Garden Education Programs
The Garden's main purpose is to serve as an educational center for all visitors,
and most especially for teaching young children. The trails themselves provide an "outdoor classroom" of living plants. Signs along the trails
identify plants and trees by common and botanical names, as well as country of origin. Some signs relate legends connected with particular plants and tell
stories of Garden landmarks.
The Garden has a special program that offers free admission to all Hawaii schoolchildren and their teachers. If you would like to sign up your class please use our On-line Form.
The Garden would like to thank our recent participants in the program including:
- Christian Liberty School
- Connections Charter School
- E Makala School
- Haili Christian School
- Hale Aloha Nazarene
- Hamakua Home Schoolers
- Hawaii Montessori School
- Highlands Intermediate School
- Hilo High School
- Hilo Seventh Day Adventist Church Eager Beavers
- Hualalai Academy
- Kamehameha School
- Kamehameha Summer School Program
- Kalanianaole School
- Keaau High School Photography Class
- Kealakehe High School
- Keiki Steps
- Keike college
- Kua Ookala Public Charter School
- Lau Huki Preschool
- Mid-Pacific Elementary School
- Montessori Country School
- Mountain View Head Start
- Mountain View School
- Navy Youth Programs
- St. Mark Lutheran School
- Volcano School
- Waimea Christian Academy
- Waikoloa Elementary School
- Waikea Intermediate School
- Waters of Life Public Charter School
- YWCA
The Dan & Pauline Lutkenhouse and HTBG Scholarship Fund
Each year, The Garden contributes funds to the Hawaii Community Foundation to benefit children residing on our Hamakua Coast.
The Founders created this Fund to benefit the youth of the community in which they live. Eligibility criteria require that applicants be residents of the Hilo Coast or Hamakua Coast, north of the Wailuku River; Students must major in agriculture, sciences, medicine or nursing, or plan to learn a recognized trade.
Girl Scouts of America
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is now an active participant with the
Girl Scouts of America.
We offer age-appropriate curricula for Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl
Scouts to maximize their use of the Garden's educational resources.
While in the Garden, the girls partake in activities such as plant rubbings, leaf hunts, palm sketches and seed identification. Upon satisfactory completion of their assignments, they earn an environmental merit badge.
Thank you cards from Hawaii Students
 A Thank You Card from Davyn Randall, student at Keaau H.S. | 
A Thank You from Skye at Mid-Pacific School in Honolulu |
A Thank You Card from Kia Jenkins-Rathburn, student at Keaau H.S. |
