Funds support Big Isle garden
Funds support Big Isle garden
An award from the county Department of Research and Development and the Hawaii Tourism Authority is now funding new Guided Native Plant Walks at Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden every day at 1 p.m. The award funds marketing costs for the walks through the end of 2012.
The daily Guided Native Plant Walks inspire visitors to the Amy Greenwell Garden with a glimpse of life on the slopes of West Hawaii in the time before foreign contact. Though “eating local” is only now catching on all over the world as a pathway to sustainability, for centuries Hawaiian farmers sustained a large and flourishing population with a variety of locally grown produce.
Through the Guided Plant Walks, visitors come to appreciate the skills of Hawaiians not just as farmers, but as foresters, herbalists, artists, engineers, and even bureaucrats who could organize large scale projects such as the 50-square-mile network of farms and gardens called the Kona Field System. They come to see that the cultural landscape of the Kona is as inspiring and magnificent as the natural landscape Hawaii Island is already famous for.
The Guided Native Plant Walks are led by staff members, and last about one hour. Visitors explore three zones of the Garden during their guided walk: coastal zone, dry forest, and agricultural zone. The tour does not require reservations, and there is no extra charge for it beyond the reasonable general admission to the Garden.
The garden is looking for community members who are willing to serve as volunteer docents to lead Hawaiian Plant Walks. Docents will receive training in Hawaiian plants and ethnobotany before they start leading tours. For more information about the tours, or to sign up as a docent, call 323-3318 or email agg@bishopmuseum.org.
The garden is located at 81-6160 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook. It is open for self-guided visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays and holidays. There is a $7 admission fee for adults and reduced fees for seniors, kamaaina, military and children. For more information, please call 323-3318 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org/greenwell.
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a modification of policies and procedures to participate in the Hawaiian Plant Walks should contact Peter Van Dyke at 323-3318 at least two weeks before the planned visit.