Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

Ka mālama ‘ana i ka mo’omeheu. I mea e ola ai mai kēia mua aku. Preserving culture. So that there is life to come.

Explore the Garden

Featured Event

Arbor Day Celebration

Annual Friends of Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden Meeting and Celebration, in partnership with Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative

Free Entry!

Join us as we celebrate trees, community, and the living heritage of our island home.

9:00 a.m. – Welcome & Opening

Gather at the Main Stage as we open this special day together. We’ll share a few announcements and set the tone for a day of learning, connection, and aloha ʻāina — love for the land.

9:15 a.m. – Opening Blessing

A blessing by Kauhane Heloca will open the Arbor Day celebration with gratitude and intention. Following the blessing, the Plant Sale, Tree Giveaway, and all Activity Booths will open.

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Nā Kūpuna o Kona Hema

Enjoy the lively music and hula of Nā Kūpuna o Kona Hema, whose ukulele, song, and dance bring the spirit of aloha to the Main Stage and fill the Garden with joyful energy.

10:45 – 11:30 a.m. – ʻUlu Co-op presents: Cooking with Sam Choy

Join Chef Sam Choy for a fun and flavorful cooking demonstration featuring local ingredients and island-style inspiration — a delicious way to celebrate our connection to the ʻāina.

11:00 a.m. – Guided Garden Tour

Meet under the Kukui nut tree at the picnic tables to join our guides for a walk through the Garden’s living collection of native and Polynesian-introduced plants, each with its own story and purpose.

11:45 – 11:55 a.m. – Video Premiere

Take a moment to relax and enjoy the premiere of our new Garden video, “Community Forest Restoration in Kona” highlighting our community’s role in stewarding Hawaii’s forests and cultural landscapes.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Friends Annual Meeting

Everyone is invited to the Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden Annual Meeting at the Main Stage. Hear updates, meet board members, and learn how you can help nurture this community treasure.

1:15 p.m. – Afternoon Garden Tour

If you missed the morning tour, join us again under the Kukui nut tree for a final guided walk through the Garden — a peaceful way to close your day among the plants that sustain us.

2:00 p.m. – Closing

We close our celebration in gratitude — to our volunteers, partners, and community who help this Garden thrive. Mahalo for joining us to celebrate Arbor Day and the Year of Our Community Forests.

When:

November 8, 2025

Where:

82-6160 Māmalahoa Highway, Captain Cook

Mahalo to our partners and funders:

Atherton Family Foundation
Ceres Trust
Cooke Foundation Ltd
The Healy Foundation
Lawrence H. Dorcy
Hawaiian Foundation

Funding for this project provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program. USDA, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden and partners are equal opportunity providers and employers.

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Recurring Events

Eight shirts arranged on table in black, olive, grey, blue, white, red, mustard, and green.

Pure Kona Green Market

Great farmers market featuring delicious food, crafts, and produce from our local artisans and farmers.

Every Sunday: 9 am - 2 pm

Free for all ages

Garden Volunteer Days

Come and join our dedicated volunteers for garden work and having fun. Meet at our Visitor Center, located at 82-6160 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI 96704, USA to sign in for the day and meet the crew!

Every Saturday: 9 am - 12:30 pm

Free for all ages

Grow Aloha illustration for Captain Cook Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden native plant adoption event every third saturday.

Grow Aloha Plant Adoption

When we grow Hawaiian native plants and heritage crops, we grow aloha for ʻāina. Adopt one of these cherished plants every third Sunday!

Every Third Sunday: 9 am - 12:30 pm

Free for all ages

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Over 200 native plant species

About the Garden

Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a vibrant 15-acre biocultural kīpuka – a protected remnant of land with plants and agricultural features from an earlier era. Located in South Kona, the Garden, which is also an officially designated community forest, showcases over 200 species of native and Polynesian-introduced plants that predate the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. From culturally significant plants like kalo (taro) and maiʻa (banana) to rare and endangered species like kōki’o (Kokia species), this garden is a treasure trove of Hawaii's botanical heritage. The Garden also includes a fascinating 5-acre archaeological site, preserving the features of ancient Hawaiian agricultural lands that once fed a large population in Kona.

Our History

1400-1700 AD

Kona Field System Established

Establishment of the Kona Field System by Native Hawaiians, featuring large stone archaeological features around which a thriving upland agricultural system developed to feed a population comparable to that living on the Big Island today.

1974

Bishop Museum

The Garden bequeathed by Amy Greenwell to Bishop Museum for the purpose of conserving an example of the historic Kona Field System and curating a collection of native (endemic and indigenous) and Polynesian-introduced “canoe” plants used for food, fuel, fiber and medicines.

1988

Public Opening

After a number of archeological studies and several years of planting and curating a unique collection of native, rare, endangered and useful Hawaiian plants, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden opened to the public, becoming a beloved landmark for knowledge sharing, cultural activities and nature appreciation.

2019

Community Ownership

After more than 30 years as part of Bishop Museum, the Garden devolved to community ownership, marking a new chapter in a rich history starting with several phases of agricultural production and now transitioning to a new existence as an anchor of biocultural knowledge sharing and a source of enjoyment for local residents, students and visitors for years to come.

The Experience

As you wander through the Garden, you'll experience a variety of ecological zones, from coastal and dry forests to lush agricultural and wet forest areas. It's not just a place of beauty—it's a living classroom dedicated to conserving native plants and supporting traditional Hawaiian land use and cultural practices.

About the Garden