Pilina ʻĀina: Seed & Plant Workshop

Date: September 14, 2025

Location: Mākena Golf & Beach Club, Nāulu Farm

In partnership with Kīpaipai Maui and ʻĀina Archaeology, the Pilina ʻĀina: Seed & Plant Workshop was the first in a free three-part community series designed to strengthen pilina (connection) with ʻāina (land; that which feeds) in the Honuaʻula moku.

In this hands-on session, participants were introduced to the intentional practices of plant propagation and caretaking that prepare native plants for restoration in preservation areas. Together, we explored the plants being cultivated and restored, and practical methods for starting seedlings and cuttings.

Through this process, participants gained insight into how planting decisions are guided by root systems, site purpose, and cultural connections (such as those reflected in the Kumulipo). Featured plants like maʻo, koaiʻa, and ʻāweoweo were highlighted, not only for their utility and function, but also for their role in reconnecting people to place.

This workshop moves beyond the primarily aesthetic approach to planting, fostering a deeper understanding of the logic and intentionality that shape native planting practices. By the end of the session, participants left with both hands-on propagation skills and a renewed appreciation for how plantings restore, preserve, and honor the unique function of preservation sites.