Family-Friendly Hiking at the Friendship Garden

Our family has been on a couple of hikes (or more like one and a half, since one of those times it was a last-minute decision and we weren't properly dressed for hiking so we turned around 1/3 of the way through the hike), and since I read online that the Friendship Garden hike is a fairly easy one and very family-friendly, we decided to give it a try.

Located in Kaneohe at the very top of Kokokahi Place, a very narrow residential road, the Friendship Garden is easy to miss - and in fact we did drive right past it, but luckily as we drove back around my husband spotted the tiny, almost hidden, sign on the ground leading to the entrance.

Friendship Garden Sign

We walked up the Hikers' Gathering Steps, passed a shed, and started our way on the trails.

Hikers' Gathering Steps

There is a lower loop trail (Russ Porter/Main Trail approximately .25 miles) and an upper loop trail (Dudley Talbott Trail approximately .4 miles including 350 feet of lower loop).

The trail was well-maintained and quite easy for even my 3-year old.

While on the hike we saw lots of different types of plants, such as taro, bamboo and macadamia nut trees.

Taro

Bamboo Grove

Macadamia Nut Tree

It wasn't too long before we reached the Ridge Lookout, where we had beautiful views of Kaneohe Bay.

We spent just under an hour hiking and enjoying the views at Friendship Garden.

It was a great way to spend the morning with the family!

Friendship Garden

Kokokahi Place

Kaneohe, HI  96744