HONOLULU (KHON2) — The City of Honolulu is asking everyone to help decide which day the beautiful Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kāneʻohe should take a weekly “day off.”
This garden is one of Oʻahu’s favorite places to relax, covering 400 acres at the base of the Koʻolau Mountains, with peaceful trails, a big lake, and amazing mountain views.
From Jul. 2024 to Jun. 2025, more than 723,000 people visited the garden, which is more than the 600,000 that planners initially thought it could handle.
Due to large crowds, the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation plans to close the garden one day a week starting in 2026, allowing the land and staff to catch a break.
They’re asking people to help choose whether it should be Tuesday or Thursday.
“A weekly rest day would let our team fix trails, trim trees, and keep everything safe without disturbing visitors,” said Honolulu Botanical Gardens Director Joshlyn Sand. “It also gives the garden itself time to breathe so future generations can enjoy it too.”
You can vote online until Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, at 5 p.m.
City staff say Tuesday and Thursday are the slowest days with no regular programs, so those make the most sense.
Hanauma Bay has a similar plan in place, which has helped protect the reef while still allowing visitors to enjoy the site for the rest of the week.
To share your vote, go to bit.ly/HoomaluhiaSurvey or call the Honolulu Botanical Gardens at (808) 768-7135 for more information.