Community Gardens

In agreement and collaboration with the Connection Public Charter School, we will utilize a 2-acre lot within the schoolʻs property in Kaumana as a community garden managed by Micronesians United-Big Island (MU-BI). The Garden of Light is a community garden (aka Garden of Light) that will be managed by MU-BI to support growing food and space for youth cultural and gardening experiences. The vision is to use the space to grow trees and food crops for the community while also providing youth outdoor education, including gardening activities, and cultural experiences. 

We recently met with the 

The Pacific Islands Students Community Garden aims to establish a dedicated space on the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus for Pacific Island students to cultivate ancestral plants, practice stewardship, and perpetuate cultural knowledge. The garden will serve as a living classroom and gathering space where students can connect with their heritage through hands-on learning and collective care for the land.

The primary goal of the garden is to nurture a sustainable environment where culturally significant plants—such as breadfruit (‘ulu), coconut (niu), banana (mai‘a), taro (kalo), and other canoe plants—can be grown and shared. The garden will support food security, cultural preservation, and student leadership development, in alignment with UH Hilo’s mission to integrate sustainability, indigenous knowledge, and community engagement.