Admission is free, except at Foster Botanical Garden. 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. Some of the magnificent trees in this 14-acre garden were planted in the 1850s by Dr. William Hillebrand. They marked the beginning of a heritage that became The Honolulu Botanical Gardens.
Special emphasis is placed on conserving plants native to Hawaii.
Although it is still only partially developed, long-range plans envision Koko Crater Botanical Garden as an example of a xeriscape. Here selective planting and water conservation techniques transform this landscape into a garden where plants suitable to these desert-like surroundings can thrive and flourish. Liliuokalani Botanical Garden Just north of Foster Garden and located between North Kuakini and School Streets, is Liliuokalani Botanical Garden. She later bequeathed her land to the City and County of Honolulu to be used for the public's enjoyment. This developing garden is devoted to native Hawaiian plants.