Keiki can create a craft inspired by Hawaii’s golden plovers, the beloved kolea, or create a simple model of a double-hull voyaging canoe from dried botanical materials at two classes this month at Wahiawa Botanical Garden.

The “Kolea Take-Off” class, ideal for ages 5 and older, celebrates the golden plovers as they prepare for their annual take-off to Alaska with a story, song and activity about the bird and other bird friends.

Participants of “Make a Voyaging Canoe,” led by John Sharp, a program aide at the garden, will stamp kapa-type patterns on the sails, before assembling their vessel, and see and handle plants brought to the islands by the early Polynesians.

“The main benefit of the class is to teach the children and their families about the nearly 30 ‘canoe plants,’ (such as taro, breadfruit and coconuts) — plus the pigs, chickens and dogs — that were brought here by early Polynesian explorers and colonists,” Sharp said.

WAHIAWA BOTANICAL GARDEN KEIKI CLASSES

>> “Kolea Take-Off,” 10 a.m.-noon March 21; $5

>> “Make a Voyaging Canoe,” noon-2 p.m. March 26; free

>> Info: 768-7135

>> Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult; reservations required a week in advance of class start date