The Foster Botanical Garden is an oasis in the middle of downtown Honolulu. The 14-acre estate is home to all kinds of plants and animals! It takes about an hour to casually walk through the different gardens. You can view some really extravagant plants from around the world during your visit. With a price under $10/person, this is a great place to visit if you want a break from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu.
Foster Botanical Garden Location
Ticket Booth and Information Center
Before you even enter the gardens you are welcomed with lush landscaping that gives you a glimpse of what to expect inside. At the top of the main entrance you pass through the ticket booth where you pay for entrance. Don’t forget to show your Hawaii ID for a kama’aina discount! If you want more information about the gardens and to collect your garden map before you enter, spin around and visit the information booth.
Sausage Tree is Hung!
Now even vegetarians can eat sausage! The sausage tree or cucumber tree is native to Mozambique and is named for its stunning sausage shaped fruit. The gardens highlight different fruit and nut trees from around the world, including tamarind, dragonfruit, macadamia, and more!
Orchids, Orchids, Orchids!
Whether you’re visiting a curated garden, local nursery, or even Home Depot in Hawaii, there will be orchids! The Foster Botanical Garden is no exception. Orchids thrive in very specific conditions. To protect them, the orchids are located in the enclosed greenhouse near the butterfly garden.
The Trees Have Eyes
I…love…lizards! I think it’s mostly because they look like tiny dinosaurs! Anyways, there are all sorts of creatures creeping through the garden. Keep a look out for geckos, chameleons, and other tiny friends.
Eastern Influence
Next to the gardens is a Buddhist temple. The eastern influence spills over into the garden. One of the centerpieces is a small replica of the Kamakura Daibutsu near the butterfly garden. This is a 40+ foot bronze statue of Buddha in Japan.
Beauty is in the Details
Even the smallest flowers are packed with beauty. Don’t forget to bend down and admire the smallest inhabitants of the garden.Â
Foster Botanical Garden Pathways
The pathways throughout the gardens are clearly marked but you still feel like you’re in the wilderness. The landscaping is well maintained but not so much that feel like you’re in a nursery. The plants creep out onto the pathways making you feel like nature is slowly taking over.
Take a Respite in the Gazebo
If you want to take a break in the shade or maybe get out of the rain, the gazebo is a great place to sit and take in the natural beauty of the garden. The gazebo was built in memory of Richard C. Tongg, Hawaii’s first landscape architect of Chinese ancestry.
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