HONOLULU - Bishop Museum’s Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Kona will begin the New Year by hosting two exciting programs. The “Survey of Hawaiian Ethnobotany” class will take place every Tuesday from January 11 to February 1, while on Friday, January 14th, the Garden will host a taro workshop from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Students attending the “Survey of Hawaiian Ethnobotany” class will explore the Garden and learn about Hawaiian plants and their uses. They’ll also enjoy a closer look at plants brought to Hawai‘i by Polynesian immigrants, see the traditional ahupua‘a land division system, view remnants of the Kona Field System, and discover how people in Kona farmed prior to Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778. The cost of enrollment is $25. Held from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., the class will be presented by Amy Greenwell Garden staff in partnership with the West Hawai‘i Senior College, a program of the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s College of Continuing Education and Community Service. For more information or to register, call (808) 947-7664.

Participants of the taro workshop will learn how to make taro cuttings (huli) and how to plant and care for dry land taro. Not only will participants be able to observe this knowledge, but they will also receive some huli with instructions on how to plant and care for it. Registration is $10 for the general public and free for Bishop Museum members. For more information or to register for the workshop, call (808) 323-3318.

The Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a part of the Bishop Museum ‘ohana, located in South Kona on the Mamalahoa Highway. During the year, more than 8,000 visitors experience the Garden and explore the plants of traditional Kona. The Garden is a regular stop for school tours, and people of all ages enjoy workshops on traditional Hawaiian arts. Admission is a suggested donation of $4 per person and free for Bishop Museum Association members. For more information, call (808) 323-3318.