The Foster Botanical Gardens was first established as the private garden of Hawaii resident and botanist, William Hillebrand, in the 1850s. It was later sold to the Foster family, who maintained the gardens. After the land was sold to the City and County of Honolulu in 1930, it was opened to the public.
The gardens are home to a wide range of exotic flora with entire terraces devoted to New and Old World orchids, palms and ginger plants, and herbs, dyes, and poisonous plants. A butterfly garden serves as an open air habitat for native butterfly species.
Today, the gardens are open to the public from 9 am to 4 pm daily. General admission costs $5 for adults, $3 for Hawaii residents, and $1 for children. The gardens are located just off Nuuanu Boulevard, about 30 minutes from the Ko Olina Beach Villas.
