Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens Non-profit garden focused on the conservation of Native Hawaiian & Polynesian-introduced plants.

Mahalo to the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Department of Parks & Recreation, and our faithful volunteers.

Hawaiian Name: HōleiBotanical Name: Ochrosia haleakalaeFamily: Apocynaceae (Plumeria family)Status: Endemic, EndangeredW...
10/07/2026

Hawaiian Name: Hōlei
Botanical Name: Ochrosia haleakalae
Family: Apocynaceae (Plumeria family)
Status: Endemic, Endangered
Where found: Maui & Hawai‘i
Water/Light: Dry, with full sun exposure
Elevation range: 2,300 to over 3,900 feet
Height: up 30 feet, with an up to 8 foot spread

Hōlei flowers have a fragrance similar to the non-native local favorite, plumeria, and can be made into beautiful lei. Early Hawaiians used the bark, stems and roots of hōlei to produce a yellow dye for kapa. Medicinally, the nuts mixed with other plants, were chewed and given to infants for general debility. The bark and leaves were also used medicinally in steam baths. Hōlei is drought tolerant once established.

*Photo courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr

Hawaiian name: MaiapiloBotanical name: Capparis sandwichianaFamily: CapparaceaeStatus: EndemicWhere found: All Hawaiian ...
10/06/2026

Hawaiian name: Maiapilo
Botanical name: Capparis sandwichiana
Family: Capparaceae
Status: Endemic
Where found: All Hawaiian islands
Water/Light: Dry, with full sun exposure
Elevation range: 0 to 325 feet (Coastal)
Height: 5 to 8 feet, with an up to 6 foot spread

The Hawaiian name, maiapilo, literally translates to "bad smelling banana," likely referring to the scent of its fruit. However, the beautiful white flowers have a nice citrus fragrance. Maiapilo flowers open after sunset and bloom into the early morning hours. Maiapilo provides habitat for the rare native Blackburn's Sphinx moth, which feeds on its nectar. In old Hawai‘i, the entire plant was used medicinally for healing fractured or broken bones. Also, the milky sap, mixed with other plant materials, could be applied externally to treat boils. Maiapilo is drought, wind, salt, and heat tolerant.

*Photo courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr

WORKSHOP UPDATE: Native Mushrooms in HawaiʻiSunday, December 69am to 10am (time change)Learn about the native mushroom o...
10/06/2026

WORKSHOP UPDATE: Native Mushrooms in Hawaiʻi

Sunday, December 6
9am to 10am (time change)

Learn about the native mushroom of Hawaiʻi by joining us for this beautiful presentation by Chase McLean of Tropical Fungi Academy. This class will cover the history of mushrooms in the archipelago. We will start with the endemic and indigenous fungi and continue all the way through to the mushrooms people brought here with them. The presentation will feature photographs of the colorful mushrooms of Hawaiʻi, several of which are rare and in danger of extinction. Come learn about them and how to protect their habitats and stay for a questions-and-answers session.

Cost:
Members $25
Non-members $50 (includes a Naupaka-level membership)

Register today via the link in our bio or visit https://tinyurl.com/ycyxdzww.

Hawaiian Name: ‘OheBotanical Name: Schizostachyum glaucifoliumFamily: Poaceae (Grass Family)Status: Polynesian-introduce...
10/05/2026

Hawaiian Name: ‘Ohe
Botanical Name: Schizostachyum glaucifolium
Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
Status: Polynesian-introduced
Where found: Maui, Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i, O‘ahu & Kaua‘i
Water/Light: Moist, with partial sunlight
Elevation range: 200 to 900 feet
Height: Up to 45 feet

‘Ohe (Polynesian bamboo) is a kinolau (body form) of the Hawaiian god, Kane. In old Hawai‘i, ‘ohe was fashioned into water containers, fishing poles, knives, and design stamps for decorating kapa (‘ohe kapala). ‘Ohe was also valuable in crop irrigation, as early Hawaiians would cut long stalks in half (lengthwise), and use them to guide water flow from upland streams into descending levels of wetland taro fields. Musical instruments such as pu‘ili (fringed split bamboo) and the Hawaiian nose flute (‘ohe hano ihu) were also made from ‘ohe. In Waikamoi, Maui, it is said that the Hawaiian goddess, Hina, planted a grove of ‘ohe brought with her from Tahiti.

Hawaiian name: ‘Uala (Sweet Potato)Botanical name: Ipomoea batatasFamily: Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family)Status: P...
10/02/2026

Hawaiian name: ‘Uala (Sweet Potato)
Botanical name: Ipomoea batatas
Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family)
Status: Polynesian-introduced
Where found: In cultivation
Water/Light: Moist, with full sun exposure
Elevation: 0 to 5,000 feet
Height: Up to 1 foot

There once may have been more than 200 Hawaiian varieties of ‘uala. In old Hawai‘i, the young leaves were eaten as greens (called palula), and the sap was used in many medicinal treatments. A nursing mother wore an open lei of ‘uala vines to induce the flow of milk. The tuberous root (a great source of vitamin A, calcium and phosphorus) was an important food for early Hawaiians; and continues to be a local favorite today.

‘Ōlelo Noeau: ‘Uala li‘ili‘i o Kalepolepo.
Translation: Small potatoes from Kalepolepo.
Meaning: Said of an unintelligent person.

*Photo courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr

Taking MNBG grown plants across the street to the DWS Division of Water Conservation booth for their drought tolerant na...
10/02/2026

Taking MNBG grown plants across the street to the DWS Division of Water Conservation booth for their drought tolerant native plants giveaway!

Plants will be given away at their booth near the Central Maui pool for the next 4 days, come early for best selection.

Parking will be extremely limited for the garden for the next 3 days. Normal parking resumes on Tuesday.

Hawaiian name: WiliwiliBotanical name: Erythrina sandwicensisFamily: Fabaceae (Pea family)Status: EndemicWhere found: Al...
10/02/2026

Hawaiian name: Wiliwili
Botanical name: Erythrina sandwicensis
Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)
Status: Endemic
Where found: All Hawaiian Islands
Water/Light: Dry, with full sun exposure Elevation range: 0 to 2,000 feet
Height: Up to 60 feet, with a spread equal to its height

Wiliwili will grow in the harshest environments where few other native plants can survive. The Hawaiian name, wiliwili, means “twist-twist” or “repeatedly twisting” referring to the seed pods that twist to expose brightly colored seeds. Wiliwili seeds and flowers continue to be used to make beautiful permanent and temporary lei. The lightweight wood was the preferred choice for making surfboards (papa he‘e nalu) in old Hawai‘i. Early Hawaiians believed that when wiliwili were flowering along the coast, sharks were most likely to bite. Wiliwili is drought, wind and heat tolerant.

‘Ōlelo Noeau [M. K. PUKUI]: Pua ka wiliwili nanahu ka mano; pua ka wahine u‘i nanahu ke kanawai.
Translation: When the wiliwili blooms, the sharks bite; when a beautiful woman blossoms the law bites.
Meaning: A beautiful woman attracts young men, "sharks", who fight over her. The law steps in to keep the rivalry from getting out of hand.

*Photo courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr

WEEKLY PLANT SALENew plants for sale this week:• Awapuhi (Zingiber zerumbet) 1 gallon pot for $12, or 5 for $48.• ʻIhiʻi...
10/01/2026

WEEKLY PLANT SALE

New plants for sale this week:
• Awapuhi (Zingiber zerumbet) 1 gallon pot for $12, or 5 for $48.
• ʻIhiʻihi lāʻau akea (Marsilea villosa) 6 inch pot for $8.

Still get:
• Koʻokoʻolau (Bidens hillebrandiana ssp. polycephala) 4 inch pot for $6.
• Uhi (Dioscorea alata) 6 inch pot for $6.
• ʻUlu Maoli (Artocarpus altilus) 1 gallon pot for $35.
• ʻUlu Puou (Artocarpus altilus) 1 gallon pot for $35.

You can reserve plants by:
• Calling us at (808) 249-2798
• Sending us a DM on Instagram or Facebook*
• Visiting us in person at the garden.

We will hold reserved plants for one week; pick up and pay anytime Tuesday through Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm. We take all forms of payment.

*On social media messages, please include:
• Your name
• Your phone number
• What you would like to purchase

Plant sales and giveaways are for local residents only. We do not ship plant materials of any kind. For the weekly plant sale, we are unable to reserve plants by email.

Donʻt see what you are looking for?
If you are looking for plants not listed this week, contact our Plant Sales Manager, Chris Davella, by phone 808-276-4911 or email [email protected].

Attention North Shore residents! All the species for sale this week thrive in windward areas. IG friends, please zoom in...
10/01/2026

Attention North Shore residents! All the species for sale this week thrive in windward areas.

IG friends, please zoom in to see the details 👀

Hawaiian name: ‘ĀwikiwikiBotanical name: Canavalia pubescensFamily: Fabaceae (Legume Family)Status: Endemic, EndangeredW...
09/30/2026

Hawaiian name: ‘Āwikiwiki
Botanical name: Canavalia pubescens
Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family)
Status: Endemic, Endangered
Where found: Maui, Lāna‘i, Ni‘ihau & Kaua‘i
Water/Light: Dry, with full sun exposure
Elevation range: 600 to 2,400 feet
Height: climbing vine

The name, ‘āwikiwiki, comes from “wikiwiki” meaning fast or speedy; referring to this vine’s rapid growth rate. The flowers of this native species range in color from magenta to purple, which make stunning lei. In old Hawaii, these vines were used to make simple, temporary fish traps. A topical treatment for skin disorders can also be made from the leaf buds, leaves, bark, and roots of ‘āwikiwiki. Within a Hawaiian landscape, this native forms a thick barrier on fencing or trellises making it great for use as a screening plant. ‘Āwikiwiki can also grow as a ground cover if no climbable feature exists.

*Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

Address

150 Kanaloa Avenue
Kahului, HI
96732

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+18082492798

Website

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