Reservations begin Wednesday, April 23 for first day of fishing on Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Catch-and-release fishing is returning to Loko (Lake) Waimaluhia at Ho‘omaluhia! The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is pleased to once again invite the public to enjoy popular family fishing program at Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden beginning Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Along with improvements to the facilities leading to the banks of Loko Waimaluhia and updated marine life training for garden staff, DPR collaborated with the Honolulu Department of Information Technology to develop a free online reservation system for the popular program. This will help better manage the hundreds of eager keiki and adults looking to sink their hooks into some Windward fish.
Utilizing the in-house designed Parks and Recreation Online System (PROS) you can make a reservation of up to five people to enjoy two hours of fishing on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. No log-in is necessary to make your free reservation, simply visit the website at: bit.ly/HoomaluhiaFishing
Similar to the online reservation system for City campgrounds, fishing reservations are open at 5 p.m. two weeks ahead of the fishing periods. For instance, on Wednesday, April 23 at 5 p.m. online reservations will open for the two-hour fishing options on Wednesday, May 7 and Saturday, May 10.
“We are so excited to once again offer this amazing recreational and educational opportunity to our botanical garden visitors!” said Honolulu Botanical Garden Director Joshlyn Sand. “Relaunching this popular program required assistance from a variety of helpful partners, who helped ensure we had all of our ducks in a row before recasting the fishing program at Loko Waimaluhia. Partners like our IT support staff, specialized park maintenance workers, Scouts U.S.A., the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, and of course the garden caretakers and administrative support. From helping launch the online reservation system, to making physical access to the lake easier, and getting our staff ready for the curious keiki and their ‘ohana, there were a lot of improvements and upgrades that went into this reopening. A big mahalo also to the garden visitors who patiently waited to once again enjoy catch-and-release fishing. We can’t wait to see the memories created through fishing at our beautiful, picturesque lake!”
Fishing is open and free to participants of all ages. You can bring your own pole (no barbed hooks or live bait), or rent one for free from our friendly botanical garden staff.
Participants can show proof of their reservation through the emailed confirmation on their smartphone or by printing the document. Reservations are non-transferable, and must be made by an adult. Keiki under the age of two do not require a reservation to enjoy fishing. If you miss your chance to make a reservation for the time you want, no worries! We are keeping a good portion of the 100 fishing spots for each two-hour time period open to accommodate walk-ins.
While this online system will help DPR to better manage the crowds expected for the return of this popular recreational program, a reservation does not guarantee parking space, which is very limited. We highly recommend carpooling if possible. Organized Youth and School Groups can apply for weekday fishing permits by contacting the Hoʻomaluhia Education Center Office at 808-233-7323 or emailing hbg@honolulu.gov at least 30 days in advance.
Opened in 1982, Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kāneʻohe features plantings from major tropical regions around the world grouped geographically. Geographical regions represented by our botanical collections: Philippines, Malaysia, Tropical America, India & Sri Lanka, Melanesia, Hawai‘i, Polynesia, and Africa. The Garden was designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood protection for Kāneʻohe, but is now the City’s most popular botanical garden hosting over 650,000 visitors annually. Strolling or driving through these lush 400 acres in Windward Oʻahu, you will truly agree that Hoʻomaluhia is rightfully named ‘a peaceful refuge.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the staff Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden at 808-233-7323 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email hbg@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.
—PAU—
Follow the Honolulu Botanical Gardens online and on social media:
Instagram: @honolulubotanicalgardens Facebook: facebook.com/HoomaluhiaBotanicalGarden
Website: honolulubotanicalgardens.com
