Ho’omaluha Botanical Garden, Part II | Oahu Family Activities

More Family Fun at Hoomaluhia

We’re looking at 10 ways for families to explore Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, you can find it here.

6. Throw a Party

Ho’omaluhia is an easy and fun place for a kid’s birthday party. You can reserve a pavilion for free so you have chairs, shelter, and built-in entertainment all around. Micah had his 3rd birthday party at the garden with a scavenger hunt, nature-themed crafts, and fishing.

7. Enjoy a Picnic

Living close to the garden made it a fun spot for lunch. There are a few pavilions with tables or you can simply pick a shady tree with a view. A change of scenery makes everything taste better.

8. Take a Class

Ho’omaluhia offers a free preschool nature hour monthly. Each month has a different theme (frogs, fruits, ducks and coots, etc) and the classes involve storytelling, singing songs, and crafts. Classes are usually held 10:30 am – 11:30 am on the third Tuesday of each month. You can find out more at the visitor’s center or check the community calendar here.

9. Feed the Ducks + Fish

Feeding ducks is perhaps the greatest toddler activity of all time. Maybe that and playing with cardboard boxes. If you have young children bring along birdseed, rice, or oats to feed the ducks which are typically found by the lake. Sometimes you will spot black “ducks” in the group which are actually endangered Hawaiian coots. Their massive feet help them forage on mudflats without sinking like built-in snowshoes.

Throw some food into the lake and you will find a writhing mass of fish. You can watch them slide over one another to get to the food. Beware, they have teeth. Baby Mila stuck her toe in the water once and a fish took a sample.

10. Go Biking

Kid-safe biking areas on the windward side are scarce. If you want to avoid traffic head to the last parking area in the garden. Mila learned to ride her bike here amid a chorus of birdsong and a bright mountain landscape. The hills make biking challenging (or fun), but that parking area is large and flat with little traffic making it a great beginner spot.

And there you have it, 10 activities for families and kids at Ho’omaluhia. Head out and explore this weekend. For more family fun inspiration, sign up for the Little Bird Post below.