Replanting at Kahoma Village to support Lahaina recovery, growth following wildfires

Nearly 200 Kahoma Village homeowners, community members, and local organizations gathered Saturday to restore the landscape in Lahaina by planting 100 native and resilient species to support ongoing post-wildfire recovery.

The replanting featured 19 different species, including ʻulu, puakenikeni, mango, various citrus trees and more.

The event was organized by Kahoma Village and Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, and focused on fostering environmental stewardship and strengthening community connection to the ʻāina. After the planting, participants enjoyed a lunch sponsored by Duke’s.

The effort was made possible through funding from DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program. Also involved were Treecovery and Maui Nui Botanical Garden; Kīpuka Olowalu, who donated essential gardening tools; Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, which provided expert landscaping support and equipment; and Surf and Turf Landscaping, which prepared the planting sites and ensured additional irrigation for optimal planting conditions. The plants were grown and cared for at Native Nursery over the past nine months.

Preparations for Saturday’s event began on Friday, April 25, when volunteers from Rotary Hawaiʻi, Rider Levitt Bucknell, Maui Bay Villas, and Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club and partners gathered to mark planting locations, set up irrigation and ready the site for a successful community effort.

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working to protect coral reefs, promote clean ocean water, and restore native fish in Maui County. They recently launched their Rally for the Reefs campaign to continue supporting marine conservation work, mauka to makai. To learn more, visit mauireefs.org.