plants | University of Hawaiʻi System News

Program saving endangered Hawaiʻi plants earns national award

The award was presented in Washington, D.C. by a group of approximately 30 local, regional and national conservation organizations.

Nellie Sugii managed the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program for 25 years and most recently served as Lyon’s interim director for the past two years.

Infected hibiscus plants show mosaic, ringspot and chlorotic spots on their leaves.

Library patrons were greeted by a plethora of trees until about a decade ago when they were removed due to disease.

The first annual community garden event to celebrate Thanksgiving called “Plantsgiving Thanksgiving” was organized by the Home Garden Network.

More than a dozen people also participated in a tree planting event outside of C-MORE Hale and Sherman Laboratory.

UH’s flagship campus is ranked No. 394 worldwide and No. 106 in the U.S.

The arboretum will create a comprehensive program for all ages to address climate change and its effects on Hawaiʻi’s endangered endemic plants.

Karolina Heyduk is the director of the Joseph F. Rock Herbarium, which is housed in the School of Life Sciences.

Organizers hope to host the 1,000-tree giveaway event sometime in November 2022.