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Hawaii Island Palm Society

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Upcoming events

    • Saturday, April 29, 2023
    • 10:00 AM
    • Onomea - directions sent later

    Michelle and Ryan didn't fully grasp the significance of the palm garden that laid hidden on their newly acquired property until they saw about a hundred palm enthusiasts from around the world rushing excitedly from palm to palm, nearly knocking each other over in their eagerness to take photos.  Even before Michelle and Ryan Rutan moved permanently to Hawaii, they graciously agreed to share their garden with strangers. 

    HIPS volunteers lent a hand to help uncover what is the palm legacy of local legend Donn Carlsmith, who began planting palms from all over the world five decades ago.  Michelle and Ryan are now members of HIPS and have invited us to take a look at the fruits of the hard work that has gone on to start bringing the garden back.



    Carlsmith was born in 1929 into the prominent Hilo family for whom beautiful Carlsmith beach is named.  An avid plantsman, he promoted the introduction of palms into the local Big Island nursery trade and is credited with establishing much of the interesting palm plantings found throughout Hilo town and along its bay front in the 1970s.  He was on the board of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, became the very first Hawaii Island Palm Society (HIPS) president, and was president of the IPS between 1978 and 1980. His Onomea garden was the grand finale to the first day of the 1980 IPS Hawaii Biennial. 

    • Saturday, May 20, 2023
    • 10:00 AM
    • Leilani Estates - directions sent later

    Jerry andCindy Andersen have created a beautiful garden reflecting their passion for palms, cycads, and aroids.  The Andersens had a successful nursery in Fallbrook between 1995 through 2015 and have been members of the Southern California Palm Society and Hawaii Island Palm Society in addition to the International Palm Society for many years, so you know the palm species in this garden are going to be spectacular. 


    They expanded the original two acre property by purchasing neighboring lots over the years and the garden now stands at 8 acres.  A few of the exceptional palms in the garden are the double coconut, (Lodoicea maldivica), the extensive Dypsis and Ravenea collections, Johannesteijmannia altifrons and J. magnifica. Great cycads are also scattered around the garden including Encephalartos laurentianus and many Zamia species. 

    • Saturday, July 08, 2023
    • Hilo - directions sent later

    Irene Francis and Lars Woodruffe's Casa de las Palmas garden was a huge hit on the IPS 2022 Hawaii Biennial.  HIPS has toured the seven acre garden in the past, but it has only gotten better from its devoted owners care.  

    The garden was originally built by the late nurseryman Jerry Hunter, owner of the southern Californian nursery Rancho Soledad.  Since Lars and Irene purchased the property in 2017, they have added to the lovely bones of the garden and brought it to perfection.

    The garden was recently featured in Ke Ola magazine, by Sara Stover and with great photos by Patrick Stover.



    • Friday, July 28, 2023
    • Sunday, July 30, 2023
    • Hilo
    • Saturday, November 04, 2023
    • Directions sent later

Past events

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 2023 Annual Meeting & Palm Auction
Friday, February 03, 2023 Palms of Borneo with Dr. William Baker
Saturday, November 05, 2022 Arbor Day Palm Education and Give Away at the Zoo
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 International Palm Society Evening Lectures in Hilo
Sunday, October 09, 2022 International Palm Society Biennial - Kama'aina Menu
Friday, October 07, 2022 Slideshow: Renaming Dypsis Species and Reconstructing a Phylogenetic Tree
Saturday, August 20, 2022 Ice Cream Social and Plant Exchange/Sale at Moani-Lundkvist Garden
Saturday, July 16, 2022 Austin Garden & Nursery Plant Sale
Saturday, May 21, 2022 Master Class at Floribunda Palms
Sunday, March 27, 2022 2022 Rare Palm Auction
Saturday, December 04, 2021 Moani:Lundkvist Garden
Saturday, October 30, 2021 The Kalapana Garden of Robert Welsch and David Davenport
Sunday, October 03, 2021 October Plant Sale/Ice Cream Social/Open Gardens in Leilani Estates
Saturday, August 28, 2021 Garden of Robert Welsch and David Davenport
Saturday, July 10, 2021 Panaewa Zoo Work Day
Thursday, June 10, 2021 HIPS Board Meeting
Saturday, October 03, 2020 Master Class at Floribunda Palms
Saturday, July 25, 2020 Kelley Orchidland Garden Tour
Friday, February 07, 2020 2020 Dinner & Palm Auction
Friday, January 17, 2020 Extreme Botany - Discovering New Palm Species in Remote Locations of Colombia
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 Hawaii State Public Libraries Present: Bringing New Palms to Local Cultivation, by Jeff Marcus
Friday, November 08, 2019 An Evening With Jason Dewees, Author of Designing With Palms
Thursday, November 07, 2019 HIPS Board Meeting
Saturday, November 02, 2019 Palms 101 at the Panaewa Zoo and Botanical Garden
Saturday, October 19, 2019 Zoo Work Day
Sunday, October 06, 2019 Potluck and Palm Sale - at the Ferazzi's Farm
Saturday, September 07, 2019 Davis Dalbok Garden Tour Opihikao
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 HIPS Board Meeting
Sunday, August 11, 2019 Hilo Garden Tour: Tim Brian and Bob Gibbens
Saturday, July 20, 2019 Hertzberg Garden and Armstrong Garden and Nursery Tours
Thursday, June 27, 2019 Palm and Orchid Display and Community Outreach
Wednesday, May 08, 2019 HIPS Board Meeting
Sunday, May 05, 2019 Panaewa Zoo and Botanical Garden Plant Sale
Friday, March 08, 2019 HIPS Information Booth at the BIAN Spring Horticultural Show and Plant Sale
Friday, February 08, 2019 2019 Annual Dinner & Palm Auction
Saturday, January 26, 2019 Zoo Work Day
Saturday, December 01, 2018 The Thompson Garden : A Demonstration Garden in Kona
Friday, November 09, 2018 Palms of Colombia the International Palm Society 2018 Biennial Slideshow

Contact Us:

Hawaiiislandpalmsociety@gmail.com

550 Akolea Rd

Hilo, Hi   96720

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