The Hui No‘eau and the East Maui Watershed Partnership will host a free plant and craft event. The event, Plants & Crafts: Mālama Wao Akua Closing Celebration, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center. The event is open to the public with free admission.

The event will feature art exhibits, interactive art projects and demonstrations, as well as local plant, craft, and food vendors. The event is intended to educate the public about Maui’s conservation efforts and the importance of protecting native species.

Artwork from 51 adults, 14 high school students, 22 middle school students, and 10 elementary school students will be on display in the Mālama Wao Akua Exhibition, which has been on display in the Hui gallery since Sept. 14. Mālama Wao Akua, which means to Care for the Realm of the Gods, is an annual art exhibition celebrating the native species of Maui Nui, which includes Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i and Kaho‘olawe.

The event will include local craft vendors Rose Bailey, Jasmine Honey Jewelry, Cherie Attix, Grace Hazel, Pam Street, Jonathan Mann, and Evelyn Brown. The Native Nursery will also be at the event to sell native plants. Food vendors will include ʻOno Pono Acai and Maui Coconut Care.

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The East Maui Watershed Partnership, Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, Haleakalā National Park, Mauna Kahalawai Watershed Partnership, Plant Extinction Prevention Program, Maui Nui Marine Response Center, and Koholā Project will be hosting educational booths at the event. Each of the Hui’s art studios will be open for public viewing during the event. There will be a Keiki Art Station in the Hui’s Garden and guests can enjoy live artist demonstrations in glassblowing, lei-making, and jewelry making.

The Hui’s History Room will also be open for attendees to view the Hui artist in residence Mazatlʻs large-scale mural. Mazatl is a graphic maker from Mexico City who aims to create conversations towards collective liberation by using public space to communicate ideas and emotions. Mazatl’s large-scale mural was inspired by his experience on Maui and his experiences at the Auwahi Forest Restoration Project in ʻUlupalakua. This mural will remain in the Hui’s history room for visitors daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission.

Hui No’eau and East Maui Watershed are encouraging everyone to visit the Mālama Wao Akua exhibition and vote for the “People’s Choice Award.” The community is also invited to learn more about Maui’s conservation efforts from leading experts during the exhibition’s “Talk Story” Thursdays. Talks will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Hui gallery on the following dates:

Oct. 18: Nicole Davis, Maui Nui Marine Mammal Response Coordinator

Nov. 1 : Allison Borell, Community Outreach and Education Liaison for East Maui Watershed Partnership and Field Staff

The Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center is located at 2841 Baldwin Ave. in Makawao. More information on the Hui Noʻeau and the Plants & Crafts: Mālama Wao Akua Closing Celebration can be found online.