The Joseph Rock Arboretum is a garden located in the native Hawaiian dry forest, in the heart of Kona, Hawaii. The grounds include cataloged collections of tropical hardwood species, cactus/succulent, tropical flowering trees, agroforestry species. It is the home to Future Forests Nursery and the Hawaii Island Seed Bank. It is a training center for new forest creators from all over the world.

The garden is 48 acres, located in Kona, Hawaii. Private tours, educational tours, and training are available by appointment.

The Aha Moku System

According to Aha Moku, “For more than 10 centuries, the Hawaiian system of natural resource management has been handed down in oral tradition and practice. It is based on the concept of `ahupua`a, the traditional land and ocean tenure system of Hawaii.” This land tenure system divided the land from the mountains to the sea. The Joseph Rock Arboretum is in the ahupua’a of Honokohauiki.

To learn more about the history of the land see this story map.

Private garden tours – contact us