Here’s a rare Hawaii airport retreat, hiding in plain sight. While premium travelers pack into overcrowded lounges—or get turned away entirely—Honolulu’s best-kept airport secret remains wide open. We continue to use it ourselves, and we have done so for years. It’s still surprisingly under the radar: a series of peaceful retreats, garden courtyards, nestled between terminals at Honolulu Airport.
One of the gardens has special significance today. It was named after the senior flight attendant on Aloha Airlines, Clarabelle “C.B.” Lansing, who lost her life on April 28, 1988, on Flight 243 from Hilo to Honolulu.
These cultural gardens offer shaded seating, quiet pathways, koi ponds, native plants, and the sound of birds, rather than the sound of boarding announcements. They’re open-air and free for anyone to access—no airline status, day pass, or credit card required. At a time when lounge access has become a growing pain point for Hawaii travelers, these nearly forgotten gems feel like a throwback to old Hawaii airport travel: calm, welcoming, and utterly unexpected.
Where to find the gardens.
The gardens sit in two places. The C. B. Lansing Garden was created in 1995 with the construction of Terminal 1 and is located at the makai end of the terminal’s ground level, near the walkway to Terminal 2. It’s a reminder every time we pass by of her dedication to aviation in the line of duty.
The larger gardens are located at Terminal 2 below the E Gates. They were initially designed as part of a cultural showcase and include Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian elements. A tranquil koi pond and lush greenery offer a visual and sensory escape.
As readers have noted, frequent travelers through HNL don’t even know they exist. We always make time to stop here, whether waiting for an interisland flight or a longer-haul departure. It’s rarely been crowded.
Lounge access frustrations have only grown.
Recent changes at HNL have made premium lounge access more elusive than ever. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines’ new lounge is being developed, even after the terminal upgrade announcement generated buzz among Hawaii travelers.
Even for those eligible for lounge entry, overcrowding is a persistent issue. In our lounge access article, reader Tom wrote, “We had access but were turned away—too full. What’s the point?” Another reader, Stephanie, added, “These days, lounges aren’t relaxing. They’re packed, noisy, and often feel more chaotic than the gate.”
The cultural gardens shine in this context. They are never full, always quiet, and entirely free.
Why travelers overlook this.
The main reason most travelers never find the gardens is simple: airport signage tends to focus on gates, baggage claim, and major airline lounges, rather than on the tranquil spaces steps away from the action.
There’s also a perception that airports only offer comfort to those who pay for it, whether through first-class tickets or premium credit card perks. But in this case, the best relaxation zone might be the one that costs nothing and doesn’t advertise itself at all.
As you walk around the airport, you’ll no doubt be looking down at one of the gardens at some point. All you need to do is look for the access point and follow signs to “Cultural Gardens.”
Chinese Garden
The Chinese Garden features a striking red pavilion with a curved, yellow-tiled roof, crafted by artisans in Hong Kong and assembled on site in Honolulu. A statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Republic of China, was gifted by the Chinese community as a symbol of heritage and unity. An arched bridge represents the aspiration to bridge oceans in pursuit of world peace. Koi glide through a tranquil pond surrounded by pine, bamboo, and flowering trees placed thoughtfully among rugged stone formations.
Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden offers a serene escape, where a zigzag bridge—designed to ward off evil spirits—leads to a quiet shelter topped with a wood shingle roof and lined with stone benches. Vibrant koi swim gracefully through the ponds, framed by sculpted pine and weeping willow trees. Stone lanterns lend a gentle glow as evening approaches. At one end, a commemorative pagoda stands on a raised platform, gifted by Hawaii’s Japanese community in honor of the centennial of the first Japanese immigrants to the islands.
Hawaiian Garden
The Hawaiian Garden is a lush retreat featuring koi-filled lagoons, gentle springs, and waterfalls that flow down lava rock walls. Tropical trees—such as banana, coconut, hala, and kukui—offer shade to ti plants, native ferns like lawai and monstera, and striking blooms, including white ginger, red torch ginger, and bird of paradise. At night, luau-style torches cast a warm glow across the garden. Plaques mark the 25th anniversary of the John Rodgers Terminal, celebrated on October 15, 1987, alongside a kukui tree planted to honor the occasion.
C.B. Lansing Garden (Terminal 1)
This garden stands as a quiet tribute to the legacy of C.B. Lansing and her dedication to Hawaii’s aviation community.
As mentioned earlier, she was the flight attendant who was tragically swept from Aloha Airlines Flight 243 during a catastrophic structural failure that tore open a section of the aircraft’s fuselage mid-flight. Her body was never recovered. The accident prompted sweeping changes in aircraft inspection procedures and brought national attention to issues of metal fatigue in aging aircraft.
A lounge alternative worth considering.
We’re not saying skip lounges entirely. For those who have access during quiet times, they can still offer helpful amenities. But in the current climate—especially at HNL—lounges are increasingly difficult to rely on. Between closures, crowding, and unclear access policies, travelers are left searching for better options.
The cultural gardens provide a welcome contrast: natural surroundings, breezy walkways, and the soft sound of running water. Unlike the manufactured calm of a windowless lounge, this is a true outdoor oasis that reconnects travelers with the spirit of the islands before boarding. No lines, no noise, no tension. Just peace.
Could this change?
As awareness grows, it’s possible the cultural gardens could attract more attention. But for now, they remain one of the last underused features at Honolulu Airport. The state’s 2025 airport bond issuance and ongoing modernization projects focus heavily on terminals, gates, and infrastructure, rather than restoring or promoting this kind of experience.
Some travelers worry that as airports continue to upgrade, the gardens might be downsized or reconfigured. Others hope that with increased visibility, they could be preserved and even enhanced.
One reader comment on our original gardens article years ago captured it well: “It’s like a secret lounge for people who don’t need all the amenities—just a quiet place to breathe.” That remains true.
Final thoughts.
In an age of gate crowding, closed lounges, and travel perks that feel harder to reach, something is refreshing about discovering a piece of Hawaii that doesn’t require status, fees, or reservations. The HNL cultural gardens have been hiding in plain sight for years—used daily by some, completely missed by most.
They may not offer complimentary drinks or charging stations, but they offer something that’s become just as rare in modern travel: space, calm, and a genuine sense of place.
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I love these gardens! Always a must stop if we have time between connections.
But shhhh… Don’t tell anybody. 😉
My first day of work at Aloha Airlines was the day they held a memorial for CB. 😢
Thank you for your touching tribute to flight attendant Clarabelle Lansing and Aloha flight 243 from Hilo to Honolulu. Just a week later, my family of 4 were enroute to Maui for our 6th Hawaiian family vacation. While news reports told of the tragic loss of Ms Lansing from news stories due to cracks in the Boeing 737’s roof and the air pressurization differential between the plane’s interior and its likely 30,000 ft altitude caused her ejection when the Boeing 737’s roof cracked and was torn off, we were reminded of the miracle of many lives when we landed at Kahului and saw the disabled plane that had made a safe emergency landing at OGG with surviving passengers.
I was thrilled when we stumbled upon the gardens years ago. I’m always looking for places to walk through and see rather than sitting at a gate. I will be sitting enough on the flight. I hope they continue to be preserved and enjoyed. They truly set HNL apart from other airports.
Good day. These gardens are hiding in open view, a great place to de-stress and connect to a bit of nature in the middle of a concrete jungle. My wife and I always take advantage of a quick sit or a long stay. Enjoy!
A beautiful and calming space, especially appreciated as a stop when you are leaving the islands.