Even though wreaths made of native plants do not have the classic holiday scents, they do capture the bounty and beauty of our landscapes during hoʻoilo (wet season). In 'Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, lei can mean a garland or a wreath. Therefore, many principles in lei-making can be applied to wreath-making. … [Read more...] about How to Make Native Holiday Wreaths
Top 10 Fire-Resistant Plants for Hawaiʻi
Wildfires in Hawaiʻi used to be extremely rare as the only sources of ignition were eruptions and dry lightning strikes. Therefore, our native ecosystems are especially vulnerable to fire disturbance. Unfortunately, modern land use change has resulted in the extensive spread of fire-prone grasses … [Read more...] about Top 10 Fire-Resistant Plants for Hawaiʻi
Canoe Plants
Mea kanu (plants, crops) that sustained Hawaiians for 1,500 years Although the landscapes within an ahupuaʻa would have varied depending on available resources, the cultivated plants listed above were near constant throughout the islands. Some of these important plants were already here when … [Read more...] about Canoe Plants
