•  The idea blossomed during Taxonomy and GIS lessons in Biology in 2018.  Ms. Tammy Ramangmou, a teaching candidate from UH Manoa,  pursued her mentor’s vision and wrote a Service Learning Project proposal. Mrs. May Richard, her mentor,  endorsed the project to Mr. Dean Cevallos for approval.

• The Service Learning Project was approved by Mr. Dean Cevallos, KHS. Principal (March 27, 2018)

• Collaborated with a mentor  and STEM Club members

• Sent  invitation to KHS community (announcement and flyer)

• 2nd Semester, AY 2017-2018,  started the inventory, identification, naming, and mapping of the various plant species around campus,

• Mrs. Richard submitted a grant: “Service Learning Project: Application of Taxonomy and GIS,” through DonorsChoose amounting to $1442.00; (August 3, 2018)

• On August 30, 2018,  the DonorsChoose project was fully funded

• Donors include:

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 

THINK Fund of Hawaii Community Foundation 

Gregory Richard

Tammy Ramangmou

• Arboretum tags contain the KHS cougar paw, and scientific and common names of the plant species with QR codes to facilitate an interactive and engaging learning experience. The KHS Plant Identification website is linked to the Keaau High School website.

• All the participants of this project developed awareness of the native and introduced plant species, and showcased their photography skills, GIS mapping skills, designing skills, taxonomic skills, and collaborative skills.

• The technologies used were GIS, GPS, photography, Google mapping, Fusion table, QR, Plant ID app, Google site, Google Docs, Google Excel, Google Drive, Engineering Design Process, and Service Learning Project Development process.

• Service Learning Project Participants (STEM Club, other KHS students, KHS staff, community members, parents of students)