Indians of several tribes lived and hunted in our very district. In most areas of Southern California, it’s hard to imagine there was anything else besides asphalt, traffic and the bustling business of California living. Indians once roamed the land where Hawaiian Gardens now stands By 1968, all streets were paved, and the three major thoroughfares of Norwalk, Pioneer, and Carson were widened to current traffic standards.
By 1966, all streets south of Carson between Pioneer and Norwalk were paved. When the city was incorporated in 1964, the paving of roads began immediately. For the next 35 years, with the exceptions of Pioneer Boulevard, Norwalk Boulevard, and Carson, the little town would be all dirt roads. In the late 1920s, only Norwalk Blvd was a paved road. As one of seven Los Angeles County cities that allow casino gambling, more than $9.2 million (65%) of the city's revenue comes from the Gardens Casino.
It was the then-rural area's main landmark for many years, and its name stuck as the small town grew up around it. The town's unusual name originated with a 1920s refreshment stand that was decorated with palm fronds and bamboo. It is the smallest city in the county (approximately 1.0 mi) and was incorporated on April 9, 1964.
