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Announcement

The Halawa Xeriscape Garden is open to the public on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and pre-scheduled Saturdays for garden work days.

 

About Halawa Xeriscape Garden

The Halawa Xeriscape Garden displays a series of xeric (dry) plants in a residential-scale setting to demonstrate species capable of providing a visually attractive garden, while using less water than most currently popular plants. It was opened to public in September 1989, after several years of effort by the Board of Water Supply (BWS), as a way to educate Oahu residents on ways to save water in lawns, gardens, and landscaped areas.

In these demonstration gardens, you can familiarize yourself with the kinds of plants and grasses that need less irrigation, as well as the variety of approaches that use water more efficiently in the garden. These approaches include irrigation techniques, cultural practices, and landscaping ideas that will provide for drought-tolerant gardens and landscapes.

Suggested cultural practices that can save water are also seen at Halawa. These include: mulching, soil alteration, turf mowing practices, thinning of planted areas, weed control, and fertilization.

Halawa Xeriscape Garden is located in Halawa Valley's Central Park Industrial Area. It re-opened to the public on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, after being closed for an extended period of time due to the pandemic.

halawa xeriscape garden sign

HOW TO GET THERE
Halawa Xeriscape Garden (directions)
99-1268 Iwaena Street
Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 748-5315 | contactus@hbws.org

HOURS OF OPERATION
- Wednesdays, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Sign-in at the office window on arrival
View closure dates


Garden Rules: 

  • Visitors are allowed during posted public hours only. Please adhere to all posted closure notices on our website www.boardofwatersupply.com or Hālawa Xeriscape Garden grounds.
  • ALL visitors to the Hālawa Xeriscape Garden must sign in at the Garden Office.
  • ​All organized group tours must be arranged with the Board of Water Supply prior to visiting Hālawa Xeriscape Garden. Unauthorized group events or tours are prohibited. Visit the BWS website to learn more at https://www.boardofwatersupply.com/news-events/speakers-and-tours.
  • ​Parking is reserved for Hālawa Xeriscape Garden visitors only. All others will be towed.
  • Pets – except for service animals – are not allowed. Service animals must be controlled at all times to include, but not limited to harness, leash, or tether (unless use of these devices interfere with the service animal’s safety and/or effective performance of tasks).
  • ​Smoking, vaping and use of e-cigarettes is prohibited on Board of Water Supply grounds.
  • Alcoholic beverages and use of illegal substances is strictly prohibited.
  • Use of skateboards, roller skates or other play equipment is not allowed.
  • Unauthorized taking of soil, rocks, water, animals, plants, or plant parts from the Hālawa Xeriscape Garden grounds is prohibited.
  • ​The introduction of outside plants, terrestrial or aquatic animals, insects, or birds is prohibited. 
  • Do not obstruct, disturb or deface the paths, plants, signage, equipment, structures or facilities.
  • ​Drone flying is prohibited on Board of Water Supply property.
  • ​Amateur photographers are welcome. Commercial photography or videography must have prior approval.

 

HOURS OF OPERATION - CLOSURE DATES

  • Wednesday, November 27, 2024
  • Wednesday, December 11, 18, 25, 2024

For More Information

Phone: (808) 748-5315 | Email: contactus@hbws.org

halawa xeriscape garden visitor center


halawa xeriscape garden gazebo


Activities at the Garden

Annual Open House and Unthirsty Plant Sale

Our annual Unthirsty Plant Sale is traditionally held at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden on the first Saturday of August.

Find great deals on drought tolerant plants that help you conserve water in your garden, visit the plant doctor, backyard compost, rain barrel water catchment and many more booths.

keikiscapes 2017 halawa xeriscape garden

halawa xeriscape garden plant sale

Garden Tourstours arthur aiu halawa xeriscape garden

We are happy to share xeriscaping information through in-person or online meetings with groups of ten or more.

Email tours@hbws.org with your request at least three weeks in advance. We will respond as soon as we are able. Appointments dependent on staff availability. 

Our Instagram account @BWSHonolulu posts garden-related content using #bwshxg. Visit with us and let us know how your garden grows!

Volunteer Opportunities

volunteer at halawa xeriscape gardenVolunteers are welcome on Weedy Wednesdays and Spruce-Up Saturdays for a wide range of needed tasks:

  • Theme Garden Designer
  • Docent
  • Plant propagator
  • Weeding
  • Staffing the information office
  • Plant Sale worker

To learn about volunteer opportunities, consider joining the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden or, for more information, call (808) 748-5315.

Workshops at Halawa Xeriscape Garden

 Until we are able to start a new workshop schedule please see our workshops page for a sampling of mini workshop videos and an overview of past in-person workshops. 

Check out featured mini-workoshop videos and sample past workshops

Notice: Mulch No Longer Available at Halawa Xeriscape Garden

As of July 2014, the BWS no longer offers free mulch at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden in order to align with statewide efforts to prevent the spread of invasive pests. Mulch piles are potential breeding sites for the Rhinoceros Beetle, an invasive scarab beetle that feeds on coconut palms. For alternative free mulch giveaway sites, check with the City Department of Environmental Services (ENV).



Updated: 10/23/2024