Perfect Plant Producers Produces the IPES Orchard

Planting native trees contributes to our sense of community because it makes us feel responsible and accomplished. We feel connected to the wiliwili because we planted it together, and it feels like something we need to take care of. Forests help grow our communities by bringing people together. Planting trees is fun, and it helps our school at the same time. People also enjoy looking at beautiful trees, which makes forests important to our community. Our community helps grow forests by planting native trees in our school’s orchard, like the Wiliwili, Maʻo, ‘A’aliʻi, ʻIlima, and Koa. By planting seeds, watering them every day, making sure they aren’t overwatered, and giving them enough sunlight, we can successfully grow trees, this is Mālama ʻĀina which means taking care of the land. Community forests root us in Hawaii by providing water, food, oxygen, and even sap. They also connect to HĀ, which stands for Belonging, Responsibility, Excellence, Aloha, Total well-being, and Hawaii. I strengthened my sense of Excellence making sure I was saying my lines right while looking at the camera with confidence.

Peaceful Predators Save the IPES Orchard!

Trees contribute to our sense of community by producing food, helping other plants grow, and symbolizing resilience, like the maʻo. Some trees can also be endangered. Forests help grow our communities by providing oxygen and many other benefits. They give us social benefits like shade and oxygen, economic benefits like food, fruits, seeds, lei, tea leaf, and koa wood, and environmental benefits like the oli we say before entering the orchard to show respect. Our community of 5th graders help the orchard by providing water and planting trees in a safe space where they won’t damage houses. We also learned that if the wiliwili tree blooms early, it can mean a storm is coming. Community forests root us in Hawaii by keeping native trees and forests that have been here for a long time. They connect to cultural practices, native species, and our ʻohana by helping us stay connected to Hawaii. 

The Swoosh Air Kings are Protecting our Community Orchard

One thing we like about the orchard is the fruit trees because they are sweet and healthy. Our orchard helps grow our community by giving us oxygen and food. Without them, we would not be able to live. We protect our orchard by removing invasive bugs and weeds. We take care of it by watering daily, mulching and giving each plant nutrients and soil. When we show our orchard aloha, it takes care of us.