Wildflowers of Hawaii with Kids: A Nature Explorer Guide (+ Free Map)

Hawaii's wildflowers are unlike anything else on Earth. For families who explore Hawaii with curious eyes, the wildflowers tell some of the most extraordinary stories in the natural world.

Engage your kids in outdoor exploration with Nature Explorer Club's Wildflowers of Hawaii Activity Book to track every flower your family discovers.

Best Spots for Wildflowers in Hawaii

We mapped the best wildflower locations in Hawaii so you can plan your adventure before you go.

1. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Big Island — A stunning botanical garden on the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island with one of the finest collections of tropical plants in Hawaii. The garden preserves rare native Hawaiian species alongside extraordinary tropical flowers from around the world. The rainforest setting with ocean views makes this one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in America.

2. Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Hilo — A unique free zoo and botanical garden set in a natural rainforest near Hilo. The rainforest setting supports native Hawaiian plants alongside tropical species and the zoo adds a wildlife dimension that makes this an outstanding family destination. White Bengal tigers and other animals share the space with extraordinary tropical botany.

3. Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden, Honolulu — A historic botanical garden in Honolulu named for Hawaii's last queen, with a focus on native Hawaiian plants. Located along Nu'uanu Stream, the garden preserves rare native species in an accessible urban setting.

4. Foster Botanical Garden, Honolulu — One of the oldest botanical gardens in Hawaii — established in 1855 — with an extraordinary collection of rare and endangered tropical trees and plants. Several trees in the garden are among the largest of their species in the United States. A National Historic Landmark and one of the finest botanical gardens in the Pacific.

5. Lyon Arboretum, Manoa Valley, Oahu — A 194-acre research arboretum operated by the University of Hawaii, tucked into the lush Manoa Valley above Honolulu. Outstanding collection of native Hawaiian plants including rare species in conservation programs. The rainforest setting and extensive trail network make this one of the finest botanical walking experiences in Hawaii.

6. Koko Crater Botanical Garden, Oahu — A unique dry-climate botanical garden inside the crater of an extinct volcano on Oahu's east shore. The arid crater environment supports a collection of drought-adapted plants including plumerias, cacti, and dry forest natives — completely different from the lush gardens elsewhere on Oahu.

7. Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm, Maui — A beautiful lavender farm on the slopes of Haleakala at 4,000 feet elevation with stunning views across Maui. The lavender fields are spectacular in bloom and the farm also grows native Hawaiian plants. One of the most photogenic wildflower destinations in Hawaii.

8. Garden of Eden Arboretum, Maui — A spectacular botanical garden on Maui's Road to Hana with breathtaking views of the Ke'anae Peninsula and Pacific Ocean. The garden preserves native Hawaiian plants alongside tropical species in a dramatic coastal rainforest setting.

9. Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Big Island — A remarkable garden preserving plants that were important to Native Hawaiians for food, medicine, tools, and ceremony. The garden tells the story of the deep relationship between Hawaiian people and their native plants — one of the most meaningful cultural botanical experiences in Hawaii.

10. Waimea Canyon, Kauai — The "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" — a spectacular 10-mile-long canyon on Kauai's west side with dramatic geological formations and excellent native plant viewing on its trails and overlooks. The contrast between the red canyon walls and the native Hawaiian plants is extraordinary.

Family Tips for Wildflower Exploring in Hawaii

• Visit Haleakala for the Silversword. The drive to Haleakala summit on Maui passes through the Silversword zone — look for the remarkable silver rosettes on the volcanic slopes near the summit visitor center. Early morning visits before clouds move in give the clearest views and best light.

• Look for 'Ohi'a on fresh lava at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The contrast between the red 'Ohi'a flowers and the black lava is one of Hawaii's most striking visual experiences. The Devastation Trail and areas around recent lava flows are the best places to see 'Ohi'a pioneering new ground.

• Find Naupaka on any Hawaiian beach. The distinctive half-flowers of the Naupaka are visible on coastal shrubs throughout Hawaii. Teaching kids the legend of the separated lovers makes every beach walk more meaningful.

• Smell the 'Awapuhi on rainforest hikes. The fragrant red cone-shaped flower heads are found on shaded rainforest trails throughout Hawaii. Squeeze the slimy liquid — it is the original Hawaiian shampoo and the smell is unforgettable.

• Visit the Foster Botanical Garden or Lyon Arboretum for the most diverse collection. Both preserve rare native Hawaiian species that are difficult to find in the wild — giving families a comprehensive Hawaiian wildflower experience in a single visit.

Frequently Asked Questions: Wildflowers of Hawaii with Kids

What is Hawaii's state flower?

The Yellow Hibiscus — called Pua Aloalo in Hawaiian — is Hawaii's state flower. It is native to the Hawaiian Islands and found nowhere else in the world. Today it is threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, and wildfires and is rarely seen in the wild. It is most commonly found in protected botanical gardens and conservation areas throughout the islands.

What is the Silversword and where can you see it?

The Silversword is one of Hawaii's most extraordinary and endangered plants — a rosette of silver-green leaves covered in silver hairs that grows only on the high volcanic slopes of Haleakala on Maui and on the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island. It lives for 15 to 50 years before producing a single spectacular flowering stalk and then dying. It is best seen on the slopes of Haleakala near the summit visitor center — accessible by car on the Haleakala Crater Road.

Why are Hawaii's native wildflowers endangered?

Hawaii's native plants face threats from introduced species — plants, animals, and insects that arrived after human settlement and compete with or damage native species. Feral pigs destroy native forest understory. Introduced rats and mongoose eat seeds and seedlings. Mosquitoes spread disease to native birds that pollinate native plants. Invasive weeds crowd out native plants. Climate change is shifting the elevation zones where native species can survive. Conservation efforts including fencing, predator removal, and seed banking are working to protect what remains.

What does 'Ohi'a Lehua mean?

'Ohi'a refers to the tree itself and Lehua refers to its flower. In Hawaiian tradition the 'Ohi'a Lehua has deep spiritual significance — the flowers are used in lei making and offerings. A legend says that picking the Lehua flower makes it rain — because the flower represents lovers and separating them brings tears from the sky. The 'Ohi'a Lehua is the most ecologically important tree in Hawaii — the foundation of the native forest ecosystem that supports dozens of other native species.

What is the best botanical garden to visit in Hawaii with kids?

For families on the Big Island, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden near Hilo is outstanding — a stunning rainforest garden with ocean views and an extraordinary plant collection. For families on Oahu, the Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu is the most historically significant and diverse. For Maui families, the Garden of Eden Arboretum on the Road to Hana offers spectacular scenery combined with excellent plant diversity. All three are accessible and family-friendly.

Also Exploring Hawaii's Volcanic Landscapes and Beaches?

Read our family guides to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with Kids, Seashells of Hawaii with Kids, and Birds of Hawaii with Kids for the complete Hawaii nature adventure.

Planning a full Hawaii adventure? The Hawaii Explorer Pack bundles the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Seashells of Hawaii, and Birds of Hawaii activity books together — everything your young explorer needs for land, sea, and sky.

Turn Your Hawaii Trip Into a Real Wildflower Adventure

Give your kids a mission before you go. Our Wildflowers of Hawaii Activity Book is a 40+ page guided nature journal for ages 7 to 12 — with a wildflower tracker, detailed illustrations of every flower to find, fascinating facts about each species, flower category guides, drawing pages, games, and puzzles.