Hawaii's Big Island Flower Guide
Where to See Everything from Orchids and Carnations to Wildflowers
Apr 4, 2008
Hawaii's Big Island is the place to see maximum flowers in minimum time. From rainforests to florist shops, volcanos to resort lobbies, you'll find blossoms in abundance.
Since flowers grow in profusion all over the Big Island, the following suggestions are only a sampling of places you might visit.
- If time is limited, go to Hilo. You'll find more flowers there per square block than in any other spot on the island, in the dozens of flower shops, at commercial growers and decorating the gardens of its residents. For example, you’ll see traditional Japanese flower arrangements at the Ebesugawa Florists (55 Furneaux Lane). Among the commercial operations, Hilo Tropical Gardens on Kalanianaole Avenue features two acres of orchid blossoms, tropical flowers, shrubs and trees together with a natural tidal pool. Hours range from 8 or 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m.
- Stop just outside of Hilo at 421 Makalika Street, where Nani Mau Gardens were established by Makato Nitahara in 1972. The 20 acres contain more than 2,000 varieties of flowers and are said to include every type of flowering plant in Hawaii. The 2,300 species of orchids constitute one of the world’s largest collections of several varieties such as Paphiopedilum and Cattleya Open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (admission charged).
- Explore Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, a 25-acre non-profit nature preserve and sanctuary eight and a half miles north of Hilo. More than 2,000 different species of tropical plants and flowers grow in their natural rain forest environment of water falls, streams and palm jungles, with views of the wild Pacific coastline as an added attraction. Nature trails make this a natural stop for hikers. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (admission charged)
- Join a nature walk, tour a garden or attend a nature workshop. You’ll find information on these activities at www.bigisland.org/calendar
- Visit commercial flower growing gardens on the road from Hilo to Volcano. Dendrobiums, cattleyas, vandas and cymbidiums are among the varieties at, Akatsuka orchid garden. On the road from Hilo to Volcano, its tables dazzle with blooms. You’ll be able to buy plants to have sent home at some of the commercial operations. You’ll find everything from mature orchid plants with flowers to young orchids in two to four-inch pots. Opening times of gardens vary.
- Be on the lookout for anthurium farms along the road from Puna to Volcano, many of them with "Visitors Welcome" signs. Commercial production of the heart-shaped anthuriums began in the mid-1960s and although the first anthuriums were pink, over the years hobbyists and commercial growers have developed an array of reds, oranges, pinks, corals and whites
- If you want to see spectacular flower arrangements by the dozens, wander around the lobbies and other public rooms of major resorts such as the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and the Mauna Kea Hotel on the island’s west coast. Hotel personnel report that it's not uncommon for some resorts to spend more than $4,000 a month on their floral pieces.
- Go to one of the island’s annual flower shows. The annual Hilo Orchid Show is held on the Fourth of July weekend, the Kona Orchid Society Show and Sale takes place in May and the Hawaii State Horticulture Show goes on during August in Hilo.
- Simply meander aimlessly -- in the mountains if you like wildflowers; through florist shops, nurseries, and hotel lobbies if you prefer the hothouse types. Stroll down the country lanes of Kamuela or residential streets in Kona and Hilo for garden-variety blossoms. Wherever you wander, you'll gather huge bouquets of visual memories.
The copyright of the article Hawaii's Big Island Flower Guide in Hawaii Travel is owned by Connie Emerson. Permission to republish Hawaii's Big Island Flower Guide in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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