"A Hawaii tourist attraction that has seen attendance skyrocket is planning to close its gates for one day a week to allow rest and rehabilitation for the site. Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is taking a public poll before it decides which day to close, effective in 2026. The 400-acre park near Kaneohe, on the island of Oahu, has been open 363 days a year, the only closures being Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free."
"We are on track for another record-breaking year of attendance, and more and more we are continuing to see the strain this is having on the natural allure and recreational offerings, Honolulu Botanical Gardens Director Joshlyn Sand said in the Sept. 15 press release announcing the plan. The garden recorded a doubling of attendance in five years, from 323,184 visitors in 2019 to 650,882 in 2024. The 12-month period from July 2024 through June 2025 saw 723,495 visitors."
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden will close one day per week starting in 2026 to allow rest and rehabilitation after surging visitor numbers. The 400-acre park near Kaneohe on Oahu has been open 363 days yearly, with only Christmas and New Year’s Day closures, and offers free admission. Attendance doubled from 323,184 in 2019 to 650,882 in 2024, and reached 723,495 between July 2024 and June 2025. A public poll will determine which day to close. Other Hawaiian sites have adopted limits for overcrowding, including Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head reservation and parking rules, and the demolished Haiku Stairs.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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