Planting for the Future

An accumulation of many projects are summed together within this post as events that I became involved in. Sharing the common goal of restoring a local environment, and perpetuating the native plant population in Hawaii. Work would begin in the earlier part of the day to avoid heat exhaustion, and to make the most of the day, continuing our work after a lunch break. Depending on what the day’s mission was, most often it would involve clearing invasive species from the target area. With gloves on, shovels or rakes in hand, along with our man-power, we would work as a team moving through sections of the forest or wetland. Piling up non-native plant species to be removed from the site. Other days we would return with plants native to Hawaii such as ‘Ohia Lehua trees that had been sprouted from seeds, and cared for to grow big enough. Having formed roots, ready for us to plant, we would restore the area we previously cleared to create this new home environment.

Working together within a community of native-plant enthusiasts influenced our love for what we were doing, and why we do it. We recognize the importance of maintaining the native forest, waterways, and coastlines. There are native animal species as well as insects that rely on native plants to survive. Providing a local landscape is supportive of creating a healthy, balanced, and harmonious environment of native plants and animals in Hawaii. Further encouraging a sustainable land, improving the watershed, and in preventing erosion or disruption that which non-native plants cause.