ʻŌHIʻA LOVE FEST

 
The theme of this year's festivities is Mōhala, or the unfurling and blossoming of the lehua. It is not only a phenology life stage of the ʽōhiʽa​ lehua but it also represents how our program has blossomed and is coming out of COVID with new workshops and celebration. ʻŌhiʻa lehua has also bloomed this past year with it's new official designation as the State Endemic Tree of Hawaiʻi. 

Letʻs celebrate at ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest, a free event for the family throughout November. Join us for special presentations, hands-on demonstrations, fun keiki giveaways, and more to celebrate ‘ōhi‘a lehua. 

This event is brought to you by the University of Hawaiʻi, the Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and your local Invasive Species Committees.

Kīpaepae opening and closing ceremonies guided by haumāna of Hālau ‘Ōhi‘a, a Hawai‘i Lifeways Stewardship Training program with Lonoa Honua.

For a complete schedule of activities around Hawaiʻi, click on the tabs to the left. 

We'll open our 6^th annual ‘Ōhi‘a Love Fest with a Kīpaepae (ceremony) on November 14th, 2022 at 9:00 am. The Kīpaepae is being brought to you by Hālau ‘Ōhi‘a (stewardship training).

The Kīpaepae ceremony will immerse you in the Native Hawaiian cultural tradition of hula and oli (chant).

Kīpaepae opening ceremony guided by haumāna of Hālau ‘Ōhi‘a, a Hawai‘i Lifeways Stewardship Training program with Lonoa Honua.

Join us on our Facebook page for this special ceremony.

We are excited to have you join us for our Kīpaepae to help us kick off our fun-filled week of the 2022 ‘Ōhi‘a Love Fest!

On Saturday, November 5^th come and join us for the kickoff to the ʽŌhiʽa Love Fest on Maui. We will be partnering with Maui Nui Botanical Garden to help highlight ʽŌhiʽa and all the ways that you can protect these iconic trees. This collaboration has led to our first event of the month and will help us highlight our Arbor Day here in Hawaiʽi.

In partnership with Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Association of Landscape Professionals (MALP), and Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens will give away more than 1,000 Hawaiian trees for free, 1 tree per person, any age. The MALP Garden Expo will feature horticultural and tree care classes, a plant sale, and free activities. To learn more and receive updates on event schedule and activities, visit,
https://www.ArborDayExpo.com.

The event is from 9:00am - 3:00pm. 

See below for a schedule of events:

9:30 am – ʻĀina Starts at Home (or Every Native Plant Matters) by Jeff Bagshaw

10:15 am – Developing Disease Resistant Koa for Healthy Maui Watersheds by Nicklos Dudley

10:45 am – Identifying ʻŌhiʻa Types on Maui for Seed Conservation by Marian Chau

11:30 am – ‘Ōhi’a; talk-story about our favorite tree and efforts to repatriate it throughout its historic range by JC Watson

12:15 pm – Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) Update by Ambyr Miyake

1:00 pm- Mālama i ka Aina Award by Serena Fukushima

For more information, visit https://www.biisc.org/ohia-love-fest-2022/

Come down to Leeward Community College on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, from 9:00am - 12:00pm, and help us celebrate our state endemic tree, ʽŌhiʽa Lehua. We will have booths, workshops, crafts, and giveaways. Enter for a chance to win 2 tickets to tour our precious Waiheʽe tunnel and see firsthand how a watershed and aquifer works. This once in a lifetime field trip opportunity is being brought to you by the Board of Water Supply and the Koʻolau Mountains Watershed Partnership.

All prizes and giveaways are available on a first come, first serve basis so come early to learn all about ʽŌhiʽa​ and win a chance to go home with some cool crafts, prizes, and your very own ohia starter kit.

Join us on Kauaʻi for a week-long celebration of the state endemic tree of Hawaiʻi, ʻŌhiʻa Lehua, with workshops, hikes, tree planting, and hoʻolauleʻa from Tuesday, November 15th through Saturday, November 19th.

Tuesday, November 15 @ 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

@Waimea Canyon State Park / ʻIliau Nature Loop

ʻŌhiʻa Seed Collecting: Join this workshop and help collect ʻōhiʻa seeds for conservation purposes. Attendance is limited. Register here.

Wednesday, November 16 @ 7:30 – 11:00 a.m.

@Makauwahi Cave Reserve

ʻOhiʻa Tree Planting: Help plant ʻōhiʻa trees at Makauwahi Cave Reserve. Attendance is limited. Register here.

Thursday, November 17 @ 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

@Kokeʻe State Park / Kaluapuhi Trail

ʻOhiʻa Tree Planting: Help plant ʻōhiʻa and other native plants in Kokeʻe. Attendance is limited. Register here.

Friday, November 18 @ 11:00 a.m.

Get your free ʻōhiʻa seedilng and bio-sanitation kit. (While supplies last.)

Location tbd.

Friday, November 18 @ 4:00 p.m.

Forest Friday: Whatʻs Da Haps in the forests of Kauaʻi?

Hear from Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee and Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project as they share year-end updates on Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, Little Fire Ants, Miconia and forest bird recovery efforts.

@Zoom. Register here.

Saturday, November 19, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

@Limahuli Garden and Preserve 

Hoʻolauleʻa + Plant Sale

Join us for a special day-long celebration, including a native plant sale, cultural demonstrations, educational booths, craft, and food vendors, and a whole lot more. Visit here for more information.

For more information, click here.

Or email saveohia@hawaii.edu.

Halau ‘Ōhi‘a will lead Ka Wā Pani (closing ceremony) to help close our 2022 ‘Ōhi‘a Love Fest. 

Ka Wā Pani closing ceremony guided by haumāna of Hālau ‘Ōhi‘a, a Hawai‘i Lifeways Stewardship Training program with Lonoa Honua.

Join us on our Facebook page for this special ceremony.

We would like to send a huge mahalo out to our partners, sponsors, funders, and most importantly YOU!! We thank all of you for participating in our week long festival to help celebrate the state endemic tree of Hawai‘i, ‘ōhi‘a lehua.

Mahalo for your support!