Victoria (Robinson) Ward, daughter of pioneer shipbuilder James Robinson and Rebecca (Previer) Robinson married Curtis Perry Ward.  She was a descendant of Hawaiian ali'i of the Island of Hawaii from her mother, Rebecca.  Their wedding was attended by the highest members of Hawaiian royalty.  By the way, her sister was Mary (Robinson) Foster!  Foster Botanical Gardens was where Mary Foster had her residence and she donated the land to the city of Honolulu, as she had no children to bequeath it to.  Please click on my link to my other blog, the Walking Hawaiian to get more information about Mary Foster!

For many years, she and her husband lived near Honolulu Harbor and raised 7 daughters.  Their final home called, "Old Plantation" is where the Neil Blaisdell Arena stands now.  Since Curtis was a southerner from Kentucky, their home resembled a stately southern-style home and became a self-sufficient working farm surrounded by a coconut grove.   Even today, some palms more than 100 years old still stand on the concert hall property.

The family devoted considerable energy in establishing the Hawaiian Humane Society and donated to schools and hospitals.  Victoria became a widow when Curtis died at 53, yet she adroitly managed the farm and 7 girls by herself.  Please read, "Victoria Ward and Her Family: Memories of Old Plantation" if you would like to know more about her.  It was written by her great-great-grandson, Frank Ward Hustace III.

In 1958, the city bought Ward's Old Plantation estate, tore it down and build a concert hall.