Foster Botanical Garden

Foster Botanical Garden As the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Foster Botanical Garden displays a mature and impressive collection of tropical plants. Yes! Upon Mrs.
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Some of the magnificent trees in this 14-acre garden were planted in the 1850s by Dr. William Hillebrand. A garden in the midst of busy downtown Honolulu? And here at Foster Botanical Garden, visitors find a refreshing change from the chaos of the city. As the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Foster Garden displays a mature and impressive collection of tropical plants. They marked the beg

inning of a heritage that became The Honolulu Botanical Gardens. Foster Garden traces its beginning to 1853 when Queen Kalama leased a small area of land to William Hillebrand, a young German doctor. A botanist as well as a physician, he and his wife built a home in the upper terrace area of the present garden. The magnificent trees which now tower over this area were planted by him. After twenty years in Hawaii, he returned to Germany and produced the excellent botanic treatise, Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (1888). The Hillebrand property was later sold to Thomas (Captain) and Mary Foster who added to it and continued to develop the garden. Foster's death in 1930, the 5.5 acre site was bequeathed to the City and County of Honolulu as a public garden. The Foster Botanical Garden opened to the public on November 30, 1931, with Dr. Harold Lyon as its first director. Over a span of 27 years, Dr. Lyon introduced 10,000 new kinds of trees and plants to Hawaii. The Foster Garden orchid collection was started with Dr. Lyon's own plants. Through purchases by the City and gifts from individuals, under the directorship of Paul R. Weissich (1957-89), Foster Garden expanded to over 13.5 acres. In addition to being a pleasant place to visit, Foster Botanical Garden is a living museum of tropical plants, some rare and endangered, which have been collected from throughout the world's tropics over a period of 150 years. More than 75,000 visitors view the garden annually. Guided tours are given to thousands of school children as well as visitors from around the world. Honolulu's botanical garden system has broadened to other sites and now includes, in addition to Foster Botanical Garden, four other gardens on Oahu. AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE GARDEN

Lyon Orchid Garden - a collection of Old and New World orchid species. Main Terrace - the oldest part of the garden dating from 1853. Middle Terraces - palms, aroids, heliconia and ginger plants. Economic Garden - herb garden, spices, dyes, poisons and beverage plants. Prehistoric Glen - primitive plants from around the world. The Orchid Conservatory - blooming orchid display. Exceptional Trees - 24 trees designated "exceptional" throughout the Garden. EXCEPTIONAL TREES (Act 105)
"Exceptional trees" by reason of age, rarity, location, size, aesthetic quality, endemic status or historical and cultural significance may be designated by the County Arborist Committee as worthy of preservation. Foster Garden contains 24 of over 100 trees that have been designated exceptional on Oahu. Act 105 was enacted by the Hawaii State Legislature in 1975. This Act requires the counties, who possess primary control over land development, to safeguard the exceptional trees from injury or destruction.

April and May classes at the Honolulu Botanical Gardens are now open for registration at https://pros.hnl.info/ then “Ac...
03/17/2025

April and May classes at the Honolulu Botanical Gardens are now open for registration at https://pros.hnl.info/ then “Activities” then filter for “Botanical Gardens.” Limited spaces available. For help navigating the reservation system, refer to this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18###7S2-ew

Spring Session II 2025
Date Garden Class Name Age Range Time Fee
April 1 Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Art (recurring) 18+ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Free
April 3 Wahiawā Tree Trunks for Keiki 3-10 10:00 am – 11:30 am $3
April 4 Hoʻomaluhia Tour of Kuou 16+ 10:00 am – 11:00 am free
April 5 Wahiawā E Ulu Preschool Play 3+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm free
April 7 Wahiawā Drop-in Ti Lei (recurring) 7+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am Free
April 10 Hoʻomaluhia Ti Cultivation & Culture 18+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Free
April 12 Hoʻomaluhia Lauhala Bracelet 10+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm $15
April 12 Foster Intermediate Photography 14+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm 14
April 12 Wahiawā Drop-in Ti Leaf Lei Making 12+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm $15
April 16 Hoʻomaluhia Ethnobotanical Hawaii Plants 18+ 10:00 am – 11:00 am Free
April 17 Hoʻomaluhia Keiki – Nature Fun 3-5 10:00 am – 11:30 am Free
April 17 Hoʻomaluhia Ti Leaf Lei Making 18+ 10:00 am – 12 noon Free
April 17 Wahiawā Succulent Gardens 14+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am $20
April 19 Hoʻomaluhia Tour of Lehua 16+ 10:00 am – 11:00 am Free
April 22 Hoʻomaluhia Earth Day Lei Making 18+ 10:00 am – 12 noon Free
April 22 Foster Kokedama 18+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm $20
April 24 Hoʻomaluhia Plant Hui & Plant Doctor 18+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am Free
April 26 Hoʻomaluhia Garden Meditation 18+ 10:00 am 11:00 am Free
April 26 Hoʻomaluhia Lei Kukui nut 12+ 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm $10
April 26 Wahiawā Tree Passport 6-11 10:00 am – 11:30 am $3
April 29 Foster Wili Lei 18+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm $25
May 3 Hoʻomaluhia introduction to Lauhala 8+ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm $25
May 3 Wahiawā Fairy Garden 12+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am $20
May 6 Wahiawā Let’s Talk Tomatoes 18+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am $5
May 9 Hoʻomaluhia Tour of Kuou 18+ 10:00 am – 11:00 am Free
May 10 Wahiawā Cellphone Photography 14+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am Free
May 10 Hoʻomaluhia Intermediate Photography 14+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Free
May 15 Hoʻomaluhia Keiki – Nature Fun 3-5 10:00 am – 11:30 am Free
May 17 Hoʻomaluhia Lei Ti Leaf Maile 12+ 10:00 am 11:30 am $10
May 17 Wahiawā Plant Doctor 18+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am Free
May 22 Hoʻomaluhia Plant Hui & Plant Doctor 18+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am Free
May 24 Hoʻomaluhia Garden Meditation 18 10:00 am – 11:00 am Free
May 29 Wahiawā Plumeria Haku 14+ 10:00 am – 11:30 am $5
May 31 Hoʻomaluhia Blue Marble Bracelet 12+ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm $10

Hello,You are invited to a super-fun play with puppets, song, and dance for preschoolers and their caregivers! It’s free...
03/15/2025

Hello,
You are invited to a super-fun play with puppets, song, and dance for preschoolers and their caregivers! It’s free but reservations are required.
Please reserve a spot for you and your grouplet on the City and Countyʻs Department of Parks and Recreation reservation system: https://pros.hnl.info/, then click on “Activities,” and search for “E Ulu.”

Find this Central American tree—commonly known as the shaving brush tree or Dr. Seuss tree— at Foster Botanical Garden. ...
03/13/2025

Find this Central American tree—commonly known as the shaving brush tree or Dr. Seuss tree— at Foster Botanical Garden. Its truffula-tree-like flowers are currently paving the way with pink wonder. Write the tree’s scientific name in the comments below. Celebrate this character and the community forests in which they play a role by visiting: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

Originating from Tropical Asia, Australia, and Africa, this tree of many names, including False Kamani, is popping with ...
02/28/2025

Originating from Tropical Asia, Australia, and Africa, this tree of many names, including False Kamani, is popping with color right now at Foster Botanical Garden. When its vibrant leaves fall into fish ponds, they help balance the water’s pH and bacteria levels. When the fruits fall into people’s baskets, they can be eaten raw or the almond-like nuts can be roasted.

Visit Foster Botanical Garden to see it in person, and share its scientific name in the comments. We’re celebrating trees, their beauty, and their usefulness all this year. Find out more at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

Join us in celebrating historic people and plants this month! These two worlds collide in one corner of Foster Botanical...
02/18/2025

Join us in celebrating historic people and plants this month! These two worlds collide in one corner of Foster Botanical Garden. Just opposite the Daibutsu statue, you will find a chaulmoogra tree whose essence helped cure leprosy (or Hansen’s disease). The technique of extracting the tree’s ethyl esters was perfected by Alice Ball, an African American chemist and postgraduate of the University of Hawaii. The technique now bears her name though she wasn’t credited until well after her untimely death in 1916. Learn more about Miss Ball here: https://scientificwomen.net/women/ball-alice-121
And play our TREE-dle game by writing the chaulmoogra’s scientific name in the comments below. All year long, we will be celebrating trees’ contribution to our well-being. Find out more by visiting: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

Come discover three installations at Foster Botanical Garden. Artists Melissa Chimera, Brandon Ng, and the Art Labor Col...
02/18/2025

Come discover three installations at Foster Botanical Garden. Artists Melissa Chimera, Brandon Ng, and the Art Labor Collective from Vietnam have created some intriguing and thought-provoking artworks on the grounds that will be on display from now until May 4th.

Visit https://hawaiicontemporary.org/ for more information.

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18th from 12-1pm for the Opening Reception of three installations at Foster Botanica...
02/17/2025

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18th from 12-1pm for the Opening Reception of three installations at Foster Botanical Gardens. Artists Melissa Chimera, Brandon Ng, and the Art Labor Collective from Vietnam will be onsite, talking about their work. No reservation required. The garden’s $3-$5 admission fee applies.

Visit https://hawaiicontemporary.org/ for more information about the Triennial that runs through May 4th

02/15/2025

Love trees? Express your passion by writing a love letter to a tree or to one of the art installations onsite. Then insert your note into one of the mailboxes posted around Foster Botanical Garden from now until Tuesday. At noon on Tuesday, February 18th Hawai’i Triennial artists will officially reveal their installations and talk to the public about their pieces. They may even read one of your “love letters” to the assembled crowd!

This South American tree, now in bloom at Wahiawā and Foster Botanical Gardens, has a complicated scientific name but a ...
02/12/2025

This South American tree, now in bloom at Wahiawā and Foster Botanical Gardens, has a complicated scientific name but a simply gorgeous glow. Do you know what it’s called? Celebrate it and all our community forests by visiting: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

Guess the scientific name of this beautiful tree in bloom at Foster and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens right now. Its fem...
02/05/2025

Guess the scientific name of this beautiful tree in bloom at Foster and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens right now. Its female flowers flutter down in light spirals. Join us in celebrating this and all of our community forests by visiting https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/ - Images by Craig Ball

This Saturday at 10am at Wahiawā Botanical Garden, learn about the plants and animals brought to the islands by Polynesi...
02/04/2025

This Saturday at 10am at Wahiawā Botanical Garden, learn about the plants and animals brought to the islands by Polynesians in canoes, and then make your own mini replica. In this engaging and immersive class, you will get to see, touch, and taste many of the plants Hawai’i holds dear. Register at www.pros.hnl.info and then click on “activities.” For plant, history, and craft enthusiasts aged 8 to 99.

All five gardens are OPEN today from 9am to 4pm, including Hoʻomaluhia, Wahiawā, Koko Crater, and Foster Botanical Garde...
01/31/2025

All five gardens are OPEN today from 9am to 4pm, including Hoʻomaluhia, Wahiawā, Koko Crater, and Foster Botanical Gardens. Please use CAUTION as grounds are saturated and may be slippery.

The Honolulu Recreational Community Gardening Program is “tilling over” the rules and regulations, and written testimony...
01/30/2025

The Honolulu Recreational Community Gardening Program is “tilling over” the rules and regulations, and written testimony will be accepted until February 4th. To submit testimony, visit bit.ly/hrcgp-rule-revision.

Our Community Gardens Project Manager, Anna Mines, spoke with Maddie Bender on HPR’s The Conversation to discuss what’s being changed and why. Listen online at hawaiipublicradio.org

01/29/2025
Happy TREE-dle Tuesday. Today, we celebrate this beauty in full bloom right now at Foster and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gard...
01/28/2025

Happy TREE-dle Tuesday. Today, we celebrate this beauty in full bloom right now at Foster and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. It comes from Indochina, bears spikes on its trunk, and produces cotton-like fibers and bright red flowers. Guess its scientific name in the comments below. Find out more about the Year of Our Community Forests here: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

01/25/2025
It’s TREE-dle Tuesday! Guess what tree this is, using its scientific name. The tree is native to the Philippines but gro...
01/21/2025

It’s TREE-dle Tuesday! Guess what tree this is, using its scientific name. The tree is native to the Philippines but grows tall and strong at Wahiawā, Foster, and Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. It sheds its outer bark to foil pests that try to climb it. We’re raising awareness about the importance of trees in all of our lives as we celebrate the Year of Our Community Forests. Find out how you can join in by visiting: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees/

Address

50 North Vineyard Boulevard
Honolulu, HI
96817

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+18087687135

Website

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Love art? Come visit three Hawai’i Triennial 25 art installations at Foster Botanical Garden and write a note to the artists. Better yet, come tell them what you love about their work tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18th at 12 noon face-to-face. It’s the Opening Reception! The art will be on display from now to May 4th, but the opening may be your only opportunity to meet all three sets of artists at one time.

Love trees? Express your passion by writing a love letter to a tree or to one of the art installations onsite. Then insert your note into one of the mailboxes posted around Foster Botanical Garden from now until Tuesday. At noon on Tuesday, February 18th Hawai’i Triennial artists will officially reveal their installations and talk to the public about their pieces. They may even read one of your “love letters” to the assembled crowd!

Green is the new black at the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. Enjoy any one of our five gardens across the island. We’re open 9am to 4pm 363 days a year.

Find peace and beauty at the gardens. We’re OPEN 363 days a year, including Thanksgiving.

We’re OPEN 9:00 am to 4:00 pm 363 days a year, including Thanksgiving and the day after. Find some respite and exercise at Wahiawā, Foster, Lili’uokalani, Koko Crater, or Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden.

Colors and shapes of the season at Foster Botanical Garden. Photos by Craig Ball.

Discover the red jade vine (Mucuna Bennettii of Papua New Guinea) at Wahiawā Botanical Garden. Right now, the trees on the Makai side of the garden are completely draped in these flamboyant flowers. Weave down the path, turn the corner, and there they hang in all their splendor.

JOBY live Wahiawa Botanical Garden

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