Arbor Day is celebrated -annually on the U.S. mainland on the last Friday in April. Here in Hawaii, the annual tree-giveaway is scheduled in early November which is a better time for planting trees in our tropical climate. Several locations around the state are participating including one at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook.
The event will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Greenwell Garden with many useful and beautiful native Hawaiian trees and shrubs available to give away. In addition to the tree giveaway, the garden will be selling many other natives from their nursery stock. Included in the festivities will be numerous horticultural and conservation displays, as well as activities for children and even a public display by some newly trained conservation dogs.
Arrive at the garden early along with some friends so you can all get some new plants for your garden. Trees like milo, kou, kamani, hala, and koai’a will be among the native trees offered. The Ulu Cooperative will be participating in Arbor Day with lots of ulu trees to be given away, as well.
The small koai’a tree would be a great selection for those who want a to add a native tree to their yard. She is a fast growing and somewhat drought tolerant specimen. This little sister of the native koa usually grows to less than 20 feet tall and is a better candidate for Kona gardens than her big brother which is a huge tree best suited for upland forests. Many taxonomists include them in the same genus and species Acacia koa. They share the same yellow puff flowers but the low spreading shape of the koai’a make her a desirable choice.
If you are looking for a larger tree, you might consider taking home a milo (Thespesia populnea). Her heart shaped leaves and pretty yellow flowers add to her appeal. Milo will rarely grow to over thirty feet tall and can adapt to a full sun or partial shade location. With a tolerance for wind, drought and some salt air, this is a good choice for a location between 500 and 1,500 feet in elevation.
Another medium sized tree that you’ll find at the give-away is the native kou (Cordia subcordata). This is a fast-growing tree that does best in full sun and can tolerate some drought conditions as well as a bit of salt air. The distinguishing feature is the lovely cluster of orange flowers she bears. She tends to grow wide, so give her some space.
The Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative will provide wili wili (Erythrina sandwicensis) trees for the Arbor Day give away. This tree usually stays under 30 feet in cultivation and is an excellent choice for a hot, dry location. Her spiky orange flowers with orange petals appear in summer after her seasonal leaf drop. Those as well as the twisted seed pods that follow add up to an eye-catching display for several months. Her Hawaiian name is actually derived from the spiral shape of her seed pods. The good news about the wili wili is that the erythrina gall wasp which threated these trees earlier, has been nearly eradicated.
If you are interested in growing an edible plant, consider taking home one of the ulu trees (Artocarpus altilis), provided by the Ulu Coop. Though this tree can grow to almost 60 feet tall, it can be pruned to a more manageable size. Experts from the coop will be on hand to provide lots of information on these trees and ways to use the breadfruit they produce.
Several different shrubs will be available in the give-away as well as in the plant sale. Consider growing the state flower, the ma’o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgeii) for her lovely yellow flowers and multiple uses as a stand-alone specimen or part of an attractive hedge. In either case, this hibiscus relative can grow to nearly fifteen feet tall in full sun or partial shade.
In addition to your free plant, lots of native trees, shrubs and groundcovers will be offered for sale. For those with limited space, check out the beautiful native succulent Portulaca molokiniensis. The Hawaiian name for portulaca is ‘ihi and it is perfect as a potted plant on a sunny lanai.
More information on all of the plants featured in the give away and the sale will be available from those helping with the event.
Several garden tours are scheduled throughout the day. is an excellent opportunity to see mature specimens of some of the plants that are being given away. Hands-on air layer demonstrations will also be offered by the garden horticulturist, Bill Cullum. This special propagation technique works on many types of plants where cuttings and seeds do not. A cooking demonstration by a well-known local chef is also planned.
The talented conservation dogs that have been trained to sniff out LFA (little fire ants) will be showing their stuff at the event, as well. Terri Rolph has been training these dogs for many months and they are now ready to graduate and start doing field work. This will be their first opportunity to show off this valuable skill to the public.
A group of experts will also be on hand during Arbor Day help you diagnose and treat problems like little fire ants and koa wilt. Several from the Hawai’i ‘Ulu Cooperative will also be present with advice on propagating, planting, pruning, and harvesting ‘ulu.
At 12:30 p.m. the public is invited to attend the annual meeting of the Friends of Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. Friends is the local non-profit that currently owns and operates the Garden. Memberships will be on sale at the event.
Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is located 12 miles south of Kailua-Kona on Highway 11. Parking for the event will be available above and below the Garden Visitor Center which is across from Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Visit the Garden website at https://www.amygreenwell.garden for more information and a full schedule of the day’s events and programs.
This Arbor Day event is presented by Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden and the Hawai’i ‘Ulu Cooperative. The Garden is grateful for the community support as well as that of the following partners, funders, and donors: Hawaii Community Foundation, County of Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (Legacy Land Commission), USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, The Healy Foundation, Ceres Trust, Atherton Family Foundation, Cooke Foundation, many generous community donors and our valued members.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get some native Hawaiian plants growing in your garden.
Information for this event was provided by Garden Manager Emeritus, Peter Van Dyke.
Gardening events
Wednesday, Oct. 23: Green Energy Grants &Funding for Small Businesses, 10 to 11:30 a.m. live webinar. Learn ways to upgrade and fund solar and green energy initiatives for your farm or small business. Cost is $15. Sponsored by Hawaii Small Business Development Center. Go to hisbdc.org for information and to register.
Monday, Oct. 28: Protect Your Farm: Ag Theft Prevention, 5 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. Free. Registration required. For information go to info@gofarmhawaii.org. Register at www.gofarmhawaii.org.
Tuesday, Oct. 28 or Tuesday, Nov. 19: Crop Insurance Webinar, starting at 9:30 a.m. Learn about crop insurance from several insurance services. Free. For more information or to register go to https://hawaiicoffeeed.com/cropinsurance.
Thursday, Nov. 7: Coffee Tasting Workshop, morning session 9 to 11 a.m., afternoon session 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.at the Kona Research and Extension Center Conference Room in Kainaliu. Learn how to brew the perfect cup of Kona coffee. Registration is required at www.hawaiicoffeeed.com/kccfcoffee. Donation of $25 includes a 2024 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival button
Farmer direct markets
(Check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
Wednesday and Friday: Ho’oulu Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center; Kamuela Farmer’s Market, 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables; Waimea Town Market, 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea; Waimea Homestead Farmers Market, from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground.
Sunday: Pure Kona Green Market, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook; Hamakua Harvest, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa.
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@hawaii.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu: 322-4893 or walk in.
Mon., Tues. and Fri: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Konohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.