Discover Lawai: Gardens, Shrines, and Landscape

Lawai can be explored through several themes: native plants, a landscape along Lawa’i Stream, and a Japanese pilgrimage tradition. If you’re looking for a hotel, these highlights can help you shape your trip around your interests. McBryde Garden and Allerton Garden represent different garden themes; the Lawai International Center adds a cultural and historical dimension, along with public tours on recurring dates.

Gardens and Landscape

McBryde Garden is home to the world’s largest collection of native Hawaiian plants. The self-guided experience also includes a breadfruit agroforest and has a set duration of 2.5 hours. The collection and agroforest offer two different perspectives on the botanical focus: native plants on the one hand and an agroforestry growing method on the other. This provides both a specific garden theme and a planning reference. The operating duration may change, so check the latest information before your visit.

Allerton Garden adds another perspective with its location on the banks of Lawa’i Stream. The valley narrows there before opening toward the Pacific Ocean. The landscape can therefore be understood as a progression from the narrower valley to the opening toward the Pacific. The garden also has a history as a filming location for many well-known movies and television shows. The streamside setting and valley shape describe its landscape; its film history adds a cultural perspective.

Cultural History and Tours

The Lawai International Center offers a different cultural and historical focus. In 1904, first-generation Japanese immigrants built 88 shrines there as replicas of an ancient pilgrimage to 88 temples in Shikoku, Japan. The number of shrines echoes the 88 temples of the original pilgrimage and makes the connection to the tradition clear. The center covers 32 acres, and historical artifacts can still be seen there today.

Public tours take place on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. They also include time for a walk along the path there. As the schedule may change, check the current tour dates before your visit. This connects the history of the shrines with a specific opportunity to learn about the center on a public tour.

Planning Your Visit

The different types of visits offer distinct planning guidelines: the McBryde Garden self-guided experience has a set duration of 2.5 hours, while the Lawai International Center has recurring tour days. These answer two different questions—how much time to allow for the self-guided experience and which days public tours are held. If you have a particular calendar date in mind, check the center’s schedule; if you’re planning around a specific duration, check the latest information for McBryde. The themes of the gardens and the center also provide a practical framework for choosing the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Princeville, Hanalei, Koloa, Kekaha, Līhuʻe, Kilauea, Anahola, Poipu.

For the broader travel overview: Kauai.