Foster Botanical Garden: Honolulu's Living Library of Tropical Life

Foster Botanical Garden is Honolulu's oldest living library of tropical life. This is a short journey through a few of the gentle giants inhabiting the garden in the form of a narrated slideshow.

Foster Botanical Garden stands as Honolulu's oldest and most historically significant public green space, established in 1853. Located on 13.5 acres in the heart of the downtown urban center of Honolulu, its primary function is the conservation of rare, endangered, and culturally vital tropical plant species, many of which are extinct or critically threatened in the wild.

The garden is essential to Honolulu as a living library of botany and a critical environmental resource. The importance of the plants housed within Foster Garden is deeply tied to the history and culture of Hawai‘i. The garden diligently preserves species integral to pre-contact Hawaiian life, including food sources and materials for traditional practices. Key collections feature plants such as kalo (Taro), the staple and sacred food of the Hawaiian people, and wauke (paper mulberry), used to create kapa (traditional cloth). Maintaining these species helps sustain cultural knowledge, traditional practices, and agricultural history.

Beyond its cultural holdings, the garden is internationally renowned for its collection of towering tropical trees and diverse global flora. Many of these species, although non-native, are vital to global conservation, serving as a haven for genetic material that is endangered in their original homelands. This off-site preservation includes centuries-old Exceptional Trees, invaluable scientific resources, as well as exotic palms and orchids that support the horticultural and landscaping industries, shaping Honolulu's aesthetic.

As one of the five Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Foster plays a vital role in global conservation efforts through research and seed exchange programs. Its mission ensures that future generations will have access to both the natural heritage of the islands and a diverse array of tropical flora, cementing the garden’s place as a cornerstone of botanical education and preservation in the Pacific. Foster Botanical Gardens is a beautiful collection of heritage and history from around the world. If you are ever in Honolulu, Hawaii, make this one of your stops to see its beauty for yourself!

Map of Foster Botanical Garden.