Foster Botanical Garden

Established in 1855, Foster Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Hawaii and holds a special place among Honolulu's family-friendly attractions. Sitting just blocks from downtown Honolulu in the middle of an urban neighborhood, this 14-acre garden feels like a green sanctuary — a place where time slows down and the sheer scale of century-old tropical trees creates a cathedral-like atmosphere unlike anything else in the city.

For families, Foster Botanical Garden offers several distinct highlights. The Exceptional Trees collection features some of the largest and oldest trees in all of Hawaii, including a sprawling autograph tree, a cannonball tree, and a massive black sapote — each with plaques explaining their remarkable histories. Children are consistently awestruck by trees this large, and the shaded canopy they create makes the garden comfortable even on hot Honolulu days.

The Prehistoric Glen is particularly magical for kids: a section of ancient cycads and tree ferns that date back to plant lineages from the age of dinosaurs. Walking through it genuinely feels like stepping back 65 million years. Pair this with a parent's narration about what Earth looked like before flowering plants evolved and you have an impromptu science lesson that kids actually remember.

The garden also grows economically important tropical plants from around the world — vanilla, cacao, cinnamon, coffee, and more — with interpretive signs explaining where the plants originate and how they're used. This makes the garden unexpectedly interesting for curious school-aged children who've never seen where chocolate actually comes from.

Admission is very affordable (children 5 and under are free), and the paved paths make it one of the few Honolulu botanical gardens that works well with a stroller. Plan 1–2 hours and combine with a Chinatown lunch for a relaxed and affordable family morning.