On the North Shore of the island of O'ahu, a richly scenic 30 miles from Honolulu, Hawai'i, sits the lush Waimea Valley. Carved out of the Ko'olau Mountain range by the elements some two million years ago, the valley became home to an abundant array of plant and wildlife. Although introduced species have burdened the native flora and fauna here, it remains a treasure of natural history and has been an important Hawai'ian spiritual center for centuries.

Managed and operated as the Waimea Valley Audubon Center, this nook of O'ahu now boasts botanical gardens of flora from around the world and a nature trail that lets visitors view the valley's plant and bird life and traditional Hawai'ian living sites before winding up at the base of Waihi Falls. Following is a photo gallery of a warm and humid day spent here.

Entering the Waimea Valley Audubon Center

A nature trail takes visitors past this brightly lit lily pond

The Hawai'ian population of the common moorhen, a waterbird known locally as the 'alae 'ula, is now endangered

The common peafowl, or pikake, is native to India

Visitors can peek around a traditional Hawai'ian living site, or kauhale

The roots of the banyan tree are large enough to provide plenty of shade for a person

The red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata), an import from Brazil in the 1930s, is common on the island of O'ahu

The botanical gardens feature stunning specimens of tropical flowering plants

This wetland duck at Kaiwiko'ele Stream is probably a hybrid of mallard and another non-native species

Waihi Falls--the name is Hawai'ian for "trickling water"--is a refreshing stop after the mile-long hike from the entrance