Speaking of Plants… In Hawaiian Terms – February 9 Lecture Features Molly Summers

Speaking of Plants… In Hawaiian Terms

February 9 Lecture Features Molly Summers

Molly “Ka‘imi” Summers will be the featured speaker at a Tuesday, February 9 talk entitled “Language of Flowers, Hawaiian Style,” The 5:30 p.m. presentation is free to the public in the cafeteria at the KCC Campus Center, as part of the NTBG-KCC Lecture Series “What in the World.”

A member of the KCC faculty, Summers was born and raised in Hawai‘i. She will share her understanding and knowledge of iconic island plants from a Hawaiian viewpoint as documented in literature and based upon her own lifetime of experiences.

The talk will include discussions on Hawaiian plants such as palapalai, ‘ohelo, and pūkiawe, original meanings and significance of their names, and their role in culture, with examples from legends and ʻŌlelo Noʻeau (wise sayings). She will also share her observations, personal connections, and stories about plants, kinolau (body forms of gods), and describe island-specific lei.

The “What in the World” lecture series is one of many collaborations between the nonprofit National Tropical Botanical Garden and Kaua‘i Community College. Both NTBG and KCC share a common goal of quality education to truly change lives. NTBG is a not-for-profit institution, headquartered in Kalāheo. KCC, which is part of the University of Hawai‘i system, operates a large campus in Līhu‘e.

For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, please contact Margaret Clark at (808) 332-7324 ext. 225 at least 10 days in advance.

For information on the institutions, visit their respective websites at www.ntbg.org and kauai.hawaii.edu