Hawaiian gardens today are very different than before European contact in the late 18th century.
When the first Polynesians migrated from somewhere to the west, they brought with them a form of agriculture that was as close to sustainable as possible. That method of farming is alive today because many kupuna of the Hawaiian community worked to keep it so.
One fine example of these efforts is the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in mauka Kona. Thanks to Amy Greenwell, Bishop Museum, Garden Director Peter Van Dyke and a host of island volunteers, this ethnobotanical garden was able to teach these techniques to thousands of school children and adults throughout the years. Not only was sustainable Hawaiian agriculture taught, but the cultural and spiritual components were incorporated as well.
This came to an abrupt end when Bishop Museum announced it would sell this valuable educational farm center. Amy Greenwell’s spirit must really be at unrest as is the spirit of the Kona community. Thus, the Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden was formed to save this unique resource.
According to Maile Melrose, president of the friends of the garden group, there is now a drive to save this special place. She announced a meeting open to the entire community aimed at accomplishing this goal.
The meeting is slated for 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 5) at the garden. There will be free tours from 2:30-4 p.m. and a meeting at 4 p.m. to discuss opportunities to be part of this worthy effort, so be sure to come.
The garden is just mauka of Manago Hotel, where you can have a meal of their famous pork chops. For further information about the event, call Maile at 323-3378.
If you want to learn more about Amy, the Greenwell family and many other historical figures of Kona you also can call or visit the Kona Historical Society.
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When you visit the many islands of the South Pacific such as the Marquesas, Society, Cook, Samoa and Tonga, you will see how similar the agriculture practices are to Hawaiians of the past. What it must have been like for the first Polynesian pioneers who found Hawaii and developed these Islands we call home.
The forests in those earliest days of human activity were very different than when Captain Cook arrived. What is now pasture used to be forests. Trees such as loulu palms flourished in abundance, but it wasn’t long before the introduction of pigs and rats radically changed things.
We have no real clear records of that time, but throughout Polynesia, it is obvious humans and their activities have had a tremendous impact on the species that evolved on the many isolated islands of Pacifica.
Today, erosion is a big problem on most high islands because of damage being done by feral grazing animals such as goats. The rising ocean is swallowing the low atolls that have been the homes of islanders for thousands of years.
The moral of this story is that we better learn to adapt to change but keep as many of the good qualities of past sustainable systems as we can. We can do this by supporting education, using the vision of Amy Greenwell and the Hawaiian community.
As individuals, we can then be conservationists right in our own gardens.
We can grow native and canoe plants.
We can also plant species to encourage desirable wildlife such as our native birds if we live in an upland forest area. In the lowlands, we can protect our shorebirds and even enjoy wildlife such as mynahs, doves, tropical finches and cardinals.
We have a wide variety of native plants and plants introduced by the Polynesians and other cultures that followed. Therefore, we have a tremendous array for beauty and source of food.
There are a number of trees that can help accomplish this purpose. Among the best are natives such as the loulu palms, ohia, koa, wiliwili, hoawa, alahe‘e and alali‘i. Other plants, such as the beach and mountain naupaka, are attractive and make good ornamentals for a garden.
The hala tree is another native of interest and beauty. Lauhala, or leaf of the pandanus plant, has probably been used for thousands of years by the Polynesians. Not only are the leaves used for walls, floor mats and thatched roofs, modern Polynesians weave purses, shopping bags and hats with them. Even the parts of the fruit, which resemble a pineapple, were eaten during periods of food shortage. Today, island campers will use the fibrous segments as a toothbrush.
We have two common native species. The puhala (Pandanus odoratissimus) is found along many coastal areas. The mountain ‘ie‘ie (Frecynetia arnotti) is found climbing vine-like up ohia trees in mauka forests, sometimes 80 feet or more.
Another group of plants to consider are those canoe plants the Polynesians brought with them including coconut, kukui, mountain apple, banana, taro, sweet potato, olena and breadfruit.
Fortunately, nurseries in our area have a vast variety and number of good native and exotic ornamentals, including ones that produce fruit or flowers attractive to wildlife. If you are in doubt as to which plants would be best for you, check with your local nurserymen for advice.
Several nurseries are beginning to specialize in native plants and can help you get acquainted with the best ones for your situation. Local bookstores also carry a variety of books that can help you become an expert at identifying local plants and birds.
So, when you find yourself mourning the loss of days gone by, remember our today will hopefully be remembered as the good old days to future islanders.
We need to think about how we can ensure the future will include the best part of the past. This is what Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden has done for our island — and we pray will continue to do.
This information is supplied by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. For further information, contact the office nearest to you.
