My dear friend and fellow blogger, Kara Paul, author of Roaming Near and Far, wrote this delightful travel article. I know you’ll enjoy her work as much as I have, and the helpful details + insights she provides! Please enjoy the beautiful Lili’uokalani Gardens as Kara tells us all about it! All photos were taken and provided by Kara.
If you want to get a real flavor of life on the Big Island, one of the places you have to visit is Lili‘uokalani Gardens in Hilo. At 24.67 acres, it is the largest authentic Japanese ornamental garden outside of the country of Japan. This is a local park that is heavily frequented by local residents and children, as well as often visited, at least briefly, by tourists.
Lili‘uokalani Gardens is in many ways akin to the heart of Hilo. It’s a picturesque gathering place with beautiful gazebos, stone sculptures, torii bridges, stone bridges, and banyan trees. Located by the ocean and near to Mokualoa (“Coconut Island”), it’s the perfect backdrop for pictures, picnics, exercise, and exploration. Don’t be surprised to see the occasional wedding or a wedding couple taking pictures before heading to their reception at one of the local hotels. The park is a place for sunshine, the smell of the ocean, and fresh air–provided it isn’t flooded due to the torrential rains that sometimes pass through Hilo!
Getting to the Park + Parking
Getting to Lili‘uokalani Gardens isn’t very hard and best of all, is a free local attraction open year-round. The official Google address is 189 Lihiwai St #151, Hilo, HI 96720. The Park is located along the famous Banyon Drive of Hilo and is also ADA accessible. Occasionally, the park closes for maintenance or fire ant abatement.
You can walk from any of the hotels along Banyan Drive, or take a car to get there. There also is a limited bus schedule. Recently, before I moved away, Hilo started a bikeshare program, which has a bike station at the park as well as some downtown Hilo locations. By using a credit card, you can easily rent a bike to get from Downtown Hilo to Lili‘uokalani Gardens and vice versa.
Unless there is a special event, large wedding, or a huge Pokemon Go event, there should be ample street parking, as well as parking stalls next to the gardens, and a small parking lot on the makai (ocean) side of the park. Hilo weather changes all the time, so consider bringing an umbrella!
Time
The nice thing about this park is you really can spend as much time as you want here. Some people walk their dogs at the park, while others relax for hours, reading a book or catching up with old friends. Due to its proximity to Mokualoa (the “island of life” usually called “Coconut Island” by locals), many people walk over a long bridge to Coconut Island. At Coconut Island, families like to have parties, play on the beach, or jump off the diving tour. Interestingly, Mokuola once had a temple dedicated to healing.
Throughout my time in college and life in Hilo, I enjoyed going to the park to hang out with friends and spend time with my then-boyfriend (now husband). I’ve even attended a couple of weddings there–including that of my brother- and sister-in-law!
I have so many happy and sad memories attached to that place….pleasant memories of laughs and good times, and bittersweet memories of times spent with some people I really cared about who are no longer my friends. It provided a place to relax and recharge when I felt stressed or depressed. It also became a place to enjoy when I wanted to take pictures or hang out with a good friend.
Lili‘uokalani Gardens really can be anything and everything for you.
Amenities
Lili‘uokalani Gardens is conveniently located by Suisan Fish Market. If you’re craving a poke bowl or want to buy fresh seafood, walk a few blocks to the fish market. The garden also sits by Hilo Bay Cafe, a restaurant overlooking Hilo Bay known for its “contemporary, locally-inspired dishes” and more.
A hop and a skip away is the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, which has Wai’oli Lounge and the Queen’s Court. The Naniloa Hotel, which has Hula Hulas Restaurant, also sits a few blocks away.
There’s a popsicle place in the park (once a coworker shared their popsicles), and the nearby Banyan Mini Mart. Finally, there are men’s and women’s restrooms at Lili‘uokalani Gardens, but don’t expect much from a park bathroom.
As with any new place you visit, exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings.
The History
The park has been around for over 100 years.
Queen Lili‘uokalani donated five acres of land along Waihonu, a five-acre traditional fish pond, for a public park in 1907. Ten years later, the Committee on Public Lands and Internal Improvements made the designated area 17 acres. The park was dedicated in 1917 as a tribute to the first Japanese immigrants of Hawai‘i, who had come in 1868 to work in the sugar cane industry. The park’s ground was broken in November 1917, which was the same month the beloved Queen Lili‘uokalani died. The park, named in her honor, opened in 1919.
Many women were instrumental in helping ensure the park became the beautiful place that it is today. One woman, Laura Kennedy, the wife of the president of the Hilo Board of Trade, went on a business trip to Japan. She wanted the park in Hilo to reflect the impressive landscaping at Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto. Hence she and her husband donated time, resources, and money to bring her vision to fruition.
Other Events
The park has weathered two tsunamis, both the year before it opened, and four years after it opened. It also has a traditional teahouse named Shoroan (Pine Ocean Breeze), built in 1972. However, you can see it from the outside (unless one day you somehow get invited to a tea ceremony there). Arsonists destroyed the tea house in 1994, so the community later rebuilt it. Over the years, additional changes increased the park’s size to what it is today.
If you visit at the right time, be sure to catch a hula festival at the park sometime near Queen Liliuokalani’s birthday, September 2nd.
Although I no longer live in Hilo, Lili‘uokalani Gardens will always have a special place in my heart due to how many memories I’ve had there, and the mesmerizing moments of beauty, whether the sun peeking through the banyan trees casting beautiful shadows, or seeing Downtown Hilo twinkling a warm welcome at night. Don’t miss finding your Lili‘uokalani moment in Hilo, Hawai‘i.
About the Author
Kara Paul was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, but recently relocated to Montana with her husband. She is the author of the blog Roaming Near and Far. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Kara seeks to inspire women and couples to find adventures and to travel despite fears and anxiety.
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