I, like many, am shocked that Bishop Museum is selling Amy Greenwell Garden. As a supporting member of Greenwell Garden I received a letter from Bishop Museum President Blair Collis explaining the sale. What I gleaned is that they are selling properties on the Big Island to focus on their Oahu property. What a surprise! Once again an organization shows its Oahu-centric policies.
As a retired teacher who took many of my students to Greenwell Garden to learn about native plants and how the Hawaiians of old nurtured and lived off the plants in a sustainable manner, it is so sad and disheartening to learn of the Garden’s upcoming sale.
If Bishop Museum is in the business of education, especially of our children, then how can they in good conscience sell off one of the most hands-on, created by Hawaiians learning sites that the children of our state can experience?
In the letter from Mr. Collis he refers to the sale of properties as “… tough but positive choices that must be made for the sake of repositioning Bishop Museum for the benefit of our grandchildren.”
He goes on the say, “… we will be creating a Bishop Museum of our next generation, a vibrant educational center, a destination Museum for all to enjoy, a forum for creative learning, and a gathering place for the people of Hawaii and the Pacific.”
Mr. Collis, our grandchildren also live on the Big Island. In the future will we have to visit Oahu to learn about ancient Hawaiians, their culture and use of the aina?
In his letter, Mr. Collis also informed us that Bishop Museum is spending a total of $27.5 million to make improvements to the Oahu buildings and campus. So, I am assuming the money from the sale of Greenwell Garden and Waipio Valley will be spent improving the Oahu site. How disappointing!
Like Ajay Silva, many students who visited the garden in the past will be saddened by this news. Even worse, many future students will never have the chance to experience what Ajay, my students, and countless others now have as good memories of a hands-on educational opportunity.
I agree with Maile Melrose that Greenwell Garden should not be allowed to disappear. Perhaps working together, the County of Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy and Kona Historical Society could be given the property and it would continue to grow while growing our children’s and grandchildren’s knowledge and life-experiences as well.
Dan Sabo is a resident of Kailua-Kona
My Turn opinions are those of the writer and not West Hawaii Today