The Hawaii Chapter of the American Bamboo Society is hosting its 16th annual Bamboo Festival from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo.
There is a special entrance fee of $3 and festivalgoers will receive a $3 bamboo bucks coupon good at any vendor or toward an HCABS membership. Nani Mau Gardens, 421 Makalika St., is located near the end of the street on the left side of the road, with plenty of free parking.
“We are very fortunate to have two excellent presentations by nationally recognized people working in bamboo,” said HCABS President Jacqui Marlin.
At 10:30 a.m., bamboo artist Cal Hashimoto will present information about the construction of his latest large commissioned piece.
“Cal’s work is spectacular and this is a rare opportunity to see the techniques he uses,” Marlin said. “Cal has said of his work: ‘The difficult task that I endeavor to accomplish is to incorporate some of the aspects of serenity, beauty and spirituality of a bamboo forest into my art work.’ He definitely accomplishes this aim.”
Dean Johnston, a nationally recognized architectural designer who concentrates on creating ecological design in his work, will speak at 1 p.m. Johnston received the A.I.A.S. National Research Award in 2001 for his work testing structural bamboo, leading to the first acceptance of a bamboo species, Bambusa stenostachya, into the U.S. building codes.
“One of the goals of the Hawaii Bamboo Society is to put together enough money to have some of our local bamboos tested and eventually have it also approved as a locally sourced renewable building material,” Marlin said.
Vendors will sell plants, hand-crafted items, jewelry and much more. There will be HCABS bamboo fiber T-shirts available for purchase and participants will have the opportunity to join or renew their membership in the American Bamboo Society and HCABS at the club booth.
The silent auction will feature bamboos, jewelry, gift certificates for groceries or tools, and many other items donated by supporters.
The chef at Nani Mau restaurant also agreed to make some bamboo dishes for purchase in addition to the regular food fare.
