Friday, November 27, 5:30 pm - 7 pm
Event:  KALO:  Issues of Genetically-Modified (GMO) Organisms:  A Panel Presentation
Sponsors: Kamehameha Investment Corporation/Kamehameha Schools, The Kohala Center, University of Hawaii at Hilo Kipuka Native Hawaiian Student Center and their Eia Hawai'i Lecture Series, and Keauhou Beach Resort.
Description:  Features Dr. William Steiner, Dean of College of Agriculture, UHH; Dr. Dennis Gonsalves, Director, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center;  and Jerry Konanui, President of the Association for Hawaiian Awa. This presentation is part of the Puana Ka Ike (Imparting Knowledge) series, an educational forum that offers a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture, history, tradition and perspective of the environment.
Place: Keauhou (Outrigger) Beach Resort ballroom, Kailua-Kona, North Kona
Cost:  Free
Contact:  808-534-8528, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit http://kohalacenter.org/puanakaike/about.html

Saturday November 28, 9am - Noon
Event: Pruning Practicum, with Diane Duff, KOC Education Events Advisor 
(2nd Field Trip in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor/Organizer: Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  Bring your tools and learn how to sharpen and care for them before getting some hands on guidance actually pruning shrubs and trees.
Place: Carpool meets at KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, North Kona
Cost: The class is part of an 8 class series that KOC members may attend for $125 ($35 for 1 year membership). Individual classes may be taken for $30 (member price) or $45 (non-member price)  Discounts are available for early registration.
Contact:  Kona Outdoor Circle, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org

Tuesday December 1,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  Tropical Fruit Tree Management, by Dr. Francis Zee, USDA/ARS/PBARC (Class #12 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below 
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital, Hamakua
Cost:  $12; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Wednesday, December 2, 4pm - 9pm
Event:  Botany: Sex in the Garden, with Bree DuPertuis, KOC Education Director;  and Identifying Plants, with Diana Duff, KOC Events Advisor (2nd & 3rd Classes in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor:  Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  This special two-class event will also include a "Get Acquainted Pot-Luck" after the first class.
Place:  KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway,  North Kona.
Cost:  8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes  - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact:   KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org 

Saturday, December 5, 9am - Noon
Event:  Compost and Mulch, with Recycle Hawaii and Angela Fryley
(3rd Field Trip in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor:  Kona Outdor Circle
Description:  Contact KOC
Place:  The Donkey Mill, Holualoa, North Kona. Carpool meets at KOC on Kuakini at the junction of Queen Ka'ahumanu, Kailua-Kona, North Kona.
Cost:  8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes  - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact:  KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org         

Saturday, December 5, 9 - 11 am
Event:  Aerobically Activated Compost Tea, by Bobby Grimes & Koh Ming Wei (Field Trip #5 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below
Place:  Pa'auilo mauka, Hamakua (see contact below for directions)
Cost:  Free; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday, December 5, 2 pm
Event: Hawaii Tea Society Annual Meeting
Sponsor/Organizer: Hawaii Tea Society
Description: At the Annual Meeting members will conduct society business, vote on revised by-laws, and elect officers.
Place: Komonhana Ag. Complex, Room A., Hilo, Hawaii
Cost:  Free
Contact: Bob Jacobson, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.hawaiiteasociety.org

Tuesday December 8,  6 - 8 pm
Event:  Propagating Fruit Trees, by Mike Nagao, UH CTAHR (Class #13 of series)
Sponsor/Organizer:  Hilo-Hamakua Community Development Corporation and Hawai'i County Department of Research & Development
Description:  contact Donna Mitts, below 
Place: NHERC, Honoka'a, makai of hospital, Hamakua 
Cost:  $12; $140 for entire 13 classes plus 6 free field trips.
Contact:  Donna Mitts, program manager, 936-2117,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Wednesday, December 9, 6pm - 8:30 pm
Event:  Irrigation Design, with Garrett Webb of Leaping Bulldog Nursery (4th and final Class in Tropical Gardening Fall Series)
Sponsor:  Kona Outdoor Circle
Description:  Contact KOC
Place:  KOC in Kailua-Kona on Kuakini Highway at the junction with Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway,  North Kona.
Cost:  8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes  - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact:   KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org 

Thursday, December 10, 9 am - Noon; Friday, December 11, 9 am - 1 pm (Lunch included)
Event: From Bean to Bar: Chocolate Candy-Making for the Home Processor & Food Lover
Sponsor: Kuaiwi Farm
Description: Join Kuaiwi Farm owners Una Greenaway and Leon Rosner and learn how to take the fermented, dried cacao bean through the six basic steps required to become chocolate candy. This is a two-morning course, where the participant will have hands -on experience in all aspects of candy making. Includes plenty of tasting and a goodie bag of candy to take home. Included will be a handout illustrating the steps taken and equipment needed. Lunch is included on Friday.
Place: Kuaiwi Farm in Captain Cook, mauka of Kealakekua Ranch Center, South Kona. Map given at registration.
Cost: $75, class size limit: 10
Contact: 328-8888

Thursday, December 10, 6 pm
Event: Eat and Enjoy
Sponsor: Hawai'i Sustainable Education Initiative (HSEI)
Description: LOCALVORE DINNER served. Art show, silent auction, arts and crafts by the children for sale, plants for sale, learn about and join our CSAE - Community Supported Agriculture and Education program, meet the farmers of our CSAE, music by the children and other professional musicians. All profits go to tuition assistance.
Place: 45-3611 Mamane St., Honoka'a HI 96727, Hamakua
Cost: $12 in advance (pays for dinner), $15 at the door. Tickets available from HSEI, Hula Moon Consignment Store and Honoka'a Health Foods store. Paypal accepted.
Contact: Koh Ming Wei, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 808-443-9231

Friday, December 11, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Event: Farm Community Potluck and Seed Exchange
Sponsor/Organizer: Hawai'i Farmers Union and Hamakua-North Hilo Agricultural Cooperative
Description: Seed Exchange begins at 5:30 pm; potluck dinner begins at 6:30 pm. Focus this Friday is to honor AQ McElrath, visionary ILWU activist and organizer. Home gardeners, farmers and other community members are most welcome whether you bring seeds, plants or cuttings, or just take some home! E komo mai kakou, kokua kekahi i kekahi, aloha kekahi i kekahi. (Welcome! Help each other, love each other!) Join us in building community and growing food sovereignty.
Place: Honoka'a's historic ILWU Jack Wayne Hall building (on the Waipi'o, makai end of Mamane Street), Honoka'a, Hamakua
Contact/info: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , http://hawaiifarmersunion.org, or call 331-3002

Saturday, December 12, 8 am - Noon
Event: 4th Birthday Party of the Keauhou Farmers Market
Sponsor: Kona County Farm Bureau
Description: Celebrating 4 years of the market, raffle prizes, music and as always fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, 100% Kona Coffee, natural grown beef and freshly caught fish
Place: Keauhou Shopping Center, 78-6831 Alii Drive, Keauhou-Kona, HI - located near Longs Drug Store. North Kona
Cost: Free
Contact: www.keauhoufarmersmarket.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday, December 12, 9 am - Noon
Event: Kona School Gardens at Innovations Charter School and Ke Kula O 'Ehunuikaimalino (4th and last Field Trip in Tropical Gardening Fall Series).
Sponsor: Kona Outdoor Circle
Description: Contact KOC
Place: Carpool meets at KOC on Kuakini at the junction of Queen Ka'ahumanu, Kailua-Kona, North Kona.
Cost: 8-Class Series price - $125 members (membership - $35) Scholarship Available to All Plant Lovers Individual classes - $30 members / $45 non members. Discount for early registration.
Contact: KOC, 329-7286, www.konaoutdoorcircle.org

Saturday, December 12, 9 am - Noon
Event: Mala'ai School Garden Work & Learn Day
Sponsor: Hawai'i Island School GardenNetwork
Description: Community members, students, teachers, staff and families are invited. Work will focus on tucking the garden in for winter and wheelbarrow repair. A pot luck lunch will follow and chilled lemongrass tea will be provided made from herbs grown by students in the garden. If the weather is inclement, please call ahead to confirm that the work day is being held.
Place:
Cost: Free
Contact: Garden Leader Amanda Rieux (640-3637).

Saturday, December 12, 9 am - Noon
Event: Coalition Building: Theory and Methods for Pacific Communities
Sponsor: Hawai'i Department of Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition (NPAC)
Description: Co-presented by Neal Palafox, M.D., MPH, Professor and Chair of Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health at UH Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; and Lee Ellen Buenconsejo-Lum, M.D., Assistant Professor UH Manoa John A. Burns school of Medicine. Both are experts in community and public health issues in Pacific Islands. This free workshop addresses the purposes of coalition-building, identifying stakeholders, motivating and sustaining partners, leadership, and commuication. Break-out sessions will focus on four different areas of community health on Hawai'i Island: 1) Increased access to local produce, 2) Safe routes to school and active living, 3)Training facilitation for healthy food prep, 4) Rural outeach.
Place: North Hawai'i Education and Resource Center (NHERC), 45-539 Plumeria St., Honoka'a, Hamakua
Cost: Free; see contact below to register and choose focus group.
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday, December 12, 10 am - 11:30 am
Event: Free Garden Tour
Sponsor: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Description: Come and see the garden's collection of native Hawaiian plants while hearing about their traditional cultural uses.
Place: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens, Captain Cook, Mile Marker 110, mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway. The Garden is a Bishop Museum native plant arboretum.
Cost: Free
Contact: Call if you have any questions, 323-3318 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sunday, December 13, Noon - 2 pm
Event: Slow Food Christmas Potluck
Sponsor: Slow Food Hawai'i
Description: We will be celebrating Terra Madre Day (officially Dec. 10) with Ken Love (Tropical Fruit Growers Assn.) giving a short talk on food communities in India and Hawaii. Anna Ranch is a beautiful setting looking out over the pasture and watching the calves, a relaxed and convivial group of people, and, of course, really good food. In addition to a dish or two, please bring your own plates, bowls (we sometimes have stews), eating and serving utensils, napkins, glass or cup. We will provide water, cold herb tea, and coffee. You are
welcome to bring wine or beer.
Place: Anna Ranch, Waimea, South Kohala (see Contact for directions)
Cost: Free for Members of Slow Food; guests $15. Membership $60 at http://www.slowfoodusa.org/
Contact: Shelby, 351-0723, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sunday, December 20, 2009, 10 am - 5 pm
Event: Hawai'i Healing Garden Solstice Festival
Sponsor: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden and South Kona Green Market
Description: Healing Garden Festival - Winter Solstice Celebration, featuring Hawai'i's Healthy & Green activities, cultural presentations, lei & coconut contests, children's programs, crafts, plants, local & organic food and family fun. Visit the Hawai'i Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) booth and listen to Jerry Konanui's "Taro Talk."
Place: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens, Captain Cook, Mile Marker 110, mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway. South Kona
Cost: $3 Donation.
Contact: For information, call 638-0888, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.hawaiihealinggarden.com

Monday, December 21, 6:30 pm
Event: Hawai'i Tropical Fruit Growers December Meeting: Honey Bee Colony Collapse in Hawai'i
Sponsor: HTFGA
Description: The varroa mite situation will be discussed with Mike Klugness and others
Topics include: 1. Importance of Honey Bee pollination in essential crops. 2. Decline in pollination effectiveness due to high mortality rates in Honey bee colonies especially feral colonies. 3. Professional bee management for pollination services. 4. The option of pesticide or pesticide-free honey bee colonies.
Place: UH Kainalilu Experiment Station, Kainaliu, North Kona
Cost: Free
Contact: Ken Love, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wednesday, December 23, 4 pm
Event: Christmas Imu in Mala'ai Garden
Sponsor: Mala'ai Culinary Gardens
Description: Waimea families and community friends are invited to participate in a traditional holiday imu – both as part of a cultural learning and sharing tradition and to help underwrite Waimea Middle School’s annual 8th Grade East Coast educational trip in May 2010. There is a $20 per pan donation requested and families may bring one or several pans to be cooked in the traditional underground oven, which will be created and managed by students with the guidance and help of their families. Funds raised go entirely to the student trip to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City to bring to life the lessons learned in 8th Grade American History classes. Pans of food may be dropped off between 4-6 p.m., Wed., Dec. 23, 2009, and picked back up between 8-10 a.m., Thurs., Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve morning). Foods should be thawed, seasoned and placed in a heavy-duty foil pan, and then wrapped with heavy-duty foil. This entire packet should then be placed in a second foil pan and wrapped a second time to completely seal in the foods. It is recommended that clean green ti-leaves or parchment be wrapped around the foods before the foil wrapping to keep foods from directly touching the foil.
Place: Waimea Middle School, Mala'ai School Garden, Waimea, South Kohala.
Cost: $20 donation per pan. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time from any of the East Coast Tripper students or family members, or by emailing the project’s teacher-advisor < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >, stopping by the school office or calling Patti Cook (937-2833). Or, just come to campus on the afternoon of the imu and look for directional signs out to a tent near the Mala’ai school garden where the imu will be dug.
Contact: Patti Cook, 937-2833

Tuesday, January 5 - Thursday January 21, 2010
Event: Permaculture Design Course
Sponsor: Uluwehi Farm
Description: Since the first Permaculture Design Course in 1972, people throughout the world have brought permaculture techniques into their homes, businesses and communities. Students will gain hands on experience with small animal systems, perennial food gardens, naturalizing plant communities, and waste water management and food forestry. The experience will offer valuable skills and knowledge from a team of instructors with a broad range of experience in Hawai'i and around the world. Instructors include Nik Bertulis, Tom Baldwin, Craig Elevitch and other special guests. Students will gain an understanding of permaculture theory, knowledge of all the necessary aspects of becoming fully conversant in permaculture design, and by the end, have the ability to create a permaculture design plan. This course is for anyone interested in gaining practical skills and perspective for sustainable living and productivity.
Place: Uluwehi Farm - North Kohala, Big Island, Hawai'i
Cost: $900
Contact: Tom at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 808.889.5035 / PO Box 910, Kapa'au, HI 96755

Wednesday, January 13 - Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Event: La'akea Community Intern program
Sponsor: La'akea Permaculture Community
Description: We have been operating a successful work exchange program for four years. Our internship program increases the focus on learning. Participants will enjoy seven workshops on permaculture and eight on communication/interpersonal/community living skills. This is in addition to your daily participation in community life and immersion in permaculture modalities.
Place: La'akea Community, Pahoa, Puna (see contact for directions)
Cost: $650. Includes room and board. 20 hours of labor per week expected. Program limited to 10 individuals.
Contact: E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Address: La'akea ommunity, PO BOx 1071, Pahoa, HI 96778. Tel: 808-443-4076.

Friday, January 22, 2010, 9:00 - 11:30 am.
Event: Introduction to Kalo Identification.
Sponsor: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Description: Learn to recognize kalo (taro) varieties.
Place: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens, Captain Cook, Mile Marker 110, mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway. The Garden is a Bishop Museum native plant arboretum.
Cost: Free
Contact: Call 323-3318, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , http://www.bishopmuseum.org/greenwell

Saturday, February 27, 2010, 9 am - 2:30 pm.
Event: 6th Annual Grow Hawaiian Festival.
Sponsor: Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
Description: Festival-goers will get the chance to talk with practitioners of the Hawaiian arts, biologists, conservationists, and horticulturists – professionals who share a common passion for the native and Polynesian introduced plants of Hawaii. The Annual Grow Hawaiian Festival has something for everyone at any age. There will be hands-on activities for the keiki and adults, cultural demonstrations, ask-the expert booths, displays, a lei contest, live entertainment, and much more! Volunterers Needed.
Place: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens, Captain Cook, Mile Marker 110, mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway. The Garden is a Bishop Museum native plant arboretum.
Cost: Contact below
Contact: Call 323-3318, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , http://www.bishopmuseum.org/greenwell