MEDIA RELEASE

Kona Outdoor Circle will hold its regular Pua Plantasia Plant Sale on Saturday, February 11, 2012, at Old Kona Airport’s Makae’o Events Pavilion from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

More than 20 vendors from around the island will offer plants including landscape plants—native Hawaiian and drought and wind tolerant, anthuriums, potted flowers and ground cover, fruit trees, herbs, and inside plants, bedding plants and seeds and seedlings, a large variety of orchids, bamboo, water plants, ti plants, bromeliads, protea, day lilies, palms, and epiphytes—plants which grow on other plants. Most of the vendors are commercial vendors, but the Kealakehe High School Waveriders will also be there, selling plants from their school garden. Students from Kahakai School are donating some of their plants to the Kona Outdoor Circle “donated plants” booth.

There will be free classes starting at 8:30, with Worm Composting by Worms Hawaii. At 10 a.m., noted landscape designer and lifetime KOC member Scott Seymour will give a workshop on flower arranging. Honaunau Elementary School garden teacher Melissa Chievers will lead a composting workshop at 11:30. KOC will give away ten composting bins as part of the workshop.

There is also a Collectibles Booth, with small to large treasures of all kinds, including items that might be the perfect gift for your Valentine. Items so far include wine glasses, vases, jewelry, two brand new telephones, and collectibles.

Cathee Malapit, who also runs the restaurant Club Fit at The Club, will offer a variety of delicious foods for breakfast and lunch, including Kona coffee, smoothies, egg wraps, turkey chili, oriental chicken, and hot dogs.

The nonprofit organization’s first Pua Plantasia Plant Sale was in 1985. They have held the event almost annually as a means to raise funds, have a fun community event, and increase awareness of the work of Kona Outdoor Circle. KOC was established in 1948, with a mission of helping keep Kona clean, green, and beautiful. In past years they’ve held community cleanups, they’ve done public area plantings, and they get involved with public policy issues that support the mission. They’re now supporting several school garden projects, and will landscape five Habitat for Humanity homes at Laiopua above Kealakehe High School. They are also continuing their focus on education and supporting the preservation of two Scenic Byways, Ali’I Drive and Mamalahoa Highway.

This year, 2012, is also the 100th anniversary of KOC’s parent organization, The Outdoor Circle of Honolulu. The Outdoor Circle is known for its advocacy, most notably getting laws passed by the Hawaii Territorial Legislature in 1927 banning billboards to protect viewplanes and the scenic beauty of the state. Prior to The Outdoor Circle’s advocacy in this area, Waikiki, Diamond Head, and downtown Honolulu were covered with billboards. The prohibition applies statewide and all the Outdoor Circle branches are dedicated to continue their focus on ensuring the prohibition continues. The Outdoor Circle has 10 branches statewide. On Hawaii Island, branches include the Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle and Waimea Outdoor Circle, in addition to Kona Outdoor Circle.

Cash, checks, and Visa and Mastercard will be accepted for payment for the plants and Collectibles. For more information, contact Kona Outdoor Circle at 331-2426