Xeriscaping 101
Explore this water-saving approach to gardening and landscaping during summer’s driest months
By: Darlene Dela Cruz
Jul 1, 2026
The Honolulu Board Of Water Supply (BWS) will host its annual “Unthirsty Plant Sale” Aug. 1 at the Hālawa Xeriscape Garden, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free event draws hundreds of local residents each year with plant vendors, educational booths and informational workshops available to answer questions about the popular gardening and landscaping concept.
Xeriscaping “is the environmental design of residential and park land using methods that minimize water use,” according to the BWS website. BWS opened the Hālawa Xeriscape Garden in 1989 as a resource for the community to explore xeric (dry) flora in a residential-style setting. The right combination of xeriscaping plants, irrigation methods and traditional practices can reduce water consumption at your home by 30% to 80%, BWS notes.
“Why not grow plants that save you time, water and money?” asks Sheri S. Mikami, BWS community relations specialist II. “Xeriscape plants are not just thorny cactus. They’re everything from trees and shrubs to grasses, ground covers, Native Hawaiian plants and even edibles that all need less water once established, leaving you [with] more time to enjoy your garden while you conserve water.”
The “Seven Principles of Xeriscaping” developed by Denver Water in 1981 during a prolonged drought in Colorado can also be applied to island homes. A brief online primer by BWS tailors these principles slightly for Hawai‘i’s environment:
1) Planning & Design: Assess the best layout, plant placements and project phases for “a more attractive landscape and better water conservation.”
2) Soil Improvement: Enhancements to your soil’s moisture-retention properties and nutrients are recommended before installing irrigation. Soil testing can also optimize plant growth.
3) Plant Selection: Xeriscape-friendly plants span a wide range of textures, colors and functions, including waxy species like aloe and bromeliads and native plants like ‘ākia and ‘a‘ali‘i.
4) Limited Turf Areas: Separately irrigate grassy lawns that need more water and upkeep or replace these turf areas with mulch or hardscape like gravel and pavers.
5) Mulching: Water absorption and reduced weed growth are among the additional benefits of mulches that cool and cover your soil.
6) Efficient Irrigation: Consult BWS or other gardening and landscaping professionals on the best irrigation systems and plant groupings for water conservation. Consider installing a rain barrel catchment system for smarter outdoor water use.
7) Good Maintenance: Well-maintained xeriscaping can decrease reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Getting started with xeriscaping is easy regardless of property size or landscaping scale, Mikami notes.
“Put your plan on paper [and] include a budget and timeline broken down into smaller segments to keep you on track with room to make adjustments,” Mikami says. “You can do many projects on your own, or any landscape architect can design your xeriscape.”
This story appears in the July/August 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.