Two National Tropical Botanical Garden sites in the Lāwaʻi Valley. HTA highlights their giant Moreton Bay fig trees (Allerton’s appeared in Jurassic Park) and their variety of trails and plant species.
Why we love it
Allerton’s towering figs are worth the trip on their own, and a guided tour brings the valley’s story to life.
Current conditions: NTBG reports the Lāwaʻi Gardens Visitor Center has reopened and tours are departing again after Hurricane Lowell (Oct. 2026).
What to expect
Every visit starts at the Lāwaʻi Gardens Visitor Center, where a shuttle included with your reservation drives you down into the valley. Allerton is seen on a guided tour. A combined ‘Best of Both Worlds’ tour covers highlights of both gardens, and McBryde self-guided visits run about 2.5 hours. There are also twilight tours and a sunset tour with dinner on the Allerton house lanai. Tours sell out, so book ahead, and wear closed-toe shoes or secure sandals. Bring water and bug spray.
Know before you go
- Reservations
- Required for every tour, and tours may sell out in advance. Book at ntbg.org.
- Shoes
- Closed-toe shoes or hiking sandals with straps over the ankles and toes are required.
- Schedule
- NTBG says tours run Monday–Friday for the rest of October 2026. Check the booking calendar.
- Getting in
- Everyone rides the included shuttle from the visitor center. You can’t drive into the gardens.
- Road
- Lāwaʻi Road toward Spouting Horn was badly storm-damaged in 2026. Drive slowly and follow detours.
Photo: Daderot. via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
