Bringing ‘Āina Home: Growing Connections to Lāna‘i

August 2026 — Starting in September, Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center will offer locally grown plants for purchase through its nursery program, giving ‘ohana another way to bring a piece of Lāna‘i home and practice mālama ‘āina in their own yards and gardens.

Located at Pūlama Lāna‘i Community Gardens, Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center’s 2,000-square-foot nursery supports the propagation of native and Polynesian-introduced plants while also serving as an outdoor classroom for students. Through hands-on learning, keiki gain knowledge of Hawai‘i’s plants and their role in a healthy biocultural landscape.

Now, that connection can extend beyond the nursery. Previously available primarily through community events, plants will be available for purchase directly through Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center, with a changing selection of locally grown plants chosen to support Lāna‘i’s unique environment.

The selection includes a changing variety of native and Polynesian-introduced plants, from ‘ōhi‘a lehua grown from Lāna‘i seed stock to native ‘ākia, ‘ihi, ‘ilie‘e and ‘uki‘uki. Other offerings include koki‘o ke‘oke‘o, koki‘o ‘ula, kupukupu fern and palapalai, along with familiar garden plants such as Hawaiian chili pepper, lemongrass, moringa, strawberry and roselle hibiscus. The selection will change regularly, with a minimum purchase of $20 per order. To view the current selection, go here.

Some of these plants have a special connection to Lāna‘i. The ‘ōhi‘a lehua, for example, is native and endemic to Hawai‘i, with plants in the nursery grown from Lāna‘i seed stock. Native plants such as ‘ākia and ‘ilie‘e also support the island’s biocultural landscape, while deer-resistant varieties can offer practical options for local gardens.

Whether you are growing food, adding native plants to your landscape or simply looking for a new way to connect with the ‘āina, growing plants at home can be an act of mālama. Each plant offers an opportunity to learn, nurture and care for the land in a small but meaningful way.

For those interested in learning more about the nursery or arranging a huaka‘i, or field trip, to visit with students, Kari can also help coordinate a visit.

From the nursery to the home garden, Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center’s plant program is growing more than plants. It’s creating new ways for ‘ohana to connect with ‘āina, deepen their knowledge and carry the practice of mālama ‘āina into everyday life.