Walking along Banyan Drive to Queen Lili'uokalani Garden

There are so many beautiful places to visit here on the Big Island of Hawai’i. However, none of them are as unique of a walk as walking down Banyan Drive to Queen Lili’uokalani Gardens. You will find these two places in Hilo, where you can park your vehicle and walk along Banyan Drive until you reach the beautiful Japanese garden of Queen Lili’uokalani.

If you choose to drive down Banyan Drive, you can still see all of the beauty there is to offer in both locations. However, it is a great walk to take if you have the time.

Banyan Drive

While walking along Banyan Drive, you will see many different Banyan trees. Some prominent people planted all of the Banyan trees.Movie stars, adventurers, politicians, religious leaders, notable Hawaiians, and even Babe Ruth planted them. Yes, Babe Ruth is in a category all by himself.

Planted by George Herman “Babe” Ruth on October 29, 1933

Unfortunately, some of the originally planted trees have been lost due to tsunamis and tidal wave that once devastated the Hilo coastline. However, there are still fifty trees still lining Banyan Drive, marked with wooden plaques.

Planted by China’s Premier Sun Fo

Banyan Tree - Philippine Labor & Cult Leader Hilario Moncado

Planted by Philippine labor and cult leader Hilario Moncado

Queen Lili’uokalani Garden

Japanese arching red bridge

The Queen Lili’uokalani Gardens are an authentic, 30-acre Japanese garden. In 1917, the garden was dedicated as a tribute to Hawaii’s first Japanese immigrants who worked in the Hawai’i Island sugar cane fields.

Queen Lili’uokalani Gardens are a beautifully landscaped park that features arching red bridges over fishponds, Japanese stone lanterns, a teahouse, rock gardens, and pagodas.