Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
The bright red ohia lehua contrasts brilliantly against
the misty green Koolau range.

---

Star-Bulletin

Hidden in the overwhelming sea of green that is Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden are splashes of fall color.

The African section of the 400-acre park -- with its 10,000 plants and its network of hiking trails -- is particularly lively at this time of year.

"(Colvillea) only blooms maybe for six weeks out of the year," said Olive Vaneselow, the garden's recreation specialist.

"There's still a lot of blooms to pop."

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
The New Guinea gardenia.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Colvillea racemosa, a tree from Madagascar, shows
off fiery blooms. Its grape-like clusters of velvety
buds range from chameleon green to blood orange.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Olive Vaneselow holds the craggy, round fruit of
the Gardenia volkensii. The plant's blossoms fade
from white to pale yellow over the course of a day.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Mimusops commersonii has an unobtrusive,
spidery-looking flower, but its golf-ball-sized
fruit is bright yellow.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Palms are fruiting throughout the garden, decked out
in seeds colored white, yellow, pink, green, brown
and scarlet. These clusters are on a MacArthur palm.

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden Location: 45-680 Luluku Road, Kaneohe Hours:9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Admission: Free Call:233-7323 Details: Family fishing days held monthly and free guided walks on weekends. Six camp sites, with restrooms and cold showers, open on weekends.Permit from garden required.

Click for online
calendars and events.