DoE April Native Hawaiian Plant Month Project

A project to help every public school student in Hawaii learn about the importance of native plants by planting & caring for a native Hawaiian tree to celebrate April as Native Hawaiian Plant Month.

During a 2022 GCA interview with Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono, she said she would like to have every Hawaii public school student celebrate April as a national NATIVE PLANT MONTH by planting, caring for, and learning about the importance of native plants. In 2023, The Garden Club of Honolulu (TGCH) followed up with a limited pilot project offered to 4th grade Native Hawaiian studies programs at 14 Leeward District elementary schools in Spring 2023.

Palisades Elementary with help by their school Principal and Landscape Custodian. The event was open to school educators, Principals, and Landscape Custodians from all participating schools and generated a lot of excitement. Senator Hirono asked to be given the opportunity to help students plant trees to celebrate April as National Native Plant month in the years ahead!

This funding would support the purchase of plant material (donated and purchased trees, seedlings, seed collection, etc.) and planting supplies to support plant maintenance (potting, soil, nutrients, etc.) necessary to support backyard cultivation of native trees for donation to City & County of Honolulu public schools for planting in 2025, 2026, & 2027.We have the support of our Club President, Jan Tucker, and these native Hawaiian plants are all designated for public schools on state property. We have been consulting with well known horticultural professionals, Arborists and authors of Hawaiian native plant publications to ensure we are designating unendangered native plants appropriate to the different school ecosystems.