Foster Garden traces its beginning to 1853 when Queen Kalama leased a small area of land to William Hillebrand, a young German doctor.
A botanist and physician, he built a home near the location of the present garden. He planted many of the huge magnificent trees present today in the garden.
After leaving Hawaii to return to Germany he authored the excellent guide, "Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (1888)."
The property was later sold to Mary Foster and her husband. She bequeathed the property on her death to the City and County as a public garden in 1930.

Dr. Harold Lyon was its first director. He introduced some 10,000 plants to Hawaii.
[Foster Botanical Garden brochure, Honolulu HI.]