Hawai‘i Forest and Trail Presents A Grow Hawaiian Weekend February 24-25, 2012

The 8th Annual Grow Hawaiian Weekend on Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25, is a celebration of Hawaiian cultural and natural history at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook.  The event is free

On Friday, February 24, between 12 noon and 4 pm., the public is invited to join Greenwell Garden staff, taro experts Jerry Konanui, Kana‘e Keawe, Daniel Anthony, and local school children in ku‘i kalo—poi pounding.  Boards and stones and cooked taro will be available for everyone from beginners to experts to try their hand at this traditional culinary art. 

On Saturday, February 25, from 9:00-2:30 pm, there are presentations on botanical gardens, Poi making and taro cultivation, storytelling sessions, and demonstrations of ipu gourd decorating, kapa making, lauhala weaving, woodworking, lei making, taro cultivation, and Hawaiian dyes.  There will be hands-on activities for the keiki and adults, plant and insect identification booths, displays, live entertainment, Hawaiian food, and much more! 

Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is also dedicating its new visitor center from 11 a.m. to 12 noon during the festival.  Everyone is invited to join in a special celebration of this long awaited improvement that has resulted from the hard work of so many.

For more information call 323-3318 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is Bishop Museum’s native plant arboretum, located 12 miles south of Kailua-Kona on Highway 11, just south of mile marker 110.

The 8th Annual Grow Hawaiian Festival is supported in part by a grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Support for this program is also provided by Kūki‘o, Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, and Kealakekua Ranch, Ltd..