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For Immediate Release
July 16, 2019

BWS to Hold 31st Annual Halawa Xeriscape Garden Open House & Unthirsty Plant Sale on August 3

HONOLULU – Enjoy having playtime with plants at the Board of Water Supply’s (BWS) 31st Annual Halawa Xeriscape Garden Open House and Unthirsty Plant Sale on Saturday, August 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The activities at this family-friendly and admission-free event are focused on xeriscaping, a creative way to reduce outdoor water use through efficient landscaping.

The plant sale will be a fun-filled day for the whole family. Event-goers can expect the following:

  • More than ten local plant vendors providing a variety of less-thirsty plants such as longevity spinach, peperomia, pregnant onion, rosemary, and more.
  • Xeriscape workshops by garden experts.
  • Social media contest; play to win awesome prizes.
  • Keiki activities.
  • Educational booths and plant crafts.
  • Free soil conditioner.
  • Cactus and Succulent Society of Hawaii display of award-winning cacti and succulents. 
  • A Water for People food concession where proceeds support safe drinking water and sanitation projects in third world countries. 

“The Plant Sale will provide a fun-filled day for the whole family and treat everyone to invaluable information about outdoor water conservation,” said BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau. “As this event takes place during warm summer months, it is a reminder of the potential affects climate change can have on the availability of our water supply. To help prepare for the future, we should all be mindful that no effort is too small when it comes to preserving our water now and for upcoming generations.”

Xeriscaping is based on seven fundamental principles that serve as guidelines on how to plan, plant, and maintain a garden that takes advantage of natural climate conditions to make efficient use of irrigation. Some of the principles include growing “unthirsty” plants, using mulch, and installing proper irrigation. To learn more about xeriscaping, the Halawa Xeriscape Garden, or water-saving tips, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.

Proceeds from the plant sale help support educational activities at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden. The open house is co-sponsored by the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden, a non-profit community group that supports educational programs related to water conservation in the landscape. The Halawa Xeriscape Garden is located at 99-1268 Iwaena Street, in Halawa Valley’s Central Park industrial area.

About the Board of Water Supply

The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system.  As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oahu.  The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future.  Uwē  ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.”  For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.

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Contact:

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319