SPECIAL

AMY GREENWELL ETHOBOTANICAL GARDEN, Captain Cook, Hawai'i, Community Work Day, 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 31; tools, gloves, snacks and drinks provided; 808-323-3318.

HAWAIIAN UTILITY KNIFE-MAKING, class on making the niho oki, traditional Hawaiian utility knife with shark tooth, used to make tapa-stripping and kapa beater carvers, shaving hair, and cutting food, 9 a.m.-noon Jan. 31, Lyons Arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road; $20 (and $25 supply fee; includes one niho oki kit); register: 988-0461; www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum.

"TERRIFIC TERRARIUMS," hands-on class for ages 3 and older, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 31, Hawai'i Nature Center; $20 for non-member parent-and-child team (bring a clear, one-gallon glass or plastic container). 955-0100.

FRIENDS OF HALAWA XERISCAPE GARDEN annual general membership meeting, with 2008 committee reports, year-in-review, and nomination/election of board of directors; 10 a.m. Jan. 31, at the garden, Halawa Valley; 748-5312.

THE GREEN HOUSE WORKSHOPS, Jan. 31, The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; registration, 524-8427 or www.thegreenhousehawaii.com:

• "A Taste of Italy," cooking class using fresh locally grown garden ingredients, with chef, Raul Bernal, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; limited class size; $25.

• "Urban Permaculture Gardening in the Streets," workshop on finding gardening opportunities in urban settings, 1:30-3 p.m.; $15.

• "Water Catchment Gardening," workshop on "creative alternatives" to basic water catchment systems, 1:30-3 p.m.; $15.

"NATURE SEEDLINGS PARENT/CHILD PROGRAM," a mini-forest nature trail exploration for ages 3-5, followed by storytime and arts and crafts program, 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 1, Hawai'i Nature Center; $20/non-member parent-and-child team; 955-0100.

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER DOCENT TRAINING CLASS, beginning March 16; botanical garden and cultural site, 2859 Manoa Road; for times, reservations: 988-1287.

ONGOING

FREE GARDEN MULCH, available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Halawa Xeriscape Garden, 99-1269 Iwaena St.; self-service, bring containers and shovel; 748-5041, www.boardofwatersupply.com.

LYON ARBORETUM classes for adults and children, including workshops on invasive plants, organic gardening, traditional Hawaiian crafts, flower arranging, garden photography, field sketching and nature journaling, oshiban, and special children's classes, at the arboretum, 3860 Manoa Road; full schedule at www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum; register: 988-0461.

FOSTER BOTANICAL GARDEN seeks volunteers to help maintain the new butterfly garden, including ongoing deadheading, replanting and general maintenance; 373-4200.

GARDEN TOUR, one-mile (1 1/2-hour) "easy" guided walk to view the Kane'ohe garden's flowers, plants and trees; 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily (keiki-focused tour, 1 p.m. Sundays); Senator Fong's Plantation and Gardens; $14.50, discounts for kama'aina; 239-6775.

NIAULANI NATURE WALK, guided tour through an old-growth forest; 9:30 a.m. Mondays; Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; donations accepted; 808-967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Niaulani Forest WorkDay, volunteers needed to preserve the rainforest; 9 a.m.-noon, third Sunday of each month; Volcano Art Center, Niaulani campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; 808-967-8222.

"PLANTS OF PARADISE GARDEN TOUR," a tour of the museum gardens, 11:30 a.m. daily; Bishop Museum (meeting at Hawaiian Hall entrance); required museum admission; 847-3511.

GUIDED TOURS, view plants of the rain forest; 10 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays; Lyon Arboretum, Manoa Valley; $5; reservations: 988-0461.

TUESDAYS AT KANAHA, weekly beach cleanup and plant maintenance, coordinated by Community Pride at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, 8-10 a.m. Tuesdays, at the park; Valerie Vines Magee, 808-264-1454.

MAKIKI FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT, volunteers needed to weed; pick up branches; and plant, water and fertilize native plants as part of Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative forest restoration project. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., fourth Saturday of each month; 973-9782.

LYON ARBORETUM WORK DAY, weeding and garden maintenance with arboretum grounds crew, first Saturday monthly; times/information: 988-0455.

MANOA HERITAGE CENTER, discover an ancient Hawaiian heiau and native Hawaiian plants while learning Manoa Valley's history; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; Manoa Heritage Center; $7 general, $4 seniors and military, students free; visits and tours by reservation only: 988-1287, www.manoaheritagecenter.org.

WEED AND POT CLUB, Maui Nui Botanical Garden's Weed & Pot Club meets 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului, Maui, to do beautification and maintenance work; tools, gloves, drinking water provided; wear shoes; 249-2798.

NATIONAL GARDEN HELP, volunteers needed to protect rare plants and ecosystems at National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua'i; help needed in administration, conservation, education, development, etc.; 808-332-7324, ext. 228, or volunteer@ntbg.org.

SECOND SATURDAY AT THE GARDEN, stroll and learn about home gardening from certified Hawai'i master gardeners and Urban Garden Center volunteers; 9 a.m.-12 p.m. every second Saturday of the month; Pearl City Urban Garden Center; free; 453-6050, www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc.

SELF-DIRECTED DRAWING AND PAINTING, rendering of plants, flowers and seed pods from the garden; 9-10 a.m. Wednesdays; Wahiawa Botanical Garden; reservations: 621-5463.