This series of ethno- botanical healing art festivals is in its third year of development and will expand statewide in 2007 with unique festivals now scheduled for Kauai (July 14-19), Oahu (Aug. 25), Maui (Oct. 6), and the island of Hawai`i (Nov. 2-4). These festivals are part of a growing interest in health and wellness tourism in Hawai`i and serve to celebrate the state's unique medicinal & nutritional plants — with Polynesian, Hawaiian, Ayurvedic, Chinese, Japanese and Filipino cultural practitioners, and ethno-botanists from across the state coming together to share their knowledge of Hawaii's rich botanical treasures.

Events feature presentations, tours, workshops, adult and children's programs, healthy food products, and a Healing Arts Fair with cultural entertainment.

Growers, herbalists, botanists, farmers,cultural practitioners, healing art professionals, artists, educators, business vendors with health focus, and children's programs are invited to educate, create tours and workshops, promote their services and to merchandise their products.

The HTA grant encourages other underwriting and has facilitated this expansion of the popular festival across the state. The events are also supported by event revenues, grants and sponsorship by community businesses, organizations and individuals.

Donations are facilitated via the local non-profit The Forward

Foundation.

"Our Hawai`i Healing Garden events bring together ethno-botanical educators, cultural practitioners, agriculture experts, the healing arts community and health-oriented businesses to spotlight Hawaii's unique health-related services and resources, and bring communities together

for a festive, healthy, empowering and educational experience. Hawai`i has everything imaginable to become an oasis of health and nurturing for our residents and a premier healing destination for visitors," said Hawai`i Health Guide co-founder Katherine Fisher.

This year's list of supporters includes: The Hawai`i Tourism

Authority, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Bishop Museum, Waimea Valley Audubon Center, National Tropical Botanical Gardens, University of Hawai`i, Kauai Community College, Maui Community College, Amy Greenwell Botanical Garden, Outrigger Keauhou, the Forward Foundation, Hawai`i Health Guide, and other local businesses and