Wiliwili Festival returns Saturday
The 12th annual Wiliwili Festival will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Waikoloa Dry Forest Preserve. The Wiliwili
Festival is a free family friendly event that brings the community together to learn and enjoy the native dryland forest and celebrate the iconic wiliwili trees of Waikoloa.
Wiliwili are an important tree species in the lowland dry forest and this year’s festival will give guests the opportunity to see these beautiful trees in their natural environment.
The Wiliwili Festival will feature exhibitors presenting activities and educational materials at booths set up along the preserve’s main road which leads to a Hale Hana Hou where guests will find a native plant giveaway with wiliwili and a‘ali‘i seedling and growing guides available to take home. Here, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee will also be leading native plant care workshops and a representative from the Birds Not Mosquitoes Partnership will present information about their efforts to save Hawaii’s native forest birds.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase as well as 2023 Wiliwili Festival T-shirts. Guided tours of the forest will be offered throughout the day and self-guided hikes are encouraged. The festival is located in a natural area with few improvements, the trails are rocky and uneven, and the primary walking access is a gravel road so be prepared with sturdy hiking shoes.
Parking will be nearby in a gravel lot and guests will walk, or catch a golf-cart ride, to the preserve’s front gates. Shuttles between the parking area and the preserve’s front gate will be offered throughout the day to make the walk a little bit shorter.
The Wiliwili Festival is hosted by the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative and is sponsored by Waikoloa Plaza, Hawaii Water Service, Waikoloa Foundation, Forest Solutions, and Mana Physical Therapy. All proceeds from the Wiliwili Festival will benefit WDFI, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and support its mission to protect, promote, and restore native Hawaiian dry forest through land management, outreach, education, and grassroots advocacy.
For more information, or to register for workshops, visit Waikoloadryforest.org or contact WDFI at wdfi@Waikoloadryforest.org.
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Camp Tarawa Detachment to host informational, annual meetings
Attention all Big Island Marines and Navy Corpsmen: The Camp Tarawa Detachment No. 1255 of the Marine Corps League needs you to help us share the history of the 50,000 Marines and Navy Corpsmen who trained at Camp Tarawa during WWII in preparation for decisive battles on Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.
When the 2nd Marine Division came to the Big Island in December 1943, a Marine base was established on Parker Ranch land in Waimea so the men could have a place to recuperate after the battle on Tarawa and to train for the Saipan – Tinian campaigns. They named the base “Camp Tarawa” in remembrance of the famous battle fought on the island.
You are cordially invited to attend an informational meeting on Feb. 18 to learn more about the Camp Tarawa Detachment and to meet our newly elected officers.
The meeting will be held in the Ohana Room at the Waikoloa Golf Course located at 68-1792 Melia Street in Waikoloa Village. Pizza will be served during our Social Hour (11:30 a.m.) and the Business Meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Please contact Brian Jordan (808) 965-0941, or Kathy Painton (808) 880-9880 for further information and to RSVP if you plan to attend the meeting.
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