The Kamehameha butterfly is the state’s official insect. And yet most people here have probably never seen one, though they might mistake any one of five similar-looking butterflies for the Kamehameha.

You can get an education on the Kamehameha butterfly, as well many other species of butterflies found in Hawaii, at the Butterfly Conservatory, which returned to the Pearlridge Downtown Center Court last week. This year, the conservatory will feature not only the popular tours but also new educational workshops.

One of the speakers will be Will Haines, a researcher at the University of Hawaii who specializes in the Kamehameha butterfly.

"I’ll be talking about what makes it special, its life cycle and the conservation of the species," he said.

Haines said the Kamehameha butterfly tends to live in wetter, forested regions of the islands, like the windward side of Oahu near the mountains. That’s good habitat for the mamaki, a flowering nettle that Kamehameha butterflies like to lay their eggs in.

"We’re hoping that people who live in these windward areas, if they start planting more mamaki in their backyard, and if they encourage their neighbors to plant mamaki, then we can create more of a habitat base for these butterflies, and then more people will start seeing them more often," he said.

Haines also is involved in the Pulelehua Project, a state initiative that helps people distinguish the Kamehameha butterfly from other species and encourages people to document sightings of them. (Those interested in participating should visit facebook. com/PulelehuaProject.)

The Butterfly Conservatory will also offer workshops by local butterfly experts Darlene Loo-McDowell and Dancetta Feary, said Kelly Kauinana, Pearlridge Center marketing director. Loo-McDowell raises butterflies in her garden and provides many of the butterflies for the exhibit, while Feary is an expert on the rare white monarch butterfly and its predators.

Kauinana said the exhibit, originally aimed at kids, has become a popular event for the entire family.

This year, visitors can also learn to configure their gardens to attract and raise butterflies, Kauinana said. "There are specific plants that the butterflies like for food and where they like to make their homes, so it’s learning what they are and where to place them," she said. "Darlene is really fun and interesting because she can teach you how you could use a little area in your own yard to grow a butterfly garden."

Even if you don’t want to raise butterflies, there’s just the pure fun of playing with the delicate creatures. "Everybody who comes to the butterfly house will have a tour guide, and the tour guide will work with individuals so that they can feed a butterfly or hold a butterfly," Kauinana said.

The exhibit will have an 18-by-18-foot enclosure containing hundreds of butterflies, which will be swapped out occasionally to ensure their health.

According to the Butterfly Society of Hawaii, there are 17 species of butterflies in Hawaii. Five species, including the white monarch, citrus swallowtail and painted lady, will be on view at the conservatory.

VISIT THE BUTTERFLIES

>> What: Butterfly Conservatory 

>> When: Through April 4, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays

>> Where: Pearlridge Downtown Center Court

>> Cost: $3 admission per person, one keiki under age 8 is free with each paying adult

Class schedule: 

All classes are free with $3 purchase of tour. Call 554-3307 to reserve a space.

>> The Kamehameha Butterfly: Saturday and March 21 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

>> Gardening for Butterflies: March 22, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

>> Butterflies, Bobo Birds and a Special Butterfly Observatory Tour: March 28, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

KAPOLEI EXHIBIT

Kapolei Shopping Center will be hosting a butterfly house from noon to 2 p.m. April 4. Dancetta Feary will help keiki feed monarch butterflies in a large screen tent at the free event, which will also feature crafts and photos with Keoki Cottontail. Visit inKapolei.com for more information.