Increasing Distribution of the Hawaiian ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Tree
Team members: Eli Soule, Benjamin Tate, Wentao Yu, & Alana Zerva
Our project sought to increase the distribution of Hawai‘i’s state endemic tree, the ‘ōhi‘a lehua tree, by working with the ‘Ōhi‘a Legacy Initiative (OLI). We conducted research on nursery production by contacting 73 nurseries through surveys. We then interviewed respondents to identify potential partnerships to help with OLI’s mission.
Following interviews, we forged meaningful connections with nurseries to expand tree propagation, developed educational materials to raise public awareness, and created a heat map to track distribution. Additionally, we produced digital marketing tools to enhance engagement.
Our work provides solutions to increasing the scope of OLI’s ‘ōhi‘a lehua giveaway program, allowing for both environmental impact and cultural preservation of the ‘ōhi‘a lehua tree.
