Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens Non-profit garden focused on the conservation of Native Hawaiian & Polynesian-introduced plants.

Mahalo to the County of Maui Office of Economic Development, Department of Parks & Recreation, and our faithful volunteers.

Hawaiian name: ʻŌpelu (Kuhiʻaikamoʻowahie)Botanical name: Lobelia hypoleucaFamily: Campanulaceae (Bellflower Family)Stat...
09/07/2026

Hawaiian name: ʻŌpelu (Kuhiʻaikamoʻowahie)
Botanical name: Lobelia hypoleuca
Family: Campanulaceae (Bellflower Family)
Status: Endemic
Where found: Maui, Moloka'i, Lāna‘i, Hawai'i, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i
Water/Light: Moist to wet, with full sunlight
Elevation Range: 1,900 to 5,000 feet
Height: 6 to 11 feet, with a 4 foot spread

ʻŌpelu flowers are bluish-purple. The stalks are timed to flower over a period of several weeks with a new handful of flowers opening every few days, starting from the bottom and working its way up the stalk. In old Hawaiʻi, this endemic Native was used in a ceremony to summon rain. ʻŌpelu is drought and wind tolerant.

Photo courtesy of John Game

LĀ ʻULU FOOD VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: Cafe WaʻaCafe Waʻa joins us this year with ʻulu shepherds pie and ʻulu kalo chowder.Visit...
09/03/2026

LĀ ʻULU FOOD VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: Cafe Waʻa

Cafe Waʻa joins us this year with ʻulu shepherds pie and ʻulu kalo chowder.

Visit https://mnbg.org/la-ulu-food (link in bio) for a full list of food and drink vendors. . . . . . . . . .
LĀ ʻULU | Saturday, September 5th | 9am–2pm
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului

Mahalo to our sponsors:

Kaiāulu
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
KPOA
Maui Green & Beautiful

MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORSAs we gear up for this Saturday's big event, we want to mahalo our event sponsors! Lā ʻUlu is a fr...
09/03/2026

MAHALO TO OUR SPONSORS

As we gear up for this Saturday's big event, we want to mahalo our event sponsors! Lā ʻUlu is a free community event sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment Program and Kamehameha Schools Kaiāulu, in partnership with Maui Green & Beautiful, KPOA, and Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.

Join us this Saturday, September 5th to celebrate all things ʻulu (breadfruit) at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. Admission is free and free parking is available at the War Memorial Stadium Parking lot, directly across the street from the Garden,

For more information, visit https://mnbg.org/la-ulu-breadfruit-festival/ (link in bio).

Kaiāulu
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
KPOA
Maui Green & Beautiful

WEEKLY PLANT SALENew plants for sale this week: All vines! Have a fence, trellis, or just a big spot to cover?• ʻĀwikiwi...
09/03/2026

WEEKLY PLANT SALE

New plants for sale this week: All vines! Have a fence, trellis, or just a big spot to cover?
• ʻĀwikiwiki (Canavalia pubescens) 6 inch pot for $9.
• Koali ponamia (Bonamia menziesii) 4 inch pot for $6.
• Kaeʻe (Mucuna gigantea) 1 gallon pot for $10. Please be aware that this plant gets very large.

Still get:
• Hame (Antidesma pulvinatum) 1 gallon pot for $15.
• ʻAla ʻala wai nui wāhine (Coleus australis) 4 inch pot for $5 or 5 plants for $20.
• Pōhinahina (Vitex rotundifolia ) 4 inch pot for $6, or 5 plants for $24.

The plant sale goes live this Thursday and continues at the event Saturday! You can reserve plants by:
• Calling us at (808) 249-2798
• Sending us a DM on Instagram or Facebook*
• Visiting us in person at the garden.

We will hold reserved plants for one week; pick up and pay anytime Tuesday through Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm. We take all forms of payment.

*On social media messages, please include:
• Your name
• Your phone number
• What you would like to purchase

Plant sales and giveaways are for local residents only. We do not ship plant materials of any kind.

Donʻt see what you are looking for?
If you are looking for plants not listed this week, contact our Plant Sales Manager, Chris Davella, by phone 808-276-4911 or email [email protected].

Hawaiian name: ŌpuheBotanical name: Touchardia oahuensis (formerly Urera glabra)Family: Urticaceae (Nettle family)Status...
09/02/2026

Hawaiian name: Ōpuhe
Botanical name: Touchardia oahuensis (formerly Urera glabra)
Family: Urticaceae (Nettle family)
Status: Endemic
Where found: Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i, O‘ahu & Kaua‘i
Water/Light: Moist, with full to part sun exposure
Elevation range: 500 to 5,500 feet
Height: Up to 35 feet

Ōpuhe is a native tree that often attracts Hawaiʻi's endemic pulelehua Kamehameha (Kamehameha butterfly). In old Hawai‘i, fibers from the bark of ōpuhe were twisted into cordage and used for making fish nets. The bark was also occasionally used for making kapa (cloth). Medicinally, ōpuhe was utilized in a treatment to ease lepo pa‘akiki (severe constipation).

*Photo courtesy of Jupiter Nielsen

LĀ ʻULU ONLINE PRESENTATION: Care of mature ʻulu trees and best propagation methods with Kaitu ErasitoKaitu Erasito, Br...
09/02/2026

LĀ ʻULU ONLINE PRESENTATION: Care of mature ʻulu trees and best propagation methods with Kaitu Erasito

Kaitu Erasito, Breadfruit Collection Manager of Kahanu Garden and Preserve of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens , will present about pruning and soil health to nurture mature ʻulu trees, and the best propagation techniques to protect and propagated prized ʻulu cultivars, such as air layering, root cuttings, and stem cuttings.Rooted in Hāna, Maui, this work contributes to both local resilience and Pacific-wide conservation efforts through hands-on stewardship and traditional knowledge. Kahanu Garden and Preserve is the home of the largest and most extensive collection of breadfruit varieties and species in the world.

For more information and a full list of presentations, visit https://mnbg.org/la-ulu-presentations. . . . . . . . . .
LĀ ʻULU | Saturday, September 5th | 9am–2pm
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului

Mahalo to our sponsors:

Kaiāulu
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
KPOA
Maui Green & Beautiful

Hawaiian name: KoaBotanical name: Acacia koaFamily: Fabacae (Pea Family)Status: EndemicWhere found: Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna...
09/01/2026

Hawaiian name: Koa
Botanical name: Acacia koa
Family: Fabacae (Pea Family)
Status: Endemic
Where found: Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i, O‘ahu & Kaua‘i
Water/Light: Dry, with full to partial sunlight
Elevation range: 300 to 8,000
Height: 50 to 100 feet

Koa are fast growing trees, especially when young, and can reach impressive heights in upper elevations. In Hawaiian, koa means "brave, bold, and fearless." Early Hawaiians carefully crafted large koa into war canoe (wa‘a). Koa wood was also used in home construction and to make spears, paddles, kahili handles, and calabashes (‘umeke lā‘au). The bark was used as dye to stain kapa a red color. Medicinally, young koa leaves were used to ease cramps or fevers. Koa is drought and wind tolerant, but does not tolerate salt, over-watering, or shade.

*Photo courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr

LĀ ʻULU COOKING DEMONSTRATION: Jonathan Pasion, UHMC CulinaryDish: ʻUlu Tostadas, ʻUlu-Olena Hummus, ʻUlu PokeA Maui boy...
09/01/2026

LĀ ʻULU COOKING DEMONSTRATION: Jonathan Pasion, UHMC Culinary
Dish: ʻUlu Tostadas, ʻUlu-Olena Hummus, ʻUlu Poke

A Maui boy and UH Maui Culinary Academy graduate, Jonathan Pasion has cooked his way from Fairmont Kea Lani to the East Coast to New Zealand and back home again. Now serving as Executive Sous Chef at Fairmont Kea Lani, he led Kō to back-to-back "Restaurant of the Year" honors and continues to mentor the next generation of Hawaiʻi chefs in the spirit of his mentor, the late Chef Tylun Pang.

Visit https://mnbg.org/la-ulu-food (link in bio) for a full list of chef demonstrations and food and drink vendors. . . . . . . . . .
LĀ ʻULU | Saturday, September 5th | 9am–2pm
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului

Mahalo to our sponsors:

Kaiāulu
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
KPOA
Maui Green & Beautiful

LĀ ʻULU FOOD VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: Honi Honi ChocolateHoni Honi Chocolate joins us this year with ʻulu cookies, dream bars,...
09/01/2026

LĀ ʻULU FOOD VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: Honi Honi Chocolate

Honi Honi Chocolate joins us this year with ʻulu cookies, dream bars, chocolate mousse cups, and fresh coconut yogurt drinks, with vegan and gluten-free options.

Visit https://mnbg.org/la-ulu-food (link in bio) for a full list of food and drink vendors. . . . . . . . . .
LĀ ʻULU | Saturday, September 5th | 9am–2pm
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului

Mahalo to our sponsors:

Kaiāulu
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
KPOA
Maui Green & Beautiful

HAWAIIAN PLANT OF THE DAYHawaiian name: ‘Iliahi (Lā‘au ‘ala)Botanical name: Santalum haleakalae var. haleakalaeFamily: S...
08/31/2026

HAWAIIAN PLANT OF THE DAY
Hawaiian name: ‘Iliahi (Lā‘au ‘ala)
Botanical name: Santalum haleakalae var. haleakalae
Family: Santalaceae (Sandalwood Family)
Status: Endemic, Rare
Where found: Maui
Water/Light: Dry, with full sun exposure
Elevation range: 5,000 to 9,000 feet
Height: Up to 30 feet, with an 8 foot spread

This species of ‘iliahi (Sandalwood) is known as lā‘au ‘ala, and is found only on the slopes of Haleakalā, Maui. It produces beautifully fragrant red and white flowers which are prized for lei making. A kapa dye can be made with its dark purple, olive-like fruits. Early Hawaiians used the powdered heartwood of lā‘au ‘ala to perfume newly pounded kapa cloth. Sandalwood is hemi-parasitic. Underground, its roots tap into the roots of surrounding trees to seize some nutrients. Kulu‘ī is said to be a great host plant for this species of sandalwood. Lā‘au ‘ala is drought tolerant.

*Photo courtesy of Jupiter Nielsen

Address

150 Kanaloa Avenue
Kahului, HI
96732

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+18082492798

Website

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