Synopsis:
Join NAJGA and Friends of the Lili`uokalani Gardens for a three-day gardening workshop and tour of private and public gardens in the beautiful bay city of Hilo, Hawaii. Learn to prune black pines and ironwood, and renew large, aging azalea; help create a garden entry stone arrangement; participate in assembly of a lantern; learn what plants work in tropical climates; attend lectures on Japanese gardens as wellness sites and the history of Lili'uokalani Gardens; get pointers on shooting landscapes from professional photographers; and dine with a view of an active volcano!
Itinerary:
Thursday
Thursday is an optional (separate fee) daylong bus tour of significant local gardens and historical attractions in the Hilo area, such as the Pacific Tsunami Museum and Nani Mau Gardens.
Friday
Friday is a work day which offers three garden building and pruning projects in Lili`uokalani Gardens.
In the afternoon enjoy a Golden Hour Tour of Lili’uokalani Gardens with professional photographers who offer insights on garden photography.
In the evening join Friends of Lili’uokalani Gardens and NAJGA for an optional banquet to meet fellow Japanese garden enthusiasts and NAJGA members.
Saturday
The morning is devoted to health and wellness in gardens, and kicks off with an optional early morning Walk for Alzheimer's, followed by a full morning of lectures by local historians and authors.
In the afternoon vans will depart for a tour of Volcano-area residential gardens, including Bide-a-Wee and Kimalia.
In the evening dinner will be at Volcano House Restaurant with a view of Kilauea caldera and Halemaumau Crater as your backdrop.
Accommodations:
Event participants are encouraged to stay at the oceanfront Castle Hilo Hawaiian hotel with views of historic banyan trees or the ocean and Mauna Kea in the background. Hilo International Airport is just three miles away.