Built on the footprint of our Hawaiian ancestors, Limahuli Garden and Preserve is located on the north shore of the island of Kaua’i in one of the most biodiverse valleys in the Hawaiian Islands. Home to dozens of endangered plants and birds found nowhere else on earth, Limahuli Garden and Preserve highlights native and culturally-significant species in an authentic Hawaiian landscape.
Limahuli Garden is a pu’uhonua (place of refuge) for an ecological system that honors the connection between nature and humanity, where indigenous traditions live in the 21st Century. At Limahuli NTBG adapts ancestral resource management practices to address contemporary conservation challenges and restore health, function, and resilience to the valley. This approach is known as biocultural conservation. By visiting or volunteering in the garden you become part of our team and part of the solution.
For at least 1,500 years the Limahuli Valley has been a Hawaiian place. Today, Limahuli is one of of the last easily-accessible valleys with intact archaeological complexes, native forest, pristine stream, and the presence of the descendants of the valley’s original inhabitants caring for it.
IMPORTANT COVID-19 Information: Please wear a mask and practice social distancing when you arrive in our parking lot, upon check in and while walking in the Garden. This helps to keep us all healthy and safe!
Also, we are no longer able to have our drinking water stations. Please bring your own water. Mahalo for your support!
About the Tour
Ancient terraces, ancient wisdom, life and relationships with the land, the forest, and the water… the stories unfold as you open your guidebook and make your way through this special place. Envision what the valley might have looked like when the first Hawaiians arrived as you follow the path through the native forest walk. Discover the plants that traveled with them in their canoes and how their culture was inseparable from the plants that sustained them. Contemplate the impact of plant invaders and learn what is being done today to protect fragile ecosystems. Ascend to the Whale Trail and take in the dramatic panorama of the ocean. Feel the spirit of Limahuli.
Departure: Tuesday through Saturday
Tour Times: Reservations available between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
(Garden closes to all visitors at 4:00 p.m.)
Tour Duration: 1.5 hours (recommended minimum)
Ticket Prices:
Adults (18 and older) – $25
College students (with valid school ID) – $12.50
Kama`aina (with Hawai`i drivers license) – $10
Children (17 and younger) – Free
*Parking is included with the purchase of all Garden tours. The Garden parking lot is reserved for visitors on Limahuli Garden tours only. It is a violation of our policy to leave your car in our parking lot and go to any other location besides our
botanical garden. This policy is strictly enforced.
Explore this timeless place with a small group as the inextricably interwoven stories of Hawaiian history, culture, natural history, and plants unfold during your visit. As you enjoy legends that abound about this ancient valley, you’ll see the features that inspired them. A guided tour offers you a deeper understanding of the delicate balance of the ecosystem in both ancient and modern times, and how today’s stewardship of the land is modeled after the traditional practices of its earliest inhabitants. Our docents are knowledgeable, enjoy ‘talking story’, and are passionate about sharing this living Hawaiian landscape.
Tour Type: Guided Tour
Departure: Tuesday through Friday
Tour Times: 10:00 a.m.
Tour Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours
Ticket Prices:
Adults (18 and older) – $40
College students (with valid ID) – $20
Children (10-17 years old) $20 with paying adult
*Parking is included with the purchase of all Garden tours. The Garden parking lot is reserved for visitors on Limahuli Garden tours only. It is a violation of our policy to leave your car in our parking lot and go to any other location besides our
botanical garden. This policy is strictly enforced.
Explore Limahuli Valley as an outdoor classroom. Listen to the singing birds of the forest, the splashing waters of the stream, and hear stories of the valley that teach lessons about relationships and behaviors. This is recommended for families interested in guided tours.
Your family group must include at least one child 12 years of age or younger.
Are you looking for a group experience built around a particular theme or topic of interest, perhaps one that could be a mix between a guided tour and a hands-on component designed to reinforce the lessons of the day? We offer an opportunity to build a custom experience that includes elements of Hawaiian history, culture, natural history, sustainability, plants, and more in such a way that is tailored to your group’s interests.
An exclusive VIP experience that is tailored to your schedule and interests by a senior docent or Limahuli staff
This year’s online auction theme is “Caring for the People who Care for the Plants.” Our gardeners have worked tirelessly during this extraordinary time. Help NTBG by supporting our ohana who care for our living collections and gardens every day.
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