New Book: Pulelehua and Mamaki

I’m happy to announce that this month my new book is available throughout Hawaii nei!

Published by Bishop Museum Press, Pulelehua and Mamaki is my first children’s picture book, beautifully illustrated by native Hawaiian fine artist Harinani Orme. It’s a narrative about the life cycle and relationship of the native Hawaiian butterfly and its host plant, the mamaki (Pipturus albidus), an endemic nettle with many Hawaiian ethnobotanical uses. These two native species coevolved as part of the unique ecological webs found in Hawai'i rainforests.

I’ll be doing my first reading and book signing at Bishop Museum’s Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook, Hawaii Island, on Saturday, February 28, 9 am to 2:30 pm, in celebration of the 5th Annual Grow Hawaiian Horticultural Festival. The reading is at 10:30 am, and there will be other fun educational activities, so bring the keiki!

The official book launch will be in March in Honolulu, followed by more reading/signing engagements in the coming months, including the 4th Annual Hawai'i Book and Music Festival at Honolulu city hall grounds in May. Pulelehua and Mamaki will be available soon through online retailers, too. You’ll be seeing updates on this blog. I hope I’ll meet you on the trail!

5th Annual GROW HAWAIIAN Horticultural Festival
Saturday, February 28, 9 am to 2:30 pm
Presented by Hawaii Forest and Trail

Schedule of Events
MAIN PROGRAM (big canopy)

Emcee: Tom Cummings
9:00 - 9:30 Opening, Greeting and Pule Virginia Isbell, Danny Akaka, Kanu o ka ‘Aina

9:30 - 9:40 About Amy Greenwell: Meg Greenwell

9:40 - 10:20 Botanical Gardens Round Table: David Orr (Waimea), Lisa Raymond (Maui Nui), Chipper Wichman (NTBG), Alice Kitajima (Lyon), Naomi Hoffman (Honolulu Botanic Garden); Peter Van Dyke (AGG)

10:20 - 11:00 Hawaiian Tattoo: Keone Nunes (Author, artist)

11:00 - 12:00 Cultural Round Table: Moderated discussion – Hannah Springer (moderator), Billy Parris, Bobby Punihaole, Sonny Keakealani

12:00 - 12:40 Micronesian singing and dancing

1:00 - 2:00 Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance: Bernice Akamine (Moderator) Marie MacDonald, Rocky Jensen, Moana Eisele

2:00 - 2:30 Closing and Pule (Kanu o ka ‘Aina)

GARDEN TOURS (meet at kukui tree near the Garden office)

10:30 Conservation and horticulture tour - Guide Bill Garnett
12:00 Ethnobotany tour - Guide Bobby Camara
12:00 Taro tour - Guide Jerry Konanui

***BOOK READING***
10:30 Pulelehua and Mamaki by Janice Crowl

OTHER ATTRACTIONS (drop in any time)

Ask a Scientist (near main canopies):
Plant Identifications - Clyde Imada, Marie Bruegmann, Shelley James
Strange Fruit ID - Ken Love
Insects - Pat Conant, David Preston, Ron Englund
Plant Doctor - Scot Nelson
Propagation & nursery care - Bill Garnett
Grafting demonstrations - Sunao Kadooka
Master Gardeners
Kalo - Jerry Konanui
Botanical Gardens - National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Lyon, Honolulu Botanical Garden, Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Maui Nui Botanical Garden


GARDEN ARTISANS (near main canopies)

Weaving - Lehua Domingo, Debbie Toko, Jim Skibby, Shirley Kauhaihao

Wood Working - Kala Willis
Ipu Gourds - Elroy Juan
Kapa making and dying - Pam Barton, Lisa Raymond, Bernice Akamine, Moana Eiseley, Marie MacDonald
Quilts - Harriet Soong
Lei - Patsy Ivy,
Cordage - Larry Kuamo‘o
Pohaku shaping - Gavin Rin, Kaipo Kalua‘a

BOOK SIGNINGS

Herb Kane, Craig Elevitch, Janice Crowl, Marie MacDonald, Lucia Jensen

HULA DEMONSTRATIONS - Ulalia Berman

LOMILOMI DEMONSTRATIONS - Hawai'i Lomilomi Associaton

KEIKI ACTIVITIES: Nose flutes - Albert Carbonel; Ohe kapala - George Place; Makahiki games

COMMUNITY GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER FRIENDS of Amy Greenwell Garden have displays and information tables throughout the garden.

Near Garden office:
LEI DISPLAY (under kukui tree )
SUPER J’S HAWAIIAN FOOD
NATIVE PLANTS SALES

Water Gardening In Hawai'i

Here's my shot of Steve Stephenson's water garden in Volcano, Hawai'i, which I mention in "Oasis," my story in the current issue of Hana Hou! magazine.

If you’re traveling via Hawaiian Airlines this month, you can simply reach into the chair pocket in front of you for the February/March issue and meander through some enchanting Hawai'i water gardens at the same time you're cruising the stratosphere.

You can read the story online here, but be sure not to miss the printed version, which has additional stunning images by photographer Jack Wolford.

Some tips from the pond enthusiasts I visited:

• If you are newbie, you can begin with a small pond, and then add on.
• Join a local water garden club. It’s a great way to meet other gardeners and trade plants and fish. If you don’t have a club in your area, start one.
• Aquatic plants grow fast, and some are high maintenance. You’ll have to divide and fertilize water lilies and lotus once a month to keep them healthy and encourage blooming.
• Water lilies are either day bloomers or night bloomers. If you work all day, include some night bloomers, which open from about 7 pm to 10 am.
• Koi and catfish like nibbling on the roots of plants, so use netting or barriers to prevent damage.
• Biofiltration saves energy and reduces monthly operating costs.

I'll have to admit I had a fine time on this assignment, visiting beautiful gardens, talking story with gardeners and enjoying their warm hospitality. (I know, tough life.) Here's a few more of the many water gardens I visited.

In Puna, the pond under the 'ohi'a trees of Big Island Water Garden Club president Bob Peck and his wife, Mitsue...

In Volcano, the peaceful sanctuary of Naomi Rubine and George Winiarski...

...and something the public can enjoy, Victoria lilies at the entrance of Panaewa Zoo. These weren't in bloom when I took this photo, but I think the gigantic lilypads are impressive nonetheless.

Feeling inspired? Good luck. You might make a few mistakes. Just breathe deeply.