Botanical Gardens of Oahu

Oahu has several botanical gardens scattered all across the island. Most are free, so Gabby and I made a point of visiting 4 of them during her visit in February. 

The first was inside the Koko Head Crater and was very dry and rocky.

This is the ridge of the crater, it's much higher than it looks in this picture.

 This garden had groves of Plumeria Trees but they weren't in bloom.

 Next, we visited a Foster Botanical Garden right in downtown Honolulu. 

This was the smallest but packed with beauty.

We could call it- the Large tree garden!

There was a greenhouse with gorgeous blooms

We managed to kidnap Ken one afternoon and took him to 

Wahiawa Botanical Garden

This was my favorite!

It's okay Ken, we'll let you go home after this one!

Amazing rainbow eucalyptus tree

More very large trees!

Ken's artistic presentation of leaves

These Banyan Trees are all over Oahu. 

The vines come off the tree and root in the ground creating multiple trunks on one tree.

Gabby was having a good time :) 

This place was sprawling- I'm sure we didn't see it all

Our last botanical garden adventure was 

The Waimea Falls Park Gardens

This one was the only one with an admission price. 

I've blogged about it before. If you're interested click on the underlined title to read that post.

LOST Locations or When Gabby & Mom Almost Died

Who didn't love this TV series. Actually, I'm presently re-loving it on Netflix.

Gabrielle was a huge fan of the show, so when she was planning to came to Oahu, 

she researched finding some less know about Lost locations.

The first place we searched out was the Other's Village. (Season 3)

Turns out it is Erdman YMCA camp at the NW corner of the island.

My picture

My picture

After minimal poking around, we traveled down the North shore in search of the Lost Beach!

Gabby found the directions online, down an obscure beach road, 

find the public access path, walk down the beach 10 minutes! 

Here she is! I think she's watched the series at least 6 or 7 times. 

She got me into it after I resisted for several years. Now I'm rewatching it!

The ocean was huge, violent, and powerful that day- GORGEOUS!

Okay, here's the part where we almost died...

We knew it was unwise to get close to the shore that day, 

but to get to the Lost Beach we had to travel a few places where the beach was narrow.

We traversed fine on the way there

 but just before we reach the access path on our way back we had to come around a rocky point.

We got as far from the ocean as possible but the waves overtook the rocks we were clinging to 

& literally went over our heads.

Don't Try This At Home

We terrified the people who were standing at the end of the access path watching the waves.

At least there would have been witnesses had we been washed out to sea!

We got drenched!!! And I scraped my shin- I have a scar to prove it.

In hindsight, that was a really dumb thing to do- but we have some entertaining memories :) 

When we got back to the main road, we realized that they were actually closing beaches due to the violent waves that day. 

whoops.....

Did I mention we saw about 15 sea turtles?

I think I'll go watch some LOST.

Swimming With The Turtles! Paradise Cove, KoOlina, Oahu

It's hard to pick a favorite thing, of all the amazing experiences I've had here in Hawaii. 

I think snorkeling at Paradise Cove has to be at the top of the list!

Sea Turtles!!!

Actually it was my first time snorkeling, I went with Gabby and Brian.

We arrived early and there were just a few people on the beach. When you stood hip deep in the water the sea turtles would just come and check you out!

These guys were so friendly they would swim right between you.

I had to step out of the way as not to get ran into!

The beach was beautiful and the snorkeling lots of fun, I stalked the turtles at a respectful distance.

Gabby's picture

Gabby and I went back on another day but the water was too rough to snorkel.

Can't wait for my next snorkeling adventure!