Grow Aloha
Third Wednesday | Every Month | 5 – 9 p.m.
Grow Aloha
Third Wednesday of every month
Kaiwiʻula Night Market Event
Grow Aloha
Third Wednesday | Every Month | 5 – 8 p.m.
Grow Aloha is a hui of plant adoption partners working together to restore Hawaiian plants and our relationships with them in urban areas. Bishop Museum is a proud partner and plant adoption site on Oʻahu.
In 2025, every second Wednesday of the month, drop by Bishop Museum at the Kaiwiʻula Night Market from 5 – 9 p.m. to adopt native plants for free.
Go here to learn more about the Grow Aloha partners across the pae ʻāina and how you can be a part of community-based biocultural restoration in 2025.
Grow Aloha is a hui of plant adoption partners working together to restore Hawaiian plants and our relationships with them in urban areas. Bishop Museum is a proud partner and plant adoption site on Oʻahu.
In 2025, every third Wednesday of the month, drop by Bishop Museum at the Kaiwiʻula Night Market from 5 – 8 p.m. to adopt native plants for free.
Go here to learn more about the Grow Aloha partners across the pae ʻāina and how you can be a part of community-based biocultural restoration in 2025.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Location: Bishop Museum – Upper Parking Lot 2
Time: 5 – 8 p.m.
Reserve your plant online by filling out the intake form below and visit the Grow Aloha Booth at the Kaiwiʻula Night Market to pick up your plant!
Plants available for adoption:
Sold Out
ʻIlima: ʻIlima (Sida fallax) is a flowering plant that grows in dry and mesic forests at a multitude of elevations. It can take on many forms from a small groundcover plant, when grown in lowlands, to a tall shrub, when grown upland. It prefers full-partial sun and to dry out in between waterings until it’s established and does not need extra watering.
ʻIlima is the official flower of Oahu. It is useful as a groundcover, especially in beach areas. ‘Ilima is often used for its medicinal qualities and for its aesthetic in lei making.
Sold Out
Kalo: Kalo, also known as taro, is a root vegetable that grows well when planted in lo’i (fishponds) or rich, well-drained, and consistently moist soil. It does best when exposed to bright, indirect sunlight, as direct sunlight can burn the leaves. Kalo can be grown in both lowland and upland environments.
Kalo is an important aspect of Hawaiian culture. It was a staple in the diet of the Polynesians who first settled onto the Hawaiian Islands and is still eaten throughout the islands today, typically as poi. Kalo has been used as medicine, dye, fishing bait, as part of both spiritual and religious rituals, and more.
Sold Out
Ko: Ko, or sugarcane, is a tall grass introduced to Hawai’i by the Polynesians who first settled onto the islands as one of their ‘canoe plants’. This plant does best in full sun, with moist soils that have good aeration and drainage. Ko grows best when given nitrogen-rich fertilizer regularly.
Ko has been used for centuries as a sweet snack and holds an important spiritual value in some ceremonies. It can be consumed either by juicing it and using it as a sweetener or chewing on the raw stalk as a snack. The fibers on the stalks have also been used to scrub teeth and gums.
Sold Out
Lonomea: Lonomea (Sapindus oahuensis) is a tree belonging to the soapberry family and can grow upwards of 20-50 feet tall – growing about 1-2 feet per year. It’s endemic to Hawai’i and only found on the islands of Kaua’i and O’ahu. It can be found in dry and moist environments from 200-2000 feet in elevation. This plant grows in full to partial sun and is drought tolerant, so it does not require a lot of water, especially once it gets established. It grows best when provided with some slow release fertilizer.
The wood of lonomea has been used to carve spears and make other various tools. It has hard, black seeds that have been used both medicinally and in making a permanent lei.
Sold Out
Milo: Milo (Thespesia populnea) is a large native tree that creates yellow flowers with maroon centers, starting around 2 years of age. It is tolerant to both drought and waterlogged soils, does best at low elevations (0-3,000 feet), in relatively dry areas (0-50 in rain per year) and is typically found near coastal areas. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial sun. Grows about 1-3 feet per year in the first 7-10 years and then slows down and can reach about 35-65 feet at maturity.
Milo is considered a canoe plant brought over by Polynesians when settling on the Hawaiian Islands. While it provides a lot of shade, milo can be utilized in a variety of ways. Its bark can be stripped to make cordage, and its wood to carve out bowls and other utensils. The entire plant can be used when making lei and its fruits can be used to create a yellow-green dye.
Reserve Your Plant Below!
Kaiwiʻula Night Market Event
We look forward to seeing you!
