Grow Aloha surpasses 5,000 native plant adoptions

Grow Aloha, a statewide initiative dedicated to restoring Hawaiʻi’s native plants, is extending its monthly plant adoption program through June 2026.

Since its launch, Grow Aloha has placed more than 5,000 native plants and Hawaiian heritage crops into the hands of local residents through free monthly plant adoptions.

These plants — representing over 100 species and varieties — are now growing in backyards, schools, and community spaces statewide, collectively helping restore our built environment. Extending the offering of adoptions ensures that residents across Hawaiʻi can access native plants, Hawaiian heritage crops, and educational resources.

“Plants give all of us the opportunity to care for our environment and deepen our relationship with place,” said David Bryant, director of communications for the National Tropical Botanical Garden. “As a network of plant adoption partners, we are thrilled to extend Grow Aloha together to provide kamaʻāina with free native plants and kūpuna crops every month through June 2026. Together, we can nurture biocultural restoration in our gardens, community spaces, and lives.”

Grow Aloha partners with the National Tropical Botanical Garden and will continue to host adoptions on the third Saturday of every month at the Allerton Garden in Lāwaʻi and the Limahuli Garden and Preserve in Hāʻena on Kauaʻi.

This month, Grow Aloha will be giving out breadfruit plants at the Allerton Garden, 4425 Lāwaʻi Road, Kōloa, and ʻawa plants at the Limahuli Garden and Preserve, 5-8291 Kūhiō Highway, Hanalei, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Grow Aloha partners also include:

• National Tropical Botanical Garden Kahanu Garden and Preserve on Maui
• Bishop Museum on Oʻahu
• Molokaʻi Land Trust on Molokaʻi
• Maui Nui Botanical Gardens on Maui
• Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden on Hawaiʻi Island

Residents are encouraged to visit the Grow Aloha website to view upcoming adoptions. Plants are typically distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with some locations offering online reservations.