15th Grow Hawaiian Festival Feb. 28 at Amy B. H. Greenwell Garden

Now in its 15th year, the Grow Hawaiian Festival at Amy B. H. Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook will be celebrating native Hawaiian plant elders this year on Saturday, Feb. 28, starting at 9 a.m. Don’t miss this year’s Grow Hawaiian Festival from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. It is a free, family-friendly celebration hosted by Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden to bring the community together to honor Hawaiian culture and ethnobotany.

The festival takes place at Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, 82-6160 Hawaii Belt Rd, Captain Cook, HI 96704. The Garden is a sanctuary for rare and endangered native flora, providing a living connection to Hawaii’s ecological and cultural heritage, and organizers say the event advances that mission by blending traditional knowledge with conservation practice.

Programming centers on hands-on cultural and botanical learning. "This free, family-friendly event brings the community together to honor Hawaiian culture and ethnobotany through vibrant activities, including demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and guided garden tours," the Garden’s event description says. Attendees are invited to participate in traditional Hawaiian plant-based arts and practices such as kapa making, lauhala weaving, and poi pounding while learning about the essential role of native plants in Hawaiian culture.

The festival will feature local artisans, cultural practitioners, and technical experts working in ecological restoration, seed conservation, and the cultivation of Hawaiian staple crops. "Featuring local artisans, cultural practitioners, and experts in areas such as ecological restoration, seed conservation, and the cultivation of Hawaiian staple crops, the festival showcases Hawaii’s living heritage," the Garden materials state. The site also lists live music and local food as part of the day’s offerings, along with guided tours through the Garden’s collections.

Photo captions associated with past festivals highlight program moments readers can expect: "This year, as in years past, the Grow Hawaiian Festival will open with the ceremonial blowing of the ipu welcome. (Photo/ Akinori Imai)" Another caption notes traditional materials in use: "Fibers made from the hau tree are sometimes use in preparing the awa drink. (Courtesy photo/ Amy Greewell Garden)" and a community image reads, "The community turns out every year to enjoy the Grow Hawaiian Festival. (Photo/ Akinori Imai)" A caption also records involvement by local teacher-practitioners: "Manuel Rego enjoys helping youngsters learn poi pounding techniques. (Courtesy photo/ Amy Greewell Garden)"

The Grow Hawaiian Festival occurs ahead of the Garden’s regular Sunday market schedule; Pure Kona Green Market runs Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the same Captain Cook location. Other island farmers markets with weekend schedules include Keauhou Farmers Market on Saturdays and Kamuela and Waimea markets on Saturday mornings, providing local growers and visitors opportunities to connect with island food systems around the festival weekend.

At its core, the Grow Hawaiian Festival embodies the mission of Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden: to preserve and perpetuate native Hawaiian plants and the cultural practices that sustain them. The Garden invites neighbors to attend Feb. 28 for a full day of demonstrations, tours, and cultural exchange.