Join us at the Grow Hawaiian Festival at Bishop Museum, on Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The family-oriented event, presented by Hawaiian Electric Company, focuses on Hawaii's cultural heritage, native plants, and the environment. Admission is free for kamaaina and military families with ID.

At the festival, everyone will be fascinated by the work of leading Hawaiian artisans and can learn the traditional uses of native plants through hands-on demonstrations: making lei, beating kapa, weaving lau hala, pounding poi, making dyes, carving flutes, and crafting Hawaiian implements.

You can take a tour of the native plants on Bishop Museum's grounds and purchase native plants and organic produce. You can buy t-shirts made with natural dyes and relax with a healing lomilomi massage.

You and your children can learn about climate change and reducing your carbon footprint by participating Bishop in Museum's new interactive exhibit. And you can learn about conservation and Hawaii's clean energy future at Hawaiian Electric's information booths.

There will be a book signing by local authors, Hawaiian food booths, hula, and music by Kaukahi, Holunape, and Weldon Kekauoha. Additionally, the first 100 attendees will receive a free, reusable grocery bag.

This is an event not to be missed by anyone interested in Hawaiian culture, native plants, and the environment. For further information go to www.heco.com or call 543-7511.