Maui’s Garden of Eden: A Lush Gem Along the Hana Coast

Maui’s Garden of Eden is one of the best places to tune into Hawaiian calm rhythm and relish Maui’s spectacular sights among abundant lush plants.

^{Last updated: July 20, 2026}

Garden of Eden | Roads and Destinations — *Maui’s Garden of Eden*

How to Get to Garden of Eden: Location

Maui’s finest garden… One of the most overlooked natural trails on the island… Maui’s Garden of Eden is one of the first and easiest ways to experience Hawaiian natural abundance along the lush Hana Coast.

Located 21 miles (45 minutes) southeast of the town of Paia down the infamous Roadto Hana, the Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden is one of the overlooked gems of Maui.

Hidden Gem along the Road to Hana

We, too, skipped it the first time our car veered onto the winding tropical road and our feet hit the muddy ground under the unstoppable rain. My second take on the Road to Hana took a different approach.

Furnished with more than just a general idea of what this gorgeous jungle coast had to offer, I evaluated the area’s weather, pace (it can be pretty slow if you sit at the end of a long line of cars waiting for their turn to proceed across a one-lane bridge), estimated the time we would need to fully enjoy each place… and still failed badly at the latter task.

The first place where my timed itinerary faulted was Maui’s Garden of Eden. Tucked away at mile markers 10.5, the place is easy to reach and get lost amid its lush greenery and gorgeous views.

The Garden of Eden is open year round and doesn’t demand from its visitors neither excellent athletic skills nor immense stamina to walk along its 2.5-mile maze of well-maintained paths. And yet, it still remains one of the best-kept secrets of the Road to Hana.

Watch our adventures along the Road to Hana, including at Maui’s Garden of Eden

Visiting Maui’s Garden of Eden

We arrived at the iron gate behind which the lush kingdom of tropical plants resigned with some time to spare. The narrow road that veered to the right off the Road to Hana still showed distinct signs of the rain that showered the area the night before.

With more than 15 minutes on our hands, we pulled over to the side and busied ourselves with reading the sky for any signs of the imminent rain that would fall upon the Hana Coast in irregular sessions throughout the day. I pulled out my drone that still needed a lot of practice on my end to achieve the max results it could yield.

We – mainly I – got carried away and didn’t notice how the gate swung open and we were welcome to enter Maui’s Garden of Eden when we were ready.

A short drive from the gate, at the entrance booth, the staff greeted us with aloha and gave us a quick overview of the garden and the best places to start our exploration.

We stayed here far longer than expected. Maui’s Garden of Eden was that little green pocket of natural abundance, vibrant colors, and balsamic aromas that tempted you to take another trail and get to yet another overlook.

How Much Time Do You Need at Maui’s Garden of Eden

A few sources, including the garden’s official website, mention that you normally need about 30 minutes to visit the Garden of Eden. With this being our first proper stop of the day and many more sites to visit and miles to go, we rationed our time accordingly. In theory, it suited our schedule perfectly. In reality, we spend more than an hour at Maui’s Garden of Eden.

The place looks like a serene paradise on earth. From inquisitive and snack-begging peacocks to mesmerizing coastal views and exotic plants galore, you dive deeper into this tropical abundance, walk slower, and stop often to smell, touch, and sense the beauty all around you.

If you keep a diligent watch on your time, you can wrap up your visit to Maui’s Garden of Eden in 30 minutes. But is it even worth it? We thought no and extended our visit on a whim.

Maui's Garden of Eden | Roads and Destinations — *A hidden gem along the Road to Hana*

Highlight of the Garden of Eden

Two iconic sites of Maui are on display and can be seen from the walking trails of the Garden of Eden. Park at the Central Parking Lot and walk to the right past the Anthurium Garden to two Puohokamoa Waterfall overlooks.

The 200-foot waterfall is located on a private property between mile markers 10 and 11. The best way to see this resplendent giant without breaking the law or any body parts along the treacherous trail is right here, from the garden.

Once you feast your eyes on Puohokamoa Waterfall, turn to your left (while facing the waterfall) and walk past a small pond with water lilies. In front of the pond, you will see an overlook that opens the views of the famous Keopuka Rock. This pyramid-shaped islet was featured in the opening scene of the 1993 Jurassic Park movie. Consequently, the site is often called “Jurassic Rock”.

How to Visit

Reservation: No reservation is required prior to your visit to the Garden of Eden. You can pay the admission fee (it was $20 during our visit) right at the entrance. Here you can also get a hardcopy map of the garden and ask all the questions you may have.

Hours: Maui’s Garden of Eden is open daily. Yet since it’s a part of Maui, it follows the Hawaiian time diligently. So, no late evening visiting hours. Check the official Garden of Eden website for the precise hours of operation as they may change.

Location: 10600 Hana Highway (Highway 360), mile marker 10.5.