October 26, 2006
MEDIA CONTACT: Caroline Witherspoon
or Jocelyn Collado
Becker Communications
(808) 533-4165
AMY GREENWELL ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN HOSTS NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES FOR NATURE LOVERS
CAPTAIN COOK, HAWAI'I - Bishop Museum's Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden hosts an abundance of events in November that will educate, inspire, and entertain nature lovers and those interested in learning more about Hawai'i's endemic flora and fauna.
Lauhala Weaving Workshop ~ Saturday, November 11, 10:00 a.m.
Master weavers Auntie Shirley Kauhaihao, Jim Skibby, and Auntie Lehua Domingo will lead, encourage, and guide participants on the craft of lauhala weaving. Beginner and experienced weavers are welcomed to participate and learn the process of gathering, preparing, and weaving lauhala fibers into something useful. The class is free to the public. Registration is advised.
Free Garden Tour ~ Saturday, November 11, 10:00 a.m.
Visitors and residents are invited to explore Hawaii's native plants on a free tour of the Amy Greenwell Garden. Noa Lincoln, Amy Greenwell Garden's educator, will take participants through the garden to experience Native Hawaiian plants while hearing about their traditional medicinal uses.
The hour-and-a-half tour consists of about a half-mile of easy walking and offers a look at many of the most important plant resources of traditional Hawaiian culture. The tour is free, but donations are encouraged and reservations are suggested for large groups.
Backyard Kalo Farming Workshop ~ Friday, November 17, 9:00 a.m.
Participants of this workshop will learn more about the staple crop of the Hawaiian people - the kalo (taro) plant. Manuel Rego, who has cared for the extensive collection of kalo at Amy Greenwell Garden for 22 years, will educate the public on the propagation, growing and preparation of kalo. Participants will be supplied kalo huli, cuttings made from the top of the corm and a section of stem that can be planted for harvest. The workshop fee is $15 and free for Bishop Museum members.
Ni'ihau Ipu Pawele (Gourd Dyeing) Workshop ~ Saturday, November 18, 9:00 a.m.
Michael Harburg, a local Big Island artist, will lead this workshop on the nearly lost technique of internal gourd dyeing. Harburg will also offer tips and techniques for carving the ipu. The workshop fee is $15 and free to Bishop Museum members. There will also be a $20 material fee.
All programs are supported by Bishop Museum and Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program (NHCAP), which is funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and by funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations program (ECHO).
For more information on the Amy Greenwell Garden November workshops and activities, or to register for these events, call (808) 323-3318.
The Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a Bishop Museum facility, located in South Kona on the Mamalahoa Highway. During the year, more than 9,000 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 members. For more information, call (808) 323-3318.