Last semester, the Environmental Law Program partnered with Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law and Ka Ulu La‘au to provide WSRSL students and faculty with locally grown Hawaiian plants. The fundraiser was made possible by Kimo Adams and Jeff Preble of Ka Ulu La‘au, a local plant nursery on the windward side of O‘ahu. Kimo and Jeff provided over 170 plants in total, all of which are either native or canoe plants. Students, faculty, and even community members had the chance to purchase la‘au lapa‘au plants (mamaki, ko‘oko‘olau, uhaloa, ‘olena, kalo, ‘awa), flowering plants (pua kenikeni, na‘u, pakalana, maile, ilima), and ferns (palapalai, kupukupu).
Students from ‘Ahahui O Hawai‘i (“Hui”) and the Environmental Law Society (“ELS”) also got the chance to attend a plant workshop with Kimo, Jeff, and other native plant experts at Windward Community College. At the workshop, Kimo and others educated students on the importance and unique properties of each Hawaiian plant. The ‘olena plant became the star of the show when Kimo highlighted the special health benefits of the plant commonly referred to as turmeric. At the end of the workshop, students got their hands in the dirt and planted their own ‘olena to take home. Students also drank health shots of concentrated ‘olena provided by Kumu Tuti Kanahele. Being able to learn from the experts who have worked with these plants all their lives was an incredible experience.
After the workshop, board members from Hui and ELS came back to Kāne‘ohe to pick up all of the plants from Kimo’s house. The caravan of cars and trucks made sure that all the plants safely made it back into town where Hui and ELS members helped to distribute the plants at the new clinic building to their new owners. In total, the funds raised will go to Hui and ELS to fund students attending international law conferences and even Hui’s Pā‘aina on campus at the beginning of the spring 2023 semester!
ELP would like to thank Kimo and Jeff at Ka Ulu La‘au for their support, and we hope to work them again in the near future.
JB 1/24/2023