I am so happy to see how the plants have really taken off on the Hanakaʻōʻō Cemetery slope! It felt wonderful to be able to contribute to the health of the ocean in that area. My job as project engineer with Parsons gave me the opportunity to work along beautiful Wahikuli Beach Park. Everyday I walked along the ocean side and saw the amazing abundance of turtles that inhabit the shoreline. Literally hundreds! The water there is so clear and inviting.
However, Hanakaʻōʻō Cemetery was a stark contrast: so dry and dusty. The cemetery slope-planting project is something that presented itself as a result of my time spent and work in the area. I knew that we had the resources to turn that slope green, and help reduce erosion. With the help of West Maui Kumuwai and all the volunteers we made it happen! I hope to see that area continue to thrive.