ULUPALAKUA - A $5,000 donation from the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation will help the Friends of D.T. Fleming Arboretum at Puu Mahoe to complete work on a bathroom, locking shed and workshop facility.
With a total cost of $45,000, the project has received grants from Atherton Family Foundation, Cooke Foundation, Bank of Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Charitable Foundation and Alexander & Baldwin Foundation.
The shed/lua/workshop pro-ject will be an upgrade of current facilities, allow for expansion of educational programs and increase the efficiency of the arboretum's work. The workshop area will be a classroom for workday instruction, propagation demonstrations and community events. The lock shed will provide a secure place for workers to house arboretum tools and supplies.
Construction of the shed/lua/workshop project is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2009.
Friends of D.T. Fleming Arboretum (FOFA) was created in 2002 to help fund the preservation of the Fleming Arboretum in Ulupalakua. Planted by agriculture missionary David Thomas Fleming in 1952, the 7-acre Fleming Arboretum at Puu Mahoe is Hawaii's oldest and largest native arboretum and Maui's largest living collection of native flora, a news release said.
Today, the arboretum is a conservation resource, actively distributing seed throughout Hawaii.
At this time, FOFA distributes rare seeds from 30 of the arboretum's 111 native spe-cies. FOFA continues to plant populations of rare species for genetic diversity as well as new dryland species endemic to Maui's southern slopes and strives to be a strong seed resource for conservation efforts.
The arboretum sponsors monthly arboretum tours, educational workshops and volunteer workdays.
Educational programs perpetuate Hawaiian culture and care of Hawaii's natural resources. Summer fun programs involve children 8 years and older to help harvest seed for restoration efforts.
Hikes, picnics, tours and field trips at Puu Mahoe have become a regular event for schools and community groups.
The friends sponsor a volunteer workday on each second weekend and a tour the last weekend of each month.
For more information, go to the arboretum Web site www.flemingarboretum.org or call 572-1097.
