The mission of Honolulu Botanical Gardens is to plan, and develop, curate, maintain and study documented collections of tropical plants in an aesthetic setting for the purpose of: conservation, botany, horticulture, education, and passive recreation.

Description:
There are five distinct gardens forming a unique garden system. The five gardens are located in different ecological settings around the island of Oahu. They offer visitors year-round opportunities to explore unique and diverse plant collections. Admission is free, except at Foster Botanical Garden.

Conservation
The Honolulu Botanical Gardens is dedicated to the conservation of flora from the topics and subtropics including our own native Hawaiian flora. We are a participating institution of the Center for Plant Conservation, a national network of botanical gardens working to save the endangered plants of the United States.

Botany
Plants from various geographical areas of the world are grown to support the scientific study of plants.

Horticulture
Only the highest standards of horticultural practice are pursued in maintaining the plant collections of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. Together, these five gardens have the largest collection of tropical plants in the United States.

Education
Emphasis is placed on developing quality botanical interpretive programs that will ensure greater public awareness of world conservation issues and increase understanding of the value of plants.

Recreation
Recreational programs that are appropriate to a botanical garden yet responsive to community needs are being developed. In this way, these gardens can renew our communities by enriching the quality of life.

Foster Botanical Garden:
A garden in the midst of busy downtown Honolulu? Yes! 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.
Palm collection
Lyon Orchid Garden
Hybrid Orchid Display Case
Prehistoric Glen
Exceptional Trees
Foster Garden Giftshop

50 North Vineyard Boulevard
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone: (808) 522-7066

Ho`omaluhia Botanical Garden
Strolling or driving through these lush four hundred acres in windward Oahu, you will truly agree that Ho`omaluhia is rightfully named "a peaceful refuge." Opened in 1982, this garden in Kaneohe features plantings from major tropical regions around the world grouped geographically. Special emphasis is placed on conserving plants native to Hawaii.
Hawaiian plants
Palms and aroids
Ethnobotanical exhibits
Heliconias
Picnic and camping grounds

45-680 Luluku Road
Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744
Phone: (808) 233-7323

Koko Crater Botanical Garden
In 1958, 200 acres on the slopes and basin of Koko Crater at the eastern end of Oahu were set aside as a botanical garden. 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.
African plants
Cacti and succulents
Plumeria cultivars
Native wiliwili (Erythrinas)
Dryland palms
Bougainvillea

Inside Koko Crater
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
Phone: (808) 522-7060
No paved trails or facilities

Lili`uokalani Botanical Garden
Just north of Foster Garden and located between North Kuakini and School Streets, is Lili`uokalani Botanical Garden. Portions of this 7½ acre garden were once the property and favorite picnic grounds of Queen Lili`uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawai`i. 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. The garden is open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Closed on Christmas and New Year's days.
Native Hawaiian plants
Nuuanu Stream and waterfalls

North Kuakini Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone: (808) 522-7060

Wahiawa Botanical Garden
Cradled between the Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges in central Oahu lies Wahiawa Botanical Garden - the "tropical jewel" of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens. This 27-acre garden and forested ravine dates back to the 1920s when this land was first used by sugar planters as an experimental arboretum. Your tour will take you among plants that thrive in the cooler environment and shady, humid habitat of this tropical rain forest.
Hawaiian palms
Aroid garden
Tree ferns
Epiphytic plants
Native plants

1396 California Avenue
Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786
Phone: (808) 621-7321

History:
Shortly after the conquest of Oahu, the high chief of Kauai surrendered sovereignty to King Kamehameha I and all the islands were united as one government. During the monarchy, local affairs were administered through the Privy Council, the Minister of the Interior and the governors appointed by the king for each island. Even for a period after U.S. annexation of the islands in 1898 and the creation of the Territory of Hawaii by the Congress in 1900, there was no municipal government.

In 1905, the Territorial Legislature passed the law which formed the basis of modern government in Hawaii. It established five counties: Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kalawao. Kalawao was the Hansen's Disease settlement on Molokai's Kalaupapa peninsula under the jurisdiction of the state's Health Department. The four other counties were governed by elected Boards of Supervisors.

The state government retained many traditional county government functions and over the next several decades took on even more, giving Hawaii the most centralized state government. The state administers the entire court system, the public health, welfare, correctional and school systems in addition to all harbors, airports and major highways.

The County of Oahu began operating on July 1, 1905, and two years later was renamed the City and County of Honolulu. A mayor was added to the Board of Supervisors. The legislature granted home rule in 1959 and a city charter was adopted, giving Honolulu a mayor-council type of government in which there is a separation between legislative and executive functions. The nine council members are elected by districts. Under the charter, the council has legislative and investigative power. The mayor is the chief executive officer assisted by the managing director who is the second ranking executive and is appointed by the mayor with council approval.

The City and County of Honolulu under the city charter adopted in 1959 was cited by the United States Conference of Mayors as a model for modern American metropolitan area government. It does not have to adjust its programs to the complications of independent suburban municipalities, autonomous districts, commissions, school districts and inconveniently located boundaries of other, smaller governmental jurisdictions. All elective positions have four-year terms elected on a nonpartisan basis. In 1998, Mayor Harris made major changes in the organization of the government. Services were consolidated, operations and processes streamlined and emphasis was placed on customer service.

Several services are contracted out to businesses or private nonprofit organizations, including the operation and maintenance of the bus system, the refuse incinerator/power generating plant, refuse landfill and convenience centers, and animal control services.

Contact people:

Brian Koren, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Joyce Spoehr, Supervisor, (phone), (email)

Address:

50 N. Vineyard Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96817 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/hbg/index1.htm

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 4, 10 minute walk

Overall Experience   
I had fun every day I was there.

I learned alot about tropical plants and Hawaiian history. posted on November 7, 2008