The Hawaii Forest Industry Association, along with a group of community partners, celebrated the completion of the first phase of the Panaewa Zoo Discovery Forest at the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens in Hilo on Dec. 17.
Kealakai Kanaka'ole led the group in a Hawaiian ceremony to bless the site and ask for continued growth and vitality of the native and Polynesian-introduced plantings.
Phase I of the Discovery Forest showcases Native Hawaiian and Polynesian-introduced "canoe plants" in demonstration plots. Over the past five months, 75 community volunteers have assisted with preparing the site for planting, placing landscape boulders and stone groundcovers, building a dry stream bed, and outplanting seedlings.
The landscape architectural firm of Leonard Bisel Associates designed creative, low-maintenance native and agroforest (Polynesian-introduced plants) design plans.
Yiqing Li and his University of Hawaii at Hilo Tropical Forestry Program students tagged all the plants and will map, monitor and document plant growth, phenology and mortality rates. In addition to UHH students, Kiwanis Kids (K Kids) have volunteered their time to help maintain the Discovery Forest.
The native forest provides a tiered effect of native trees, plants and groundcovers.
Boulders, gravel rock and stepping pavers will provide for a low-maintenance viewing platform and add visual interest.
The agroforest plan features a strategically placed viewing platform overlooking low, mid and higher canopy species. Edged planting beds, stone groundcovers and decorative pavers will enhance the plantings.
