Focal Point: Hiki Ola is committed to education, the environment, and culture.
Hoʻomaikaʻi!
Congratulations to Emily Uluwehi Senegal-Thyroff for successfully defending her dissertation and graduating with her Doctorate from UH Mānoa!
"I worked with ʻiliahi at Kealakekua Mountain Reserve to learn more about how ʻiliahi grows and how it relates to other native plants. ʻIliahi has a unique relationship with other plants in that it directly connects its roots to the roots of other plants for resource transfer. There are only a few scientific papers on ʻiliahi and our research can help inform best practices on increasing ʻiliahi abundance in Hawaiian forests. In addition to the six currently recognized ʻiliahi species, there are other sandalwood species that ʻiliahi is related to that I referenced to build research off of."
Research
Hiki Ola is working with Emily Uluwehi Senegal-Thyroff, Ph.D. Uluwehi is studying ʻiliahi and is very knowledgeable about the forest. She has connected with ʻEhunuikaimalino students, Konawaena High School students, and members of Hālau Kaʻeaikahelelani.
Other Partnerships
A partnership has been established between Hiki Ola and Hālau Kaʻeaikahelelani. Kumu Kaʻea Lyons and Kumu Keliʻikanoe take hālau members to the area designated for the hālau to hold workshops and build a relationship with the ululāʻau (forest). As hula practitioners, hālau members are able to experience this cultural pilina (relationship) with the ululāʻau and with the various hula plants.
Interpretive Trail
Hiki Ola is currently working on creating an Interpretive Trail at the John and Gussie Pace Demonstration Forest at the Hokukano Forest Partner location. This trail will feature native plants in their natural habitat in a short trail for ease of viewing and learning. Interpretive signs for many of the plants will be erected along the trail for educational opportunities.