Liliʻuokalani Gardens

Hilo, Hawaii, United States

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Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo, Hawaii, is a 24.67-acre Japanese-style garden located along Banyan Drive and Hilo Bay.

The land was originally donated in 1907 by Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch, to create a public park as a tribute to the first Japanese immigrants who worked in Hawaii’s sugar cane fields. Construction began in 1917, inspired by traditional Japanese gardens like the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, and features iconic elements such as torii gates, stone lanterns, curved moon bridges, pagodas, and a tea house donated by the Urasenke Foundation.

Despite damage from tsunamis in 1918, the garden was completed and officially opened in 1919. Over time, it has expanded and been carefully maintained as a cultural and historic landmark, celebrating the rich heritage of Japanese immigrants and offering visitors a peaceful, scenic retreat with beautiful walking paths and vibrant landscaping