A Maui farming company is partnering with middle schoolers to provide plants for the people of Lahaina.
Mahi Pono officials say it is a perfect way to give back to families who have lost so much while teaching the island’s youth.
The company is in the process of transforming 41,000 acres of vacant former sugar cane land into a thriving hub of diversified agriculture.
With the help of hundreds of Iao School sixth graders, they are now utilizing a portion of their land to benefit Lahaina families.
“This project is called Na Mea Kanu No Lahaina, plants for Lahaina, and really because the families lost everything including their beloved trees and plants in their garden,” said Waiopua Farm Manager Tiare Lawrence.
Over the last few weeks, more than 300 Iao School sixth graders have come to Mahi Pono’s Waiopua Garden to plant kalo (taro), pua melia (plumeria), maia (banana), and lai (ti leaf).
“We wanted to create a space where we could grow a lot of these plants, and when the time is right … we can donate these plants for their gardens,” Lawrence said.
They will propagate around 700 plants by the end of the project.
The plants will be available for donation to Lahaina families in two to four months.
You can help the trees on Maui in many ways. Here is just one resource: https://www.mauiforestbirds.org/product/plant-a-tree/
