This year marks the 15th Annual Arbor Day Hawaiian Tree Giveaway at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens (MAP).
- Free hands-on Hawaiian cultural activities and tree care advice from certified arborists.
- Learn about the great works of many local nonprofit conservation groups and how you can get involved in your community.
- 1,500 FREE Hawaiian trees courtesy of MNBG & Maui Electric Company include ‘a‘ali’i, hala, hame, hao, kamani, koa, koki‘o, kou, loulu, milo, nānū, ‘ōhai, ‘ōhi‘a lehua, pōkalakala, wauke and more!
- Free Parking, Free Admission, and a Free Hawaiian Tree!
Free Hawaiian cultural activities include:
Kapa Making with Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond:
Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond of Kula, Maui, is a kapa maker, Hawaiian ethnobotany, and fiber arts lecturer at U.H. Maui College. Lisa has taught several workshops at MNBG, including kapa making, native plant dyes for kapa, kaula (cordage) and net-making, and ‘ipu gourd dying and decorating. Lisa will demonstrate kapa making using using wauke, and display handmade kapa pieces.
Hala weaving with Ron & Becky Lau:
Long time MNBG volunteers, Ron & Becky Lau, were trained in hala weaving by Pohaku Kaho’ohanohano. They will teach guests to make hala bracelets and other accessories.
Lei Making with the Native Hawaiian Plant Society:
NHPS Volunteers will teach attendees the wili style of lei making with a wide variety of native plants from the MNBG landscape.
Makahiki Games with Unda Kava 808, Inc:
‘ulu maika (bowling with stone discs that were originally made from ‘ulu fruit), koa wood moa pahe‘e (wooden dart sliding), ‘o’o ‘ihe (spear target practice with banana stump targets), konane (a game like checkers with black basalt and white coral stones), and hukihuki (tug-of-war).
Confirmed conservation organizations attending include:
Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, Friends of Haleakala National Park, Friends of Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership, Malama Kahalawai Watershed Partnership, and Maui Green & Beautiful.
This year’s “Ask an Arborist” booth will be hosted by:
Ernie Rezents, Donna Mann, Susi Mastroianni, and other Certified Arborists. The event will also include a Planting and Pruning Demonstrations by Certified Arborist Terry Nutt; a Tree Climbing Demonstration by Certified Arborist Jake Kane of Kane’s Legacy Tree Services and Z.E.L.M. Zero Emission Landscape Maintenance, and more!