A new online resource aims to make learning about Hawaiʻi’s rare and endangered native plants easier for students, teachers and the community—and the University of Hawaiʻi is playing a key role.
Laukahi: The Hawaiʻi Plant Conservation Network, with support from UH Mānoa’s Lyon Arboretum and other partners, has launched Hua ʻIke, a free website that gathers lesson plans, classroom activities, multimedia tools and student-friendly content in one place. The site is designed to help educators bring native plant conservation into classrooms and inspire future environmental stewards.
“Hua ʻIke makes it easier than ever for educators and students to connect with the incredible diversity of Hawaiʻi’s native plants,” said Raedelle Van Fossen, education manager at UH Mānoa’s Lyon Arboretum, advisor for the Hua ʻIke project and member of the Laukahi Advisory Council. “By sharing this knowledge, we’re helping grow the next generation of conservation leaders.”
Hua ʻIke, meaning “seed or fruit of knowledge,” reflects the idea that knowledge, like a seed, can grow across generations. Visitors to the site can explore interactive materials, learn conservation stories and connect with a community of educators and learners.
Laukahi was formed in 2016 to implement the Hawaiʻi Strategy for Plant Conservation, aligning statewide efforts to protect native species, nearly half of which are endangered. The organization’s mission is to unite conservation partners, expand awareness of Hawaiʻi’s global biodiversity importance and prevent species extinction.
“Hua ʻIke came to life through the collective efforts of many—educators, conservationists, designers—all committed to supporting the next generation of stewards,” said Laukahi Network Coordinator Kimberly Shay. “Through Hua ʻIke, I feel optimistic for the future of Hawaiʻi’s native plants as students discover the joy of connecting with them and caring for them.”
UH’s involvement includes faculty, staff and affiliates serving on Laukahi’s volunteer advisory council, contributing scientific expertise, educational outreach and project coordination. Lyon Arboretum’s participation ensures that botanical knowledge and cultural context remain central to the platform’s design.
Members of the Laukahi Advisory Council with UH ties:
- Mark Burgman, UH Mānoa, School of Life Sciences director
- Don Drake, Lyon Arboretum interim director
- Elliott Parsons, UH Pacific Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network specialist
- Raedelle Van Fossen, Lyon Arboretum education manager
