“One step at a time, one plant at a time, one person at a time.”  

This manaʻo from Mililani Browning KSK’02, natural resources manager with Kamehameha Schools’ ʻĀina Pauahi Group, is reflective of the community-focused, transformative work happening at Kuʻia, Lahaina, Maui. 

Ke Kula ‘o Kamehameha stewards nearly 1,100 acres here — ʻāina bequeathed to Ke Aliʻi Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop by her cousin, Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani.  

In 2024, Kamehameha took a small but important step in an unprecedented effort to restore this ʻāina when it planted native and Polynesianintroduced trees on a one-acre parcel dubbed Ka Malu. Since then, numerous types of lāʻau such as ‘ulu, kou, kamani, hao, milo and ʻaʻaliʻi have grown and flourished — thanks in no small part to a groundswell of kākoʻo from the community. 

Taryn Cabingas is a kupa of this place. Having grown up near Ka Malu, she long dreamt of seeing the transformation of an area turned harsh and dry by water diversions and invasive grasses caused by the rise and collapse of the sugar cane industry. 

When staffers from the ʻĀina Pauahi Group knocked on her door to get input on the reshaping of Kuʻia, Cabingas offered more than manaʻo; she decided to get involved.  

“I’ve noticed the problems here for many years, and now I finally get to do something about them. It's a full-circle moment getting to be here and contribute.”  

Cabingas now helps with day-to-day upkeep at Ka Malu and organizes community volunteer events. One such gathering in May 2026 drew dozens of volunteers, including Lahaina residents and also Ke Kula ʻo Kamehameha Maui haumāna from the volunteer-focused Just Serve Club. The ʻōpio dug out invasive haole koa and planted dozens of ʻaʻaliʻi, maʻo and wiliwili raised in a greenhouse on campus. 

Lilia Davis KSM’20 also pitched in that day and at several other community days. She’s a conservationist and intern with the ‘Āina Pauahi natural and cultural stewardship team. 

“As a Pua a Pauahi, it’s so meaningful to come back and plant pua on her ʻāina. Back when I was a high school student, I had no idea the amount of work that went into Kamehameha Schools as a whole. So, I’m really mind blown at how much Ke Ali'i Pauahi and her legacy provides for the entire pae ʻāina,” said Davis. 

Since before the first plants went into the ground at Ka Malu, stewards with ʻĀina Pauahi have overseen the establishment of crucial infrastructure including irrigation, terracing and erosion controls.  

Now they’re in the development stages of phase two which could see the addition of Indigenous medicinal gardens and flowering native trees for lei makers. There are also discussions about wayfinding signage that would provide historical perspectives of what the native forest ma uka used to look like. Signage in the ma kai direction could share manaʻo about life before, during and after the plantation era.  

As those plans continue to grow and evolve, community input and involvement remain he mea nui. 

“So many times we’ve had people come to us in tears, just thanking us for this little kīpuka that’s planted along the highway. It really seems to be a source of hope,” said Browning.  

For more information on the vision for restoring Lahaina ma uka to ma kai, visit: ksbe.edu/lahaina

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