It's all in the details!
Moanalua Gardens NEW!
2850-A Moanalua Road, Honolulu
2850-A Moanalua Road, Honolulu
- A two-hour guided walk on the storied grounds of a public park in the Moanalua ahupuaʻa, just a few miles northwest of downtown Honolulu.
- The land was part of a gift from Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop to Honolulu businessman Samuel Mills Damon, who first envisioned a multicultural botanical garden like those he had seen in his travels. The 24-acre Moanalua Gardens have continued to be maintained by the heirs to his estate for the public's recreation and enjoyment.
- The Garden is home to several 100+ year-old monkeypod trees, including the iconic “Hitachi Tree,” a popular destination for visitors from Japan, as well as one of the Stateʻs designated “exceptional trees.”
- Weʻll begin our tour by making our way from the entrance, past several historic structures (one of them the former summer cottage of King Kamehameha V), to gather near the koi pond and kalo loʻi (taro patch).
- Weʻll then proceed on a leisurely stroll through less traversed areas on the grounds, enjoying the company of various native and tropical trees, and end with a forest tea and light refreshments in the shade.
- Onsite parking is free. Driving directions will be included in confirmation email.
NANAKULI LOOKOUT TRAIL
at CAMP PALEHUA (1 Palehua Road, Kapolei)
at CAMP PALEHUA (1 Palehua Road, Kapolei)
- An exclusive forest bathing experience on Oʻahu's Westside in the Waiʻanae Mountains incorporates a relatively easy hike and a unique place-based learning opportunity.
- The Nanakuli Lookout trailhead is on the private grounds managed by Camp Palehua. Before forest bathing, we'll hike for about half a mile on some rocky ground with some incline (see photo on this page). On this portion of the experience, your guide will share with you moʻolelo (stories) of the land and the archeological sites along the trail.
- We'll continue more slowly into the eucalyptus forest with sensory-opening invitations offered by your certified forest therapy guide. At a spectacular outlook with a famous legend of its own, we'll pause for tea and snacks, then return to Camp together.
- Total distance: ~2 miles. Elevation change: ~1,000 feet. Time: ~4 hours.
- The Camp is about 20 minutes from the H-1 Makakilo exit and requires a code for the gated entrance to the one-lane Pālehua Road. Accessible via private vehicles only.
- Parking is free on the Camp grounds; however, space is limited and carpooling is recommended.
- Plan to arrive around 8:45am and meet your guide at the Camp's Office.
- Requires both Forest Bathing Hawaiʻi's liability waiver and Camp Palehua's online waiver completed in advance by each participant.
- Further directions and the gate passcode will be sent about two days before event.
- The Nanakuli Lookout trail has been named by Honolulu Magazine one of the best family- friendly trails on the island. Unlike a traditional forest bathing path, however, part of it is still a hike and requires good physical fitness and ability to negotiate uneven ground and inclines. For the safety of the group, Forest Bathing Hawaiʻi reserves the right to deny entry to those who are not able to traverse the terrain at a moderate pace or who have not met other requirements. Guide's determination is final; a 15% refund will be offered to those who have overestimated their hiking abilities and asked to leave the tour.
KAHALUʻU GALLERY AND GARDENS
47-754 Lamaula Road, Kaneʻohe
47-754 Lamaula Road, Kaneʻohe
- Located in a residential neighborhood on the Windward side of O‘ahu, this is the former home, studio, and gallery of well-known oil painters Hiroshi Tagami and Michael Powell. Featuring a wide variety of exotic and beautiful plants and flowers, some specimens even created by the late Mr. Tagami, Kahalu‘u Gallery and Gardens is a one-acre work of art in three dimensions.
- On your 2-hour forest bathing walk, you'll travel through the grounds and follow the paved switchback which descends into the forested gully at the back of the property.
- Following the walk, you'll get exclusive access to the art gallery, where you'll find paintings and prints by Tagami and Powell, as well as the work of nature photographer Nate Yuen, plus sculpture, ceramics, and jewelry by other local artists. (The gallery and gardens are usually open by appointment only.)
- Free on-street parking.
FOREST BATHING IN A RAIN FOREST
- Commercial tours at the University of Hawaiʻi's Lyon Arboretum were suspended at the end of September 2024.
