Clean Up Crew from Kamamolikolehua

Today we held our second work day this week, this time with Halau Hula Kamamolikolehua (this is their third visit). The team was composed of people ages 5 - 70+ finished the work that started this week with Monsanto's team. We focused on the pohinahina near the crown flowers and the plumerias on the northwestern corner of the garden.

We also transplanted some 'uki 'uki plants in the shade of the kukui. We think they will like it better there.

And we got to install a few more plants like 'olena, pikake, and even a koa (bred to be resistant to the koa wilt disease -- mahalo to Hawai'i Agriculture Research Center).

It was a beautiful day and everyone felt very accomplished. The Malaola is coming alive!

Monsanto Comes to the Rescue Again!

What a blessing it is to have a big crew of hard-working volunteers from Monsanto, the neighboring farm, help us at the Malaola. This is not their first time bringing large work crews. Last year, they came numerous times. We had them tackle the big job of containing the pohinahina, which is a beautiful plant, but has taken over much of the garden and has even ventured into the road.

They also took out a lot of weedy vines and grasses and dug some new holes for plants, all by hand.

To top if off, they helped out so much by removing the waste material that literally filled about 20 truck loads.

We simply could not have done it ourselves. Mahalo nui loa to Monsanto for supporting the Malaola and the Malama Learning Center.

Two Halau Combine Helpers at the Garden

Today we had the pleasure of hosting two halau hula -- Halau 'o Kaululaua'e and Halau Hula Kamamolikolehua. We started bright and early (7 am) to beat the heat, though it did get quite hot even by 8 am!

Kumu Mikiala Lidstone and Kumu Pohai Souza both attended with their haumana (students) and families. We had another great showing of volunteers -- about 55 in total -- and they were among the hardest working we've had!

The pohinahina was trimmed back considerably and Kumu Mikiala showed us what we can do with the trimmed branches -- make lei! She demonstrated the process of pounding the outer layer and stripping it (very carefully) from the "bone" so that the fiber and leaves and be twined to make a maile-style lei.  We had a new appreciation for pohinahina after that demo!

We're so thankful for the consistent kokua that we have been fortunate to receive at the Malaola, which is becoming a true resource for the hula community. We're happy to make these connections, and thank DuPont Pioneer for making this all possible.

Taking Back Control

From last Friday, April 14, 2017, I came to the garden with a desire to cut those ever-growing pesky weeds that always outgrow our plantings. We recently bought a new tool that blends the maneuverability of a trimmer and the power of a mower. This hybrid of a mower/trimmer went through those weeds like butter! What a gratifying feeling to finally have the power to control the weeds! However, there are still more weeds to go through, but I believe that since the purchase of the new mower we will finally be able to step forward in our progress of maintaining Mālaola.

Picture of weeds before being mowed down. Weeds were about waist high!

The new mower is a godsend! Finally can see the bases of our own plantings.

Our banana trees are producing fruits! A great snack for a good day's work.