Many people come to Oahu to experience urban Hawaii, but seekers of quiet, peace, and solitude are often surprised by how much the island has to offer. Botanical gardens, wildlife refuges, quiet beaches, hikes, and horseback rides are all a short drive away from downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. With minimal effort, the bustle of the city disappears behind ridges of rainforest and the quiet chirps of insects and birds. Nature is all around Oahu, you just have to know where to look for it.
Oahu | Parks Beyond Honolulu
- Haiku Gardens
- With the lush greenery of Haiku Valley jetting out against the backdrop of a tropical blue sky, Haiku Gardens sits serenely in its shadow with every bit as much splendor.
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- Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens
- Ho`omaluhia means, "to make a place of peace and tranquility." The Ho`omaluhia Botanical Gardens embodies the essence of its name, and more.
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- James Campbell Wildlife Refuge
- As one of the last remaining wetland habitats on O'ahu, the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge plays an important role in preserving many of the endangered species of birds and animals that reside in Hawai'i.
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- Kualoa Ranch
- How would you like to explore the same site where dinosaurs ran wild and free? Or the home of Godzilla and the site of one of the most famous fictional plane crashes in recent history? Set your sights on Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre former working ranch located in the Ka'a'awa Valley.
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- Laie Falls
- Hawaii's own beauty and bliss are confirmed at the site of the beautiful Laie Falls—a two-tiered waterfall cascading into a deep sapphire-hued pool below.
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- Pineapple Plantation and Maze
- Dole Plantation Hawai'i is the complete pineapple experience. Located in central Oahu in the town of Wahiawa, it is the perfect rest stop before driving toward the beaches on the North Shore. The first thing to do is jump aboard the Pineapple Express.
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- Senator Fong's Plantation and Gardens
- Heavy rainfall, fertile soil and a temperate climate make the windward side of Oahu a veritable Garden of Eden. Like that wondrous paradise, Senator Hiram Fong's Plantation and Garden in Kaneohe contains a mind-boggling array of flora.
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- Sugar Plantation Village
- The Hawai'i Plantation Village on Oahu hides amidst the urban landscape of the surrounding Waipahu area, and is rich with deeply personal narratives.
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- Wahiawa Botanical Garden
- Covering 27 lush acres in Central Oahu, Wahiawa Botanical Garden houses many different tropical floras, many of which require a relatively cold environment. There is also a developing collection of Native Hawaiian plants.
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- Waimea Valley
- Once known as the Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden, then the Waimea Valley Audubon Center, and now known as simply Waimea Valley, this historical nature park is renowned for its botanical gardens and waterfall and is of significant importance to the native Hawaiian culture.
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