An Open Letter of Gratitude from the President of the Board

Aloha pumehana kākou –

To our beloved members, as the board of the Friends of Amy BH Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, we wish to thank Dr. Louis Putzel for his service to the organization as Executive Director over the past 15 months, while announcing his decision to transition away from the role over the next several months. Lou has helped the Garden make tremendous strides during his tenure, bringing on a wonderful staff team, hosting impactful public events, relaunching educational programs, and securing critical resources to sustain our operations. He has also helped navigate an exceedingly difficult time marked by uncertainty in our federal funding sources. Over the past year, the Garden has grown, allowing the Board to mature in its role while our staff and volunteers have reinvigorated programs. We sincerely thank Lou for his service, and he has emphasized that his service will continue in other roles.

At the same time, important work lies ahead, and we will be seeking to recruit and retain a new Executive Director. For the first time since transitioning away from the Bishop Museum, our Garden operations are nearing our historic levels in terms of programs and impacts. However, much work remains in these challenging times, as we continue to revitalize, stabilize and sustain the Garden moving forward. Along with diversifying revenue sources and other contributions, we’ll also be launching a membership drive. In the seven years since we secured the funds to purchase and preserve Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, it has been inspiring to see what we have been able to accomplish as a dedicated group of community members. We look forward to seeing what the next chapter brings.

Me ke aloha pumehana -
Noa Kekuewa Lincoln
Board President, on behalf of the Board