UH Hilo Housing Students Explore ʻImiloa’s Garden
UH Hilo Housing students were invited to ʻImiloa for a series of outdoor events hosted by ʻImiloa education staff members. The main intent of this collaborative event was to showcase some of the resources that are available to UH Hilo students, especially those in the UH Housing Living Learning Communities (LLC) program.
UH Hilo Housing students meet at ʻImiloa grounds for a greeting from Executive Director, Kaʻiu Kimura.
Following all COVID-19 safety precautions, thirty UH Housing LLC students were divided into three groups and rotated through three different activities that engaged the outdoor ʻImiloa garden. “ʻImiloa is all about community. As part of the UH Hilo campus, we really wanted to provide this opportunity to engage our students and remind them of ʻImiloa and the resources available for learning and exploration,” said ʻImiloa Executive Director, Kaʻiu Kimura.“Having been closed to the public for a year now, we wanted to use this opportunity to facilitate a small group outdoors and follow all current COVID-19 safety measurements while also providing quality place-based learning opportunities.”
UH Hilo Housing students creating plant art!
The first activity was an interactive guided tour of the ʻImiloa Native Plant gardens with one of our in-house UHH alumni botanists. While passing through the grounds, participants learned about the native plants on site, their uniqueness, usage and cultivation. One student said that “it was a mini mālama ʻāina moment, which I enjoyed because we haven’t been able to participate in something like that recently.” The second activity allowed participants to tap into their creativity and create plant inspired art. The third activity really got the student participants to “huli ka lima”, to get down in the dirt and practice cultivation methods of Hawaiian plants such as kalo (taro) and ʻuala (sweet potato). Another student participant said that “I enjoyed learning about the land and plants of the area, then actually being able to do some hands-on work.” These plants can be later harvested for the students to eat and share with others.
UH Hilo Housing students and ʻImiloa staff planting kalo.
“We’re very appreciative of ʻImiloa and the education team for hosting such an awesome event for our students,” says UH Hilo Housing Logistics Support, Christopher Wung. “A lot of our residents were saying how nice it was to get out and do outside activities, like the kalo gardening activity. Additionally, we really appreciate all of the awesome take-home items, lessons, and knowledge shared with us!” ʻImiloa remains closed to the public with a phased reopening plan underway at the end of Summer 2021. For more information and inquiries to schedule small events, please contact imiloaev@hawaii.edu.