Foster Botanical Garden
Chinatown / Downtown Honolulu
A 14-Acre City Garden With Some of Honolulu's Oldest Trees
Foster Botanical Garden, at 180 North Vineyard Boulevard on the edge of Chinatown, is the oldest of the City's Honolulu Botanical Gardens, a quiet 14-acre garden with a conservatory, an outdoor butterfly garden, a palm garden and a collection of cycads. Some of its large trees were planted in the 1850s. It is open 9 AM to 4 PM daily (last admission 3:30 PM, everyone out by 4) and closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for Hawaiʻi residents, $1 for children 6–12, and free for children under 5. Docent-led tours are free and run about 90 minutes at 10:30 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (the page says Thursdays would be added from March 2026), but the page also says there will be no Wednesday tours on October 14, 21 and 28, 2026. Drones are prohibited, collecting plants is not allowed, and commercial photography needs a permit.
Why Roamwise recommends this
One of the cheapest and calmest things to do in the urban core — a shaded, flat walk that suits any pace.
Best for: a budget-friendly morning, plant lovers, a break from Waikīkī and Chinatown crowds.
Insider tip: time it with a free docent tour at 10:30 AM, bring repellent, and combine it with Chinatown or Downtown.
- Safety notes:
- Hours and prices are from the City's page; check for closures on the City DPR botanical gardens page before going.
- Price tier:
- $
- Cost:
- $5 adults, $3 Hawaiʻi residents, $1 kids 6–12; docent tours are free. (checked October 2026)
Reviews: Google MapsYelp
Local tips
- •Adults $5
- •Hawaiʻi residents $3
- •kids 6–12 $1.
- •Open 9 AM–4 PM daily
- •last admission 3:30 PM.
- •Free docent tours at 10:30 AM on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat (none Wed Oct 14, 21, 28).
- •Insect repellent and sturdy shoes are advised
- •parking is limited.
Save places as you browse, then plan a trip built around your list.
View saved places →