the Hale Ikena dorms on Nowelo Street (navigate to "Palm Garden" on google maps). The garden can be hard to find- At 113 Nowelo Street there is a cement bridge that runs over the stream. Between this stream and the Hale Ikena dorms, by the cement bridge, there are some yellow signs stuck into the grass that say Palm Garden, and you must walk over wet grass to get to the garden. It is a small recessed garden, a narrow walkway though gorgeous palms from many countries such as Malaysia or the Seychelles. They are incredibly bright green and beautiful.

Near the Palm Garden is DeJa Brew, a small coffee spot on campus (open M-F 8-2:30). Check out the UH Hilo Bookstore while you're there- they have a few tshirts and aloha shirts (open M-Th 9-3:30 and F 9-12).
The other part of the UH Hilo Botanical Garden is the Bromeliad and Cycad Garden, a 375m walk away (see the photo of the garden map). You can also drive there and park in the tiny parking lot called Parking Lot Green Zone on Nowelo Street. It is a small area of plantings on the corner of W. Lanikaula Street and Nowelo Street. There are beautiful plant varieties to see, including bromeliads of all colors, patterns, and shapes, and endangered cycads from Central America. Little geckos cling to the plants with their sticky feet. Tall palm trees covered in moss stretch up above you. Stripey pink and green plants are lovely. You can walk the narrow gravel path around the plants, and then also walk a path on the side of the embankment.
University Heights Park is a nice place to go nearby (one minute drive), to run up and down the hill and see the views!

Directions

The Palm Garden is located at 113 Nowelo Street, behind the Hale Ikena dorms.

Click on map for interactive view