Waimea Country School second and third grade students learn about the forest with tour guide Kamuela at the Amy G.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden during a recent field trip. (Photo courtesy of Waimea Country School)

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Waimea Country School’s second and third graders recently visited the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden as part of their social studies unit on the Hawaiian people and their plants.

The students began by looking at some of the 200 species of plants growing in four zones: coastal, dry forest, agricultural, and upland forest, that represent an ahupuaa. The gardens’ plants are typical of what one would have found on traditional farms and in the native forests of Kona before Captain Cook arrived in the late 18th century.

“We started at the top of the gardens in the mountain zone,” Waimea Country School teacher Hayley Blondin said. “The students loved seeing the view, sitting under the shade of the koa trees, and hearing the song and story and significance of the elepaio bird.”

Student Duncan McCarthy said, “I liked the story about the elepaio. The Hawaiians would watch to see if the bird would peck the koa tree. If it did, they knew there were bugs in it and they shouldn’t use the tree for their canoes.”

According to Blondin, another highlight from the trip was the hau tree in the coastal zone of the garden.

“My students liked how cold the hau felt after being in the sun for a long time, and they enjoyed making cordage from the branches of the tree,” she said.

“The staff at the gardens was really knowledgeable and friendly,” said parent chaperone Lisa McCarthy. “Our guide, Kamuela, was terrific with the kids.”

Founded in 1996, Waimea Country School’s mission is “to provide an outstanding Jr. K-6 child-centered, multiage and multicultural learning experience which incorporates the core values of inclusion and respect.”

The members of the coard of trustees are Felicity Johnson, Nancy Perry, Kelly Barrick, Randy Campbell, Lisa McCarthy, Desiree Watson and Scott March.

— Find out more:
www.waimeacountryschool.org