This resource is an urban forestry and native plant education project from the Hawaiʻi Forest Institute. It includes a grower’s guide, videos, plant postcards, and related resources that encourage residents, businesses, gardeners, and designers to grow Native Hawaiian and Polynesian-introduced canoe plants in homes, workplaces, and public landscapes. The project also promotes a broader vision of a “Native Hawaiian Urban Forest Network” that reconnects urban areas with island ecosystems from mauka to makai.
Native Urban Forest Planning and Plant Selection
Learners use the project materials to explore why native and canoe plants matter, compare plants for different climate zones and landscaping needs, and plan native plantings for gardens, schools, homes, or community spaces. The resource can also support discussion about urban forest benefits, wildlife habitat, water use, and restoring ecological connections across developed areas.
