Final Days at Hui o Koʻolaupoko: Weeding and Reflection

As we turned into the familiar parking lot of Kaha Garden, the atmosphere was bittersweet. Sun streamed through gaps in the leaves of stalky trees and we could hear the sounds of ducks paddling in the nearby pond.

Our last two days at Hui o Koʻolaupoko with Kristen focused on weeding were especially memorable. For the last 16 years, groups of volunteers have carefully replaced grass and invasive species with native Hawaiian plants, providing a clear example for how homeowners can help preserve native vegetation in their own backyards. By weeding, we are helping to maintain and add to the thousands of hours of work and care already put into this garden by groups of volunteers.

Kristen pointed out the native plants, which were marked by a noticeable orange flag. The hot sun was beaming down on our backs and the dry soil made it especially hard to wiggle out the stubborn roots, but we worked carefully and filled the time with lighthearted conversations. Compared to the slippery soil from Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi where weeds only required a small tug, I found myself constantly having to dig out the ends of roots breaking off from the rest of each plant.

We all sat on small mats and worked on a small portion of the garden. As we pulled and dug, the small patch transformed from a tangled mass of greenery and weeds to bare dirt. I found it incredibly rewarding to see our hard work come together at the end.

At the end of our final day at the garden, Kristen also taught us how to properly maintain the native plants we had been protecting, ensuring that future volunteers would continue the important work of restoration and preservation that has made this garden a model for community environmental stewardship.