Contribute to Na Wai Iwi Ola in memory of Susan

In memory of

Susan Scheibe Olson

Kailua-Kona, HI

January 24, 1950 - February 1, 2026

Jan 24, 1950 - Feb 1, 2026

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Please consider a contribution to Na Wai Iwi Ola or Friends of Amy B H Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden.

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Support Friends of Amy B H Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

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Susan lived by the principle that 'Love is the Greatest Power,' and she expressed that love through her deep devotion to the land and culture of Hawaiʻi. Whether she was getting her hands in the soil to restore native habitats or practicing the ancient rhythms of hula, Susan was a tireless advocate for the things she held sacred.

By donating in her memory, you are supporting the two organizations that were closest to her heart:

Nā Wai Iwi Ola Foundation:
https://www.nawaiiwiola.org/

Susan’s 'hula home' for 15 years. Your support helps Kumu Keala Ching and the foundation preserve Hawaiian culture, language, and chant, ensuring these vital traditions are passed down from kūpuna (elders) to future generations.

Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden:
https://www.amygreenwell.garden/

A place where Susan’s passion for ecology and community met. Donations support the 'Friends' of the garden in their mission to conserve endangered Hawaiian plants and maintain the 12-acre community forest and archaeological sites Susan worked so hard to protect.

Thank you for helping us continue the work she loved so much. Your generosity ensures that her spirit will continue to bloom in the gardens she tended and echo in the chants she shared. Contribute to Na Wai Iwi Ola

Contribute to Friends of Amy B H Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

All contributions made to Na Wai Iwi Ola through Ever Loved will be sent with the designation, “Wherever it is needed most”, at Erik Olson and Danijela Olson's request.

Erik and Danijela have chosen to not publicly show donations on this site.

About Friends of Amy B H Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a vibrant 15-acre biocultural kīpuka – a protected remnant of land with plants and agricultural features from an earlier era. Located in South Kona, the Garden, which is also an officially designated community forest, showcases over 200 species of native and Polynesian-introduced plants that predate the arrival of Captain Cook in 1778. From culturally significant plants like kalo (taro) and maiʻa (banana) to rare and endangered species like kōki’o (Kokia species), this garden is a treasure trove of Hawaii's botanical heritage. The Garden also includes a fascinating 5-acre archaeological site, preserving the features of ancient Hawaiian agricultural lands that once fed a large population in Kona.

As you wander through the Garden, you'll experience a variety of ecological zones, from coastal and dry forests to lush agricultural and wet forest areas. It's not just a place of beauty—it's a living classroom dedicated to conserving native plants and supporting traditional Hawaiian land use and cultural practices.

Frequently asked questions

Answered by a team member at Friends of Amy B H Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

What is your mission?

Cultivating opportunities to engage with Hawai'i's unique biocultural heritage through place-based education, community-driven conservation, and collaborative research.
How are donations used?

The Garden & Nursery: Help us maintain and expand our unique collection of Hawaiian and Polynesian plants, and support our nursery's conservation efforts.
Community Education: Fund workshops, school programs, and community events that share the knowledge of Hawaiian ethnobotany with all ages.
Cultural Preservation: Your donation helps protect the invaluable cultural history and traditional land use practices preserved within the Garden.
What is the history of your organization?

Amy Beatrice Holdsworth Greenwell, born in 1920, was deeply connected to the rich history and culture of Kona, Hawaii. As the daughter of Arthur Leonard Greenwell and Beatrice Hunt Holdsworth, she was one of 23 grandchildren of Henry Nicholas Greenwell, a pioneering merchant and rancher who arrived in Hawaii in the 1850s. Among Henry's many land acquisitions, the purchase of the ahupua’a (a Hawaiian land unit) of Kealakekua in 1881 was the largest. This land was inherited by his second son, Arthur, Amy’s father.

Amy Greenwell was a talented individual with a genuine passion for plants and archaeology. She attended Stanford University, joined Gamma Phi Beta, and served as a nurse during World War II. After the war, she collaborated closely with renowned botanist Dr. Otto Degener at the New York Botanical Garden and later at Bishop Museum in Honolulu, contributing significantly to Book 5 of Flora Hawaiiensis, a key reference on Hawaiian plants. Dr. Degener praised her work in the 1957 introduction to the volume, noting her efficient collaboration and active co- authorship. Her work at the botanical garden was cut short when she returned to Kona in the mid-1950s to build a small home in Captain Cook and focus on her botanical and archaeological interests.

Back in Kona, Amy began to transform her property by planting native and Polynesian- introduced species in the region's historic agricultural fields. Her dedication to preserving Hawaii’s natural and cultural heritage extended to her archaeological studies of early Hawaiian sites, such as Ka Lae (South Point). Her commitment to these causes led her to bequeath her property to the Bishop Museum upon her death in 1974. Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, established in her honor, stands as a testament to her legacy, promoting the conservation of native plants and educating future generations about Hawaii’s unique cultural and botanical heritage.