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Oʻahu

Is Foster Garden worth it?

Worth itUnderrated · +39Honolulu's oldest botanical garden: 14 acres of giant heritage trees on the edge of Chinatown
Foster Garden
Peter Kenny · Google Maps
Foster Garden
Michael Gilmore · Google Maps
Foster Garden
Makua Annon · Google Maps
Foster Garden
Rio Delia Benitez · Google Maps
Foster Garden
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Worth it. 4.6 across 2,096 Google reviews; it's modestly famous and consistently exceeds expectations, with complaints limited to freeway noise and bugs.

Hype31How famous and hyped it is
Reality70Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
The gap+39UnderratedHow we score
4.6 ★ Google · 2,096 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first

Been to Foster Garden? Was it worth it?

One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.

Is it worth it for you?

Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 on a budget vote

$5 entry, free parking and free docent tours make it one of the cheapest paid attractions in Honolulu.

Why Reality is 70

Lives up to its fame4/54.6 across 2,096 Google reviews; it's modestly famous and consistently exceeds expectations, with complaints limited to freeway noise and bugs.
Value for money4/5$5 for 1–2 hours among 150-year-old trees with free parking is excellent value.
Can’t get it elsewhere3/5The heritage trees are special, but Oʻahu has several excellent gardens, some free (Hoʻomaluhia, Lyon).
Easy to do4/5Open daily, no reservation, free lot; the drive from Waikīkī is 20–40 min in city traffic.

What people loved

Massive heritage trees, a prehistoric cycad glen, butterfly garden and orchids, all labeledVery cheap at $5 with a free private parking lot, rare for downtown HonoluluShady, quiet escape that feels far from the city; good for photographers and birdersKid-friendly extras like a bird-spotting guide handed out at the ticket booth

What wore them down

Freeway noise from the nearby H-1 is audible inside the gardenMosquitoes in shady, damp corners; no café or snack standSmaller and more urban than the island's big valley gardens; casual visitors are done in about an hourSome side paths are rooty and uneven; gates lock at 4 p.m.

Know before you go

See something out of date? Fix it right here.

Booking: Walk-in; pay at the gate. Call (808) 768-7135 to reserve a spot on the free docent tour.

Entry$5 adults (non-resident); $3 Hawaiʻi residents; $1 kids 6–12; under 5 freeSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
HoursDaily 9 a.m.–4 p.m., last admission 3:30 p.m.; closed Dec 25 and Jan 1Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Free docent tours10:30 a.m. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat (Thursdays added from March 2026), about 90 min; reservations recommendedSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Size / history14 acres; oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens, with trees planted in the 1850s by Dr. William HillebrandSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
ParkingFree on-site lot off Vineyard BlvdSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Time neededAbout 90 minutes to 2 hoursSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
From Waikīkīabout 5 miles; 20–40 min by car depending on trafficSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
  • Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

In their words

“…you would never know you were in the middle of the city and it only cost $5 to get in.”
David Wolfe · Google review · 2 months ago
“For those casually interested in plants and such, probably a good hour-long activity.”
James Grimaldi · Google review · 2 months ago
“They have a prehistoric section that was so fun for the kids.”
Valentina Huff · Google review · 4 months ago
“Small, but very nice native botanical garden…”
Don Windrem · Google review · 5 months ago

Tips from people who went

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Questions people ask

How much does Foster Botanical Garden cost?

$5 for adults, $3 for Hawaiʻi residents, $1 for kids 6–12 and free under 5.

Is there parking at Foster Botanical Garden?

Yes, a free on-site lot off Vineyard Boulevard.

Does Foster Botanical Garden offer tours?

Free docent-led tours run at 10:30 a.m. several days a week and last about 90 minutes; call (808) 768-7135 to reserve.

How long do you need at Foster Botanical Garden?

About an hour for a casual look, 1.5–2 hours to see the main collections.

What are Foster Botanical Garden's hours?

Daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m., last admission 3:30 p.m.; closed Christmas and New Year's Day.

Better fits, according to people who went

Chinatown — photo by Ken KroehlerSkip itReality 42 +42Chinatown★ 3.7Honolulu & Waikīkī · CultureWalk across the street afterward for lei stands, markets and lunch.Lyon Arboretum — photo by Lyon ArboretumWorth itReality 71 +52Lyon Arboretum★ 4.7Honolulu & Waikīkī · NatureFree, wilder rainforest garden in Mānoa with a waterfall trail (weekdays only).Hoʻomaluhia — photo by Jeff NeeleyWorth itReality 76 +19Hoʻomaluhia★ 4.7Windward · NatureFree, huge windward garden with dramatic Koʻolau cliff views.Pearl Harbor — photo by Christopher WilkinsonWorth itReality 90 −2Pearl Harbor★ 4.8Honolulu & Waikīkī · HistoryNPS memorial to the 1941 attack, with museums and a boat to the USS Arizona Memorial

Sources

Verdict by The Hype Gap editors. No one paid for it. Facts checked Oct 16, 2026. How we score · Standards