KILAUEA — Malama Kaua‘i, a nonprofit focused on creating a more-sustainable Kaua‘i, will celebrate the expansion of its four-acre Kilauea Community Garden at 9 a.m., Wednesday, a news release states. The public is invited to take part in commemorating the
KILAUEA — Malama Kaua‘i, a nonprofit focused on creating a more-sustainable Kaua‘i, will celebrate the expansion of its four-acre Kilauea Community Garden at 9 a.m., Wednesday, a news release states.
The public is invited to take part in commemorating the garden’s successes and enjoy its flourishing grounds in Kilauea, the release says. In addition, plot-holders, donors and interested community members will have the opportunity to learn about the development of the Kilauea Community Garden into its next phases.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. has also been invited to attend and will be harvesting taro he helped plant at the garden’s blessing ceremony less than a year ago.
“In just 10 months this space went from a bare piece of ag land with good intentions into a thriving, beautiful garden, full of abundance,” said Malama Kaua‘i Executive Director Keone Kealoha. “It just underscores the power of what a community can do when they get together. We encourage and hope to see community gardens all over Kaua‘i.”
Part of Malama Kaua‘i’s upcoming advancements include a partnership with Regenerations International Botanical Garden to establish and maintain mixed agroforesty systems at the Kilauea Community Garden and adjacent lands. The project aims to cultivate biodiversity and community seedbanks.
Additionally, the garden will serve as a center for innovative research-and-development projects, the release states.
A partnership between Malama Kaua‘i, Architecture for Humanities and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s School of Architecture is being explored with the goal of creating more affordable and sustainable housing using local construction materials such as rammed earth, bamboo and other locally available woods.
Furthermore, 1/8th-acre commercial incubator plots for start-up farmers are soon to be available onsite, as well as a communal garden and orchard space.
The Kilauea Community Garden will also operate as a demonstration facility for upcoming workshops, such as how to utilize water-catchment systems, the basics of growing food and an introduction to permaculture, the release states.
Currently, more than 40 families have plots on one acre of land at the community garden.
To get to the Kilauea Community Garden, take Kuhio Highway to Kilauea’s Kalihiwai Ridge and turn mauka on Kahiliholo Road. Drive a half mile and take a left on the gravel driveway with the “Wai Koa Plantation” stone and wood gate. The address is 4641 Kahiloholo Rd.
Call 828-0685, visit www.malamakauai.org or e-mail coco@malamakauai.org for more information.
