Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden comparison please

I read that Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is well worth a visit and should take around 1.5 hours, but I will only have a very short time in Hilo and am not sure that would fit into the schedule. Besides, I (and my mom) really love flowers and likely would linger longer than most. Example: It took us a long time to go through the Ali%26#39;i Kula Lavendar Farm admiring all the flowers and I don%26#39;t think it is as big as Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

In contrast, I will have plenty of time on Oahu. So the question is: has anyone gone to Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden and other botanical gardens on Oahu, and how they compare. I am willing (and have the time) to go to more than one botanical gardens on Oahu.

Also my visit will be next February so there might be some plants that are not flowering then if that would change your recommendations.

Thank you.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden comparison please

The one on the Big Island a bit north of Hilo was excellent and well worth the visit. We thought the scenic drive to it was the prettiest part of the island.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden comparison please

If you have more time on Oahu, I am going to try this link.

I loved HTBG, but it sounds like you may not have enough time to enjoy the grounds

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k124230…

it%26#39;s very much worth a visit, but 1.5 hours is sort of a minimum, plus 15 minutes to and from town. There%26#39;s great stuff at the bottom of the garden, so I wouldn%26#39;t pay just to walk around the top.

Sorry, I haven%26#39;t seen the gardens on Oahu.

Nani Mau is not as cool as HTBG, for the setting, but for flowers alone it has some beauties and it could be a quick in and out because it%26#39;s level. Also you don%26#39;t need to slather on DEET which you do at Onomea Bay. There are often reduced admissions coupons for Nani Mau (south of town, near the MacNut factory).

February is a great time to see HTBG; orchids are blooming and it%26#39;s less hot and humid -- but you would want to have more than one day as a possible time because it could rain. Of course it could rain at any time in Hilo, Feb is just more likely.