Volunteer at the Honolulu Botanical Gardens
with the City and County of Honolulu
Volunteering at the Honolulu Botanical Gardens offers a rewarding opportunity to contribute to the beauty and conservation of these unique spaces. Volunteers play a vital role in enhancing the gardens’ programs and operations.
Grounds Maintenance
Help with gardening tasks, including planting, weeding, and general upkeep of the gardens.
Reception
Assist with greeting visitors, providing information, and offering directions around the gardens.
Guided Tours
Share knowledge with visitors by leading informative and engaging tours of the botanical gardens.
Cleanups
Participate in garden and park clean-up efforts to maintain a beautiful, well-kept environment.
Nursery
Assist in plant propagation, potting, and maintaining the plants in the nursery.
Fishing Monitor
Monitor the lake at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, ensuring safety and compliance with any fishing-related regulations.
Botanical Garden Volunteer Application
If you enjoy tending to plants, assisting visitors, guiding tours, or contributing in other ways, you might consider filling out a volunteer application and returning it to the address on the top of the form. Once submitted, the volunteer coordinator will reach out to discuss potential placement.
Volunteer Opportunities Available at:
• Wahiawā Botanical Garden
• Foster Botanical Garden
• Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden
Are you part of a group interesting in a volunteer service project? Call the volunteer coordinator at (808) 726-6763 for more information.
Docent Training 2026
We’re excited to offer a 7-week Docent Training course at Foster Botanical Garden for those interested. Learn from staff and fellow docents about leading introductory and specialized tours while deepening your knowledge of the Garden and its collections.
October 7 – November 18
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Foster Botanical Garden
Major topics will include:
- Garden Introduction
- History of Foster Garden
- Economic & Prehistoric Plants
- Trees & Plants of the Historic Terraces
- The Docent Experience
- Palms of the Garden
- Significant and Exceptional Trees
- Orchids, Conservation, & Butterfly Garden
Fee: $25, which includes a bound docent manual.
No previous docent experience is required. Botanical knowledge is a plus, but enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are what matter most. We welcome participants of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Following training, docents lead tours at 10:30 a.m. on days that work for both the docent and the Garden.
Interested in reserving a spot?
Please email me back at noel.chilton@honolulu.gov or call (808) 726-6763.
We hope you’ll join us and become part of the team helping visitors discover and appreciate Foster botanical gardens!
