Department of Parks and Recreation

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DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION​

Ka ʻOihana Mālama Pāka a me nā Hana Hoʻonanea

Department of Parks and Recreation > E Alu Pū Kākou! > Community Gardening > 50th Anniversary

Honolulu Recreational Community Gardening Program

50th Anniversary Celebration

“Keep Growing”

Old, slightly muted color photo of Makiki Community Garden, taken in 1986. The photo shows a landscape of the garden, with the greenhouse in the middle, and the sign at the front.

You’re invited to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Honolulu Recreational Community Gardening Program on September 13th, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Foster Botanical Garden. Admission to the event and garden are free. The event features:

    • Educational displays and demonstrations for the entire family
    • Garden tours
    • Entertainment and music from our very own gardeners
    • Historical photos
    • Food trucks

Free admission to the event and the botanical garden

There is limited street parking available. Carpooling and/or public transportation is encouraged. 

In an activity related to our 50th Anniversary, the Gardens Council has been reviewing newspaper articles from decades past. To further our history and research project, we are requesting former gardeners, their family members, and community members to share their memories and photographs of the community gardens. We have decades of history that we would like to preserve! If you would like to contribute to this living history project, please contact communitygardens@honolulu.gov. 

Event Map

50th Event parking4

Parking Map

Flyer for the celebration event for the 50th Anniversary of the Honolulu Recreational Community Gardening Program on September 13, 2025

Event Flyer

Schedule of the Day

Virtual Tour of Foster BG

To honor these 50 years of community gardening, Mayor Rick Blangiardi has proclaimed September as Honolulu Gardening Month! The proclamation states:

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu recognizes the essential role that community gardens play in fostering environmental stewardship, promoting healthy lifestyles, and strengthening community ties through the cultivation of food, native plants, and shared green spaces; and

WHEREAS, in 1975, the Honolulu Community Gardens Program was established as a municipal program designed to provide residents with opportunities to grow food, build community, and connect with the ʻāina; and

WHEREAS, over the past 50 years, the Honolulu Community Gardens Program has flourished and expanded, now supporting thousands of gardeners across numerous sites on Oʻahu across the ʻāīna, each reflecting the unique diversity and resilience of our island communities; and

WHEREAS, the Honolulu Community Gardens Program continues to thrive through the dedication of volunteer garden officers, city staff, and community members, and has adapted to meet the evolving needs of residents through innovative sustainability practices, equity initiatives, and educational programming; and

WHEREAS, the year 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Honolulu Community Gardens Program, a significant milestone that calls for celebration, reflection, and a renewed commitment to supporting local food systems, environmental education, and community well-being; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu encourages all residents to participate in activities that honor our community gardeners, and to inspire future generations to connect with the ʻāina and cultivate a greater sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK BLANGIARDI, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, do hereby proclaim September 2025, as HONOLULU COMMUNITY GARDENING MONTH to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Honolulu Community Gardens Program, and urge all citizens to recognize the enduring contributions of community gardeners to environmental, cultural, and social vitality of our city. 

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