High on the island of Kauai (Hawaii) sits Keahua Arboretum, home to the largest population of a fascinating tree: the Rainbow Eucalyptus.

The Rainbow Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta, a gum tree also known as the rainbow gum) is a tall tree native to the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It was transplanted to Hawaii in 1929 to help re-wild parts of Kauai.

The Rainbow Eucalyptus gets its name from the distinctive colouring on its trunk. As the tree ages, the bark begins peeling, revealing vibrant colours. The most common colours are lime green and rusty oranges; you can also find various shades of blues, yellows and purples.

On Kauai, the place with the most Rainbow Eucalyptus is Keahua Arborteum, which sits in the tropical rainforest area of the island. Here you can see many examples of the Rainbow Eucalyptus on a backdrop of cloud-covered mountains and lush rainforests.

There is also excellent hiking available here as well. Several trailheads, including the Powerline and Kuilau Ridge trails, lead into the rainforest.

How to get there

Keahua Arboretum sits to the west of Wailua and Wailua Homesteads. If you take road 580, go to the very end. This road ends at the arboretum.

The arboretum is outdoors, so make sure you take a raincoat (it is a rainforest!).

There is free parking available for approximately 20 cars. People generally spend about half an hour or less here, so even if you have to wait for parking, you will not have to wait for long.

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