Our School, Our Forest: Restoring the Land

Acacia Koa, often shortened to just "koa", is a tree endemic to Hawaii.  Captured in this photo, an Acacia Koa is situated on a mountainside.  /CREATIVE COMMONS

By: Brighton Kimball 

Staff Writer    

Recently at Konawaena High School, students and teachers have been involved in the conservation and cultivation of plants native to Hawaii.  Ms. Tina Alcain, Ms. Leilani Kekahuna, and student Kuumanu Breithaupt have been working on and off campus to save the uniqueness of endemic life on the islands for future generations.  

Ms. Alcain, an agriculture teacher, and Ms. Kekahuna, a teacher of Hawaiian arts and crafts, are working on a cultural garden for students to visit.  The garden, which is located behind the history building, will showcase the importance of native plant resources on campus. 

SUMMER INTERNSHIP

Last summer, Breithaupt, a former staff editor of The Wildcats, took a summer internship with the company Forest Solutions.  During this internship, she explored different forest reserves on the Big Island, where she collected data and analyzed the land in hopes of restoring native forests.  

“For me, it's like I’m doing my part to give back.  This ‘aina raised me, so the least I can do is to put back into it,”  said Breithaupt.    

Breithaupt was introduced to the topic of nature conservation at a young age.  She is part native Hawaiian, and her grandfather worked as a preserve manager in South Kona for 40 years.   

Her internship was with Forest Solutions, a private land management company that works with clients such as Kamehameha Schools to monitor plots they own.  A typical week during the internship began on Monday, when she and others would embark on a journey to a project area and camp there until Thursday.

The areas they worked on include Hulualai summit, Honaunau Forest, and Kohala mountain.  The team collected data on the amount and types of native plants, which was reported back to Forest Solutions.

By the end of the summer, the team compiled a composition data analysis, and presented a research project to Kamehameha Schools, which recommended management of the areas they own.  Breithaupt suggested that in order to restore a native canopy, they must build fences and remove ungulates, such as pigs, horses, cows. 

Breithaupt stressed the importance of ancient Hawaiian lexicology, or the name of the land.  The name can tell us what grew here before human impact 

“There is this one pu’u on Hulualai summit called Maile Hehei, and when we look at the lexicology of that name, it tells us that there's a certain rare type of maile that grew there before… They're going to be able to go back there and plant that certain type of maile,” said Breithaupt.  

Breithaupt said she cares a lot about this topic because she believes that invasive species have ultimately caused the decline of multiple native plants and animals.  She expressed that the best part of her experience during her internship was being able to see these unique and beautiful places. 

TEACHER GARDEN PROJECT

Ms. Kekahuna, describing her inspiration for the school garden, said: “I feel like every aspect of Hawaii is considered gathering… having those rights to gather.”

Ms. Kekahuna is also a Hawaiian dance teacher and the head of Na Haumana O Kuleana O Konawaena, often called “The Hawaiian Club.”  Ms. Alcain, the agriculture teacher, focuses on the cultivation of native plants with her students. She is working with Ms. Kekahuna on a garden that will house different types of native Hawaiian plants.  

“Collaboration is always good,” said Ms. Alcain. 

The garden located behind the history building includes plants such as ‘olena, ohi’a, and maile.  Students are able to access it during any free time on campus; and on Wednesdays, Ms. Kekahuna’s class is encouraged to work on the garden.   

Seeds for this project have been given from donations, which reduced the cost for this garden so far to zero. Creating the garden wasn’t without hardship, since weeds, pigs, and bugs often got in the way.  

Bringing native plants back to this place is important, but building codes, laws, and other aspects often halt the progress of native trees being planted.  

Today, Hawaii will lose eight more bird species to extinction, according to The American Bird Conservancy.  Despite this, people such as Breithaupt, Ms. Kekahuna, and Ms. Alcain are dedicated to supporting our native forests.