It starts with ‘ike
Hua ʻIke was created as an educational extension of Laukahi: The Hawai‘i Plant Conservation Network — a voluntary alliance of agencies, organizations, and individuals working together to protect Hawai‘i’s rare and endangered native plants.
Our mission is to make native plant education accessible, engaging, and impactful for educators and students across the islands. Through this platform, we’re connecting learners with the rich biodiversity and cultural importance of Hawai‘i’s plant life.
Stenogyne microphylla – East Maui by Forest Starr and Kim Starr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
About Laukahi
Did you know that Hawai‘i is home to more than 1,380 native plant species? Many of these plants grow nowhere else in the world. They’re not just beautiful—they’re vital. These plants do so much for our islands: they protect our watersheds, help stop erosion, and provide homes for native birds, bugs, and more. They’re also woven into Hawaiian culture and traditions that go back generations.
But here’s the tough part - almost half of our native plants are endangered. And some have already been lost.
Due to the rapid decline of native plants from a range of ongoing threats, an overarching, coordinated strategy was needed. As a result, the Laukahi Network was created in 2016 to protect Hawaiʻi’s rare and native plants by implementing a statewide strategy, the Hawaiʻi Strategy for Plant Conservation (Strategy). The Strategy consists of 5 Objectives that align our work with global conservation goals, including outreach and education of native plants. The urgency of this work has never been greater and by working together we will advance plant conservation faster than by individual efforts alone.
Hua ʻIke
Rooted in laulima
Hua ʻIke is the result of the collective efforts of many — educators, students, scientists, cultural practitioners, conservationists, designers, and community members who care deeply about preserving Hawai‘i’s native plants and the future of our islands. Mahalo to our partners and contributors, whose support and insight have shaped every leaf, lesson, and resource you see here.
Laukahi Network members, the Hawaiʻi Botanical Gardens Hui, and advisor Raedelle Van Fossen (Lyon Arboretum) who imagined this resource and gave their support, feedback, and guidance throughout development.
Team Flora (Abby, Greta, Jack, and Preet) from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute for assessing needs of educators through surveys and interviews and developing the wireframe of this website.
Educators across Hawaiʻi who participated in Laukahi’s surveys and interviews. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and insight.
Contributors who have developed the wonderful educational resources and supporting the next generation of land stewards
Late Bloomer for providing web design, wireframe, and illustrations
Clarifico LLC for providing website development
Pigi Pigi Art for providing Liko Laukahi illustrations
Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation and Empowerment Fund of Honolulu for supporting our Network and team to develop the website. Mahalo!
Get In Touch
We’d love to connect! Whether you have questions about our resources, suggestions for new content, or inquiries about conservation partnerships, our team is here to listen.
This is a new platform and project, so please let us know how we may improve. Take our Survey.
Email: coordinator@laukahi.org
