Community

Earth Day celebrated at Pālamanui preserve in Kona by gardening, planting, composting

Play
Listen to this Article
4 minutes
Loading Audio... Article will play after ad...
Playing in :00
A
A
A

Volunteers gathered at the Pālamanui Campus in West Maui on April 21, 2023 to celebrate Earth Day or Lā Honua by gardening, planting and composting to recognize the University of Hawaiʻi’s weekly theme of “Indigenous Food Sovereignty.” (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)

To celebrate Earth Day (Lā Honua), more than a dozen volunteers gathered on Friday at the Hawaiʻi Community College’s Pālamanui Campus in West Hawai‘i to garden, plant and compost.

It was part of the University of Hawaiʻi’s weekly theme of “Indigenous Food Sovereignty.”

Dr. Richard Stevens, a lecturer at the Hawaiʻi Community College Kona branch, said the day also marked a celebration of the university’s acquisition of the nearby 706-acre forest preserve. The land will be used as an outdoor learning area for students and the community.

“This is a dream come true,” Stevens said as volunteers moved mulch over A’ā (lava rock). 

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

Known as The Pālamanui Campus Preserve project, the effort is a collaboration with the Hawai’i State Board of Land and Natural Resources. The board authorized a memorandum of understanding in 2021 between the University of Hawaiʻi and the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife to collaboratively manage the lowland dry forest area next to the North Kona campus. 

Stevens, who helped lead the project, said it’s a huge step towards protecting a critical environment.

On Friday, the mix of lecturers, volunteers and students planted native trees and canoe plants, using indigenous planting methods such as planting crops under trees to help preserve the lowland forest. Throughout the years, they’ve planted 70,000 trees on the island, he said. 

“These lowland species will be very important to protecting the survival of our entire forests,” he said. 

  • Windy Simmons, who works for Alaska Airlines, volunteered during an Earth Day event on April 21, 2023 at Hawaiʻi Community College’s Pålamanui Campus Preserve. (Megan Moseley/For Big island Now)
  • Volunteers gathered at the Pālamanui Campus in West Maui on April 21, 2023 to celebrate Earth Day or Lā Honua by gardening, planting and composting to recognize the University of Hawaiʻi’s weekly theme of “Indigenous Food Sovereignty.” (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)
  • 2023 April 21 CTY – Photo by Megan Moseley / Images of an Earth Day effort at Pālamanui campus in Kona, Hawai’i.
  • Volunteers gathered at the Pālamanui Campus in West Maui on April 21, 2023 to celebrate Earth Day or Lā Honua by gardening, planting and composting to recognize the University of Hawaiʻi’s weekly theme of “Indigenous Food Sovereignty.” (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)
  • Dr. Richard Stevens, a lecturer at the Hawaiʻi Community College Kona branch, helped lead the effort to acquire the 706-acre forest preserve next to the North Kona campus. April 21, 2023. (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)
  • Volunteers gathered at the Pālamanui Campus in West Maui on April 21, 2023 to celebrate Earth Day or Lā Honua by gardening, planting and composting to recognize the University of Hawaiʻi’s weekly theme of “Indigenous Food Sovereignty.” (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)
  • Volunteers gathered at the Pālamanui Campus in West Maui on April 21, 2023 to celebrate Earth Day or Lā Honua by gardening, planting and composting to recognize the University of Hawaiʻi’s weekly theme of “Indigenous Food Sovereignty.” (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)
  • The Pālamanui preserve encompasses 706 acres in North Kona. April 21, 2023. (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)
  • Cth gathy Harlan, a lectured in the culinary arts department of Hawai’i Community College, works on the edible garden on April 21, 2023 to celebrate Earth Day at the Pālamanui Campus in North Kona. (Megan Moseley/For Big Island Now)
  • 2023 April 21 CTY – Photo by Megan Moseley / Images of an Earth Day effort at Pālamanui campus in Kona, Hawai’i.
  • 2023 April 21 CTY – Photo by Megan Moseley / Images of an Earth Day effort at Pālamanui campus in Kona, Hawai’i.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

Down below from the forest reserve, students, teachers and volunteers with the university’s culinary branch were doing their own mālama ʻāina efforts by planting and taking care of the culinary department’s edible garden. 

Cathy Harlan, a lecturer in the culinary arts department, said the day’s work helped to raise awareness about the goals of the department, which is to provide healthy food and support the island’s food security. From planting herbs for the school’s café and kitchen to learning about composting, she said she was happy to see people participate in this year’s Earth Day initiative. 

“This is a great tool for the students to learn about their local food source,” she said while digging her hands in the dirt. 

Paul Heerlein, an associate professor and culinary arts program coordinator, said the garden was created in 2015 with the help of the Blue Zones Project. Heerlein said the department currently uses 80% of its ingredients from Hawai’i, and it features local and seasonal ingredients on their menu.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

“The idea is for the students to learn theory and apply it for the benefit of the community,” he said. 

He also hopes there will be an agricultural program on the West Side of the island someday to work in collaboration with the culinary department. Currently the agricultural program is on the East side of the island at the Hilo branch. 

Windy Simmons, a volunteer from Alaska Airlines, said she chose to volunteer after hearing about the festivities at a ClimbHI event.

“Anyway I can help the efforts in the community, I love that,” she said. “It is a worthy cause to give our students the opportunity to learn about farm to table and to support local.”

For more information about Pālamanui visit https://hawaii.hawaii.edu/palamanui.

Megan Moseley
Megan Moseley is a full-time journalist for Pacific Media Group. Her experience ranges from long and short-form reporting to print, digital, radio and television news coverage. In Hawaiʻi, she's worked for local media outlets and has covered a wide range of topics including local and state politics, environmental affairs, Native Hawaiian issues, travel, tourism and education. She covers the West for Restaurant Hospitality.

She's a 2010 graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Magazine Journalism and specializations in Geology and History. She's currently working on her master's degree from New York University and Ohio University and is focused on conflict resolution and peace practices in indigenous cultures in the Pacific.
Megan can be reached at megan.moseley@pmghawaii.com.
Read Full Bio

Sponsored Content

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay in-the-know with daily or weekly
headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Cancel
×

Comments

This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments