Guided Hikes | Exhibits | Workshops | Food Vendors | Native Plant Giveaway | Silent Auction
The 14th Annual Wiliwili Festival will be held on Saturday, February 8th from 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve. The Wiliwili Festival is a FREE public educational event for the whole family! This year our theme is Laulima – a tribute to the many mentors, leaders, cultural practitioners, scientists, volunteers, students, organizations, and community members who have joined hands to create, nurture, and grow the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve.
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. The Dusty Donkey Emporium will have a pop-up thrift shop, and food and beverages will be available for purchase. Waikōloa Dry Forest merchandise including t-shirts and stickers featuring this year’s beautiful artwork will be available at the informational booth near the preserve entrance.
Our friends at Hawaii Forest & Trail will offer guided tours of the forest every hour. HFT’s knowledgeable guides have become ambassadors of our forest and helped collect millions of native seeds through their weekly giveback tour that visits the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve. Hiking, exploration, and self-guided tours are encouraged and docents will be available to help orient guests and answer questions.
We’ll have several free workshops throughout the day, including two Native Planting workshops presented by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee and the Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Registration for two workshops is required, all others are open to all.
9:30am: Workshop: Native Planting Register Here
10:30am: Workshop: Native Planting Register Here
11:30am: Presentation: 65,000 Wiliwili Seeds and Counting with Rob Yagi
12:30pm: Presentation: Building Pilina through Ancient and Historic Trail Systems with La Crivello
1:30pm: Live Music: Drew Martin
About the site: The Wiliwili Festival is held within a natural area with few improvements. Participants will be outside and walking along a gravel road and uneven terrain on hiking trails. Please come prepared with a refillable water bottle, sun protection, and solid footwear.
Parking: Park at the Waikōloa Plaza main parking lot and take a complimentary shuttle to the preserve! Limited on-site parking will also be available and golf cart shuttles will run between the parking area and the preserve’s front gate throughout the day. On-Site Parking
About the artwork: Created by WDFI’s Education Coordinator Keisha Colon, this year’s artwork pays homage to both our kupuna wiliwili Laulima, which was lost at the end of 2024, as well as the contributions by our community. Our kūpuna trees remind us of our forest’s past while giving us something to strive towards. Our community keeps this memory of the past and hope for the future in its heart as as we all work together to restore our dryland forest.
Join us after the festival for a free Pau Hana Community Concert at the Waikōloa Stables from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. This special evening event will feature a silent auction, delicious pūpū, cash bar, and live music with Kalaʻe & Kalena.
Funding provided by Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment Program
The Wiliwili Festival is also supported by Hawaiʻi Forest & Trail, Hawaiʻi Water Service, Waikōloa Plaza, AES Hawaiʻi, Fairmont Orchid, Makana Incentives, Kamuela Hardwoods, Queen Construction and West Side Painting.
The Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative (WDFI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to protect, promote, and restore native Hawaiian dry forest. Proceeds from the Wiliwili Festival benefit WDFI’s restoration and education programs. Questions can be sent to
