HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A plant adoption program started by the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) on Kauaʻi helps islanders understand and appreciate Hawaiʻi’s native plants.
It’s called Grow Aloha.
”We really want to see our landscapes and gardens and communities start to reflect the true ecology of Hawaiʻi, and to support and nourish our communities,” said David Bryant, NTBG’s communications director.
The monthly giveaways draw scores of people who add the plants, shrubs and trees to their own yards and gardens. It’s been a big success.
”When we give away plants like ōhiʻa and ʻaʻaliʻi, plants that are cultural touchstones, we might see huge lines coming for those plants,” Bryant said. “Then plants like loʻulu and wiliwili, over the months, we see people getting more and more excited learning what those plants are.”
A plant adoption program started by the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauai helps islanders understand and appreciate Hawaii’s native plants.(National Tropical Botanical Garden)
Over the past year, more than 5,000 native plants encompassing 123 separate species and varieties were adopted by more than 3,000 residents across the state.
“We both have people coming back time and time again to add to their yards and their growing spaces, and we new folks coming every month to take their first native plant or heritage crop. It’s really exciting,” Bryant said.
The National Tropical Botanical Garden runs Kauaʻi’s adoption sites. Others are overseen by partners in the effort that include Bishop Museum, Molokaʻi Land Trust, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, and Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden on the Big Island.
“You have these plant people, as I would describe us, on these different islands, sharing their deep connection with those plants,” Bryant said.
NTBG also has “How to Grow” videos on its YouTube page that offer expert advice on planting and care.
The organization has announced that, through funding from the Department of Land and Natural Resources Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry program, the Grow Aloha plant giveaways will continue through June.
It hopes to keep the adoption effort going beyond that.
”So that one point in our future we can drive around Hawaiʻi, we can drive around our communities and we can see ōhiʻa in people’s yards, we can see ʻulu, we can see all of these plants that really reflect Hawaiʻi, really reflect the place that we live and cherish,” Bryant said.
To see the calendar of upcoming plant giveaway dates and sites, go to GrowAloha.org.
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