Lyon Arboretum offers Saturday classes

Introduction to the Zingiberales and Hawaiian Crafts: Make a Niho Oki (Hawaiian utility knife)

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
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Posted: Jan 12, 2009

HONOLULU — The Lyon Arboretum in Mānoa announces two new Saturday morning classes offered Saturday, January 17, and Saturday, January 31, 2009.

Introduction to the Zingiberales: The Zingiberales include some of the most aromatic plants, favored for their exotic beauty and luxurious scent, used as color accents in the garden, for food, spices, and medicine. This class includes a presentation in the classroom and a walking tour highlighting the Arboretum‘s collections, so dress appropriately. Ray Baker, Lyon Arboretum Research Associate, teaches this informative class. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2009 Cost for the class is $15. Class size is limited. Call 988-0461 to register.

Niho Oki: Learn how to make a Niho Oki, a traditional Hawaiian tool, with inset shark‘s teeth. This is a beautifully simple utility knife, as much a working tool as an art object. Niho Oki are used to strip the outer bark from wauke for kapa, and to carve patterns on the iʻe kuku (kapa beater). Kahakauila Toledo will teach this special class, and students will receive a kit with materials for making one Niho Oki. 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 31, 2009 Cost for the class is $20 + $25 supply fee (includes one Niho Oki kit). Additional kits may be purchased at the class. Class size is limited. Call 988-0461 to register.

The Lyon Arboretum is open Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Arboretum is closed on state holidays. Admission to the gardens is free. Donations are gladly accepted. Lyon Arboretum is a 193.5-acre rainforest botanical garden administered by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. For more information on this and other garden activities, see http:www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum.

Address: 3860 Manoa Road

For more information, visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum