Hawaii Island Arbor Day Events

Friday, Saturday, Sunday
November 2, 3, & 4

Amy B.H. Greenwell
Ethnobotanical Garden
Arbor Day Celebration, Tree Giveaway, and Seed Exchange

A three-day celebration of Arbor Day will take place at the new visitor center at the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook, on November 2-4. Activities include woodworkers making poi boards, expert advice, and a giveaway of 500 native trees. The Arbor Day event is supported by a grant from the DLNR Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program. 

Trees will be given away (one per person) from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on all three days, while the supply lasts. The trees will be rationed so that there are trees to give away each day.

At 1 p.m. on November 2, 3, and 4, visitors can join Arbor Day guided tours of the Garden. The focus of the tours will be how to select, plant, and care for trees. Visitors must pay regular Garden admission for the tour. All participants in the tour will be offered a free tree at the end of the tour. 

On all three days, woodworkers will be at the Garden making poi boards and other objects from wood. Visitors are welcome to look on, take pictures, and ask questions. The woodworkers will be on site from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each day.

The celebration will include a seed exchange on the afternoon of November 2, where farmers and gardeners trade seeds of locally adapted crops. If you are interested in taking part, please call 323-3318 to find out how to prepare your seeds for the exchange.

The following trees will be given away:

For more information go to www.bishopmuseum.org/greenwell or call 323-3318.

Click for pictures: Native Plants, Exotic Plants, Fruit Trees

Saturday, November 3

Hawaii Electric Light Company Office
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, Ho‘oulu Lahui, Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and Maku’u Farmers Market are joining together to celebrate the 11th annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway.

The event will be held on Saturday, November 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Hawaii Electric Light Company office at 1200 Kilauea Avenue, in Hilo. The 600 trees that will be given away, at the two sites, one tree per family, are: puhala, milo, lama, niu, kou, and kukui.

The students at Kua O Ka Lā are caring for the trees and are compiling a newsletter to distribute with the trees. You will also receive information to help you to properly site, plant, and care for your tree.

Sunday, November 4

Maku‘u Farmers’ Market
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

The Arbor Day Tree Giveaway will also take place at the Maku‘u Farmers’ Market, on Sunday, November 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.