Weaving, kapa making, poi pounding and wood carving were some of the fun demonstrations attendees could participate in at the 2023 Grow Hawaiian Festival on February 25. Hosted by the friends of , hundreds of people gathered at the garden in Captain Cook on Â鶹´«Ã½ Island to celebrate Hawaiian culture and natural history with a variety of activities and speakers. This event was the first the garden has held in more than three years.
The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ (CTAHR) contributed to the festival with three educational booths.
- The shared information about the two-lined spittlebug, avocado lace bug, little fire ants and methods for ʻ¨³ó¾±ʻ²¹ seed collection.
- Noa Lincoln and his students from the presented a display showcasing traditional sugarcane varieties, samples of fresh-squeezed cane juice and on traditional Hawaiian cultivators and uses of sugarcane.
- Extension forester J.B. Friday from the and education specialist Charlotte Godfrey-Romo discussed Rapid ʻ?hiʻa Death, a fungal pathogen presenting a major issue for Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s endemic ʻ¨³ó¾±ʻ²¹ trees.
“Despite the unusually wet weather for the leeward side of the island, hundreds of festival goers enjoyed the first public event at the garden since the COVID epidemic,” said Friday.
The Grow Hawaiian Festival aims to foster public understanding, enjoyment and conservation of Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s natural resources and provide a space for the appreciation of Hawaiian culture and flora.