Sowing the Seeds

Our Mission

We have decided to create a beautiful, functional garden surrounding our Manoa home. Our goal is to have a garden with plants that help sustain us, contribute to the restoration of native Hawaiian flora, and improve the quality of our lives.

Our principles to help guide us along this journey include:

1.Try to restore, repair, rebuild the original stone structures, i.e. the terrace walls, pathways and stairs. They were designed and built by hand, without the use of mortar or cement, the old fashioned way about 100 years ago.

2. Plant food. The land will help us towards self-sustainment. fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices.

3. Be organic. As much as possible we will avoid chemical fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides.

4. Plant native. We will emphasize using native Hawaiian flora whenever possible

5. Artistic design. We will approach the overall design of the yard as if a sculpture or a canvas with composition, color, line, balance in mind.

6. Create living space. The possibilities of building additional outdoor settings and covered structures on the land for future Ohana living will be considered from the beginning.

7. Hillside stabilization is an immediate issue and experts will be brought in to advise on preventing bolders from falling, reinforcing the terraces, and minimizing further topsoil erosion.

8.SAFTY FIRST! Working in the yard poses many potential dangers including falling rocks, tree limbs. proper eye protection must be worn when using danerous equipment