Moanalua Gardens | A morning exploring Oahu with toddlers

Peaceful Moanalua Gardens

I thought I had been to Moanalua Gardens before, but when a friend mention that it had koi ponds, a taro patch, a small stream and giant trees, I realized it was something new. I packed up a pair of excited kids and set off on an adventure. Oddly, we were greeted by tour buses when we arrived. That was a surprise. How did all these tourists know about the garden?

It turns out that Moanalua is famous for a particular tree, a massive monkey pod that sits in the heart of the garden called the Hitachi Tree. This tree is the corporate symbol of the Hitachi Corporation in Japan and has been featured in their regular television commercials for forty years. If you’re curious like me you can check out the commercial here. The Hitachi Corporation pays a hefty $400,000 annually for exclusive worldwide rights to use the tree’s image for promotional purposes. That’s right, $400,000 … A year.

Exploring Moanalua Gardens

I have to admit, I never managed to get a picture of said tree. We started at the koi ponds feeding fish, chasing ducks and snacking on the very cool monkeypod benches. We met some friends, ate their snacks, and chased each other as we looped around the perimeter of the park. By the time we got back to the Hitachi tree, we were done. I can tell you this though, it’s a big, beautiful tree and the center piece of Moanalua Gardens.

Getting to Moanalua Gardens

I had a hard time finding the gardens because my GPS insisted that it was located at Pineapple Place. At Pineapple Place I found a large sign that said, this is not the garden, go away (or something to that effect). And then my GPS died leaving me lost in Moanalua Valley. Fortunately, there were a lot of people walking around and it only took 5 of them to get me to the right place. 5th time’s a charm, right? Don’t be like me. Follow these helpful directions I found on Yelp :

Directions:  Entrance can NOT be accessed via Pineapple Place, as this is the Monalua Gardens Foundation’s administrative offices.  Better to enter via Moanalua Freeway (H-2) westbound, take Exit 3.  Entrance is immediately on your right after you pass the second Puuloa Rd/Tripler Hospital sign.  Coming from the west side, best to take Exit 3 and head left towards Tripler Army Medical Center.  Take a left onto Mahiole Street then left again; keep going straight and you will enter into Moanalua Gardens’ parking lot.

Looking for more adventure on Oahu after Moanalua Gardens?

• Both Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden and Koko Crater are personal favorites for a morning adventure with kids.
• Or you can head to one of these great baby-friendly beaches.
• If you’re looking for something more strenuous, take a family-friendly hike.
• Family Photos! Let Little Bird plan a fun morning exploring and playing with your family so you can make great memories and keep beautiful memories.