Na ʻAina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park


While undeniably pretty in parts – how could it not be, in this clifftops-to-ocean setting? – this private garden holds disappointingly few Hawaiian species and offers little sense of Kaua‘i’s culture and traditions. Tours focus more on the couple who laid it all out, and peppered the lawns with banal ‘lifesize’ sculptures, than on the actual plants. Check schedules online; reservations required.

To get here, turn right onto Wailapa Rd, between Miles 21 and 22 on the Kuhio Hwy, and look for signs.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Kahili (Rock Quarry) Beach

0.53 MILES

Scenic, rugged Kahili Beach nestles between the cliffs at the point where Kilauea Stream meets the ocean. Only its western section is readily accessible,…

2. Kilauea Lighthouse

1.93 MILES

Built in 1913, the 52ft Kilauea Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1976, though it was shut down during WWII to help the island avoid the attention of…

3. Christ Memorial Episcopal Church

1.94 MILES

This historic stone church and cemetery date from 1924. Sunday services are held in its humble chapel, glowing with stained glass, while mossy tombstones…

4. Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

1.96 MILES

The gloriously scenic wildlife refuge that marks the northernmost tip of the major Hawaiian islands protects both nesting seabirds on the coastal cliffs…

5. Anaina Hou Community Park

2.17 MILES

Set up by the late founder of E-Trade as a gift to the people of Kaua‘i, this community park is home to a mini-golf course, a cafe and an excellent…

6. Kauapea (Secret) Beach

2.38 MILES

Far from being ‘secret,’ must-see Kauapea Beach is renowned as one of the most breathtaking beaches on Kaua‘i. You won’t see it signposted, though, and…

7. Larsen's Beach

2.82 MILES

This long, loamy, golden-sand beach, named after L David Larsen (former manager of the Kilauea Sugar Company), is stunning, raw and all-natural, with a…

8. Moloaʻa Beach

3.4 MILES

This classically curved bay appeared in the pilot for Gilligan’s Island. There's a shallow protected swimming area good for families at the north end; to…