Mālama 'Āina Volunteer Day
2022-12-10 08:00 - 12:00, 2022-12-17 08:00 - 12:00, 2024-01-27 08:00 - 12:00, 2024-02-24 08:00 - 12:00, 2024-03-23 08:00 - 12:00, 2024-04-27 08:00 - 12:00, 2024-05-11 08:00 - 12:00 (Pacific/Honolulu)
Volunteer with us in the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve and spend the morning working in the forest preserve. We provide tools, gloves, safety equipment, and water, but please bring sun protection, a refillable water bottle, and sturdy shoes. We meet at the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve front gate at 8am and finish up at the hale for an optional bring-your-own lunch break.
Volunteer Sign-Up

First Friday Huaka'i
2023-01-07 16:30 - 18:30, 2023-02-04 16:30 - 18:30, 2023-03-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2023-04-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative, Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, North Kona, United States
Visit the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve for a guided hike with our knowledgeable staff. Tours are offered on the First Friday of each month and begin at 5:00 pm at the preserve March through October (4:30 pm November-February) Please come prepared with sturdy shoes, sun protection, and a refillable water bottle. Our tours last about 90 minutes and will end with refreshments at our Hana Hou Hale. You can find directions to the preserve here.
Sign Up!

12th Annual Wiliwili Festival
2023-02-11 09:00 - 15:00 | Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative, Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, North Kona, United States
The 12th Annual Wiliwili Festival will be held on Saturday, February 11th from 9am-3pm at the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve. Wiliwili are keystone species in the lowland dry forest and this year’s festival will give you the opportunity to see these beautiful trees in their natural environment. The Wiliwili Festival will feature exhibitors presenting activities and educational materials at booths set up along the preserve access road. At Hale Hana Hou, within the preserve, there will be a native plant giveaway, and opportunities to ask the experts about plant propagation, growing, and care. Food and beverages will be available for purchase as well as Waikōloa Dry Forest merchandise. Guided tours of the forest will be offered throughout the day and a self-guided hike s always an option!
This event is located in a natural area with few improvements. Parking will be nearby and guests will walk, or catch a ride, to the preserve’s front gates. Trails are rocky and uneven, and the main walking access is a gravel road.

First Friday Huaka'i
2023-05-05 17:00 - 19:00, 2023-06-02 08:00 - 17:00, 2023-07-07 17:00 - 19:00, 2023-08-04 17:00 - 19:00, 2023-09-01 17:00 - 19:00, 2023-11-03 16:30 - 18:30, 2024-01-05 16:30 - 18:30, 2024-02-02 16:30 - 18:30 and 3 more dates

First Friday Huaka'i
2023-10-06 16:30 - 18:30
Visit the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve for a guided hike with our knowledgeable staff. Tours are offered on the First Friday of each month and begin at 5:00 pm at the preserve from March through October (4:30 pm November). Please come prepared with sturdy shoes, sun protection, and a refillable water bottle. Our tours last about 90 minutes and will end with refreshments at our Hana Hou Hale. You can find directions to the preserve here.
Sign Up!

Live Music in the Dry Forest
2023-10-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative, Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, North Kona, United States
Join us for an evening of live music with The Young Brothers and Kalei Yamanoha within the beautifu Waikōloa Dryland Forest Preserve. Kalei Yamanoha is a talented multi-instrumentalist and steel guitar player who will be joining The Young Brothers, Kilona and Kalei Young. From studio to stage, they create and perform music that spreads uplifting and inspirational messages of love, hope, and truth.
Show is from 5pm-7pm. The preserve gates will open at 4pm for those that would like to arrive early, walk the trails, or enjoy a pre-show beverage. Tickets for this exclusive event are only $25 and there will be food, and drinks available for purchase.
Get Tickets: https://kokua.waikoloadryforest.org/a/live-music

13th Annual Wiliwili Festival
2024-02-10 09:00 - 15:00
Join us on Saturday February 10th at the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve for the 13th Annual Wiliwili Festival. Hiking, exhibits, food vendors, workshops, and free native plants! More info can be found here.

Mālama ʻĀina Volunteer Day
2024-04-13 08:00 - 12:00

Biocultural Series: Dry Forest Hui o Hana Panel
2024-04-19 17:30 - 19:00
We’re excited for the return of our Biocultural Talk Series at the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve. Our first presentation will be on Friday, April 19th, at 5:30pm. This talk is part of a five-part series occurring on the third Friday of each month through August.
The theme of this series is “huli ka lima i lalo”, or to turn your hands down. This ‘ōlelo noe‘au explains that when our hands are turned down, they create meaningful and productive work. Presentations will highlight and discuss essential biocultural resource conservation in our region and the incredible people doing this work.
This month, in honor of native plant month and to kick off this series, we invite you to join us for a panel presentation from Dry Forest Hui o Hana members. Our panelists are part of an informal work(ing) group formed more than a decade ago to leverage limited resources and better conserve dryland forest and the endangered species within them. Join us to learn about the history, strategy, successes, challenges, and lessons learned by these land and ocean stewards.

The panel will be moderated by our Executive Director, Jen Lawson, and will include a lively question and answer period. Talks will take place within the preserve at Hale Hana Hou where we’ll also provide pupus and refreshments. Registration is free but space is limited. Please reserve a spot if you plan to attend. https://kokua.waikoloadryforest.org/a/biocultural-series

Earth Day at Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve!
2024-04-20 08:00 - 12:00 | Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative, Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, North Kona, United States
The Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative is hosting a wiliwili tree giveaway and open house at the preserve in honor of Earth Day on April 20th from 8am-12pm! The preserve will be open for self-guided hikes, and plant nursery tours with WDFI staff. WDFI will also be giving away wiliwili trees to visitors to plant in our community! Please come prepared with sun protection, sturdy shoes, and a water bottle.
In collaboration with seventh and eighth grade students from Waikōloa Middle School, WDFI recently launched the Wiliwili Legacy Initiative, a mapping project aimed at measuring the impact of wiliwili planting in our neighborhoods. When you plant your tree you can add it to the community map and track its growth! Please visit the Wiliwili Legacy Initiative website to learn more and view our community impact by visiting waikoloadryforest.org and searching under the learn tab.
Contact jen@waikoloadryforest.org or call 808-494-2208 if you have any questions or need assistance.

Biocultural Series
2024-05-17 17:30 - 19:00
Our second presentation of the Biocultural Talk Series at the Waikōloa Dry Forest Presere is on Friday, May 17th. Talk begins at 5:30pm. Gates open at 5:00. Talk will take place within the preserve at Hale Hana Hou where we’ll also provide pupus and refreshments.
The theme of this series is “huli ka lima i lalo”, or to turn your hands down. This ‘ōlelo noe‘au explains that when our hands are turned down, they create meaningful and productive work. Presentations will highlight and discuss essential biocultural resource conservation in our region and the incredible people doing this work. This month we are excited to talk story with Lehua Alapai and Kapena Alapai who are lineal descendants of Kekaha Wai ʻOle o na Kona and aloha ʻāina stewards. They will be sharing updates with their work for Nā ʻŌiwi o Puʻuanahulu. Please join us on Friday, May 17th at 5:30pm. Gates to preserve open at 5:00pm.
Registration is free but space is limited. Please reserve a spot if you plan to attend.
https://kokua.waikoloadryforest.org/a/biocultural-series
