April 10, 2026
Just in time for Native Hawaiian Plant Month, a new guide could help West Maui residents replant with purpose, centering native species as the foundation for designing more fire-resilient yards and neighborhoods.
Developed by the Surfrider Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization, “Re-planting After Fire: A Fire-Resilient Landscape Guide for Lahaina & West Maui” offers practical, place-based direction for landscaping. Long ago, Lahaina was known as Ka Malu ʻUlu o Lele, a landscape shaped by thriving agroforestry systems of ʻulu, niu and kalo[CT2.1]. These systems did more than produce food. They retained moisture, cooled the environment and supported a balanced ecosystem.
Today, the guide points to native plants to restore a healthy, hydrated landscape.
“Native plants are not invasive, so we’re not introducing new problems or new pests,” Kathryn Dressendorfer, the Southern California Ocean Friendly Gardens program coordinator for Surfrider Foundation, said in an online seminar. “They’re better adapted to our climate because they evolved here and they support native wildlife biodiversity and our human uses.”
Well-suited to West Maui’s dry, coastal environment, native flora can survive with less water, stay green through dry seasons and integrate more naturally with surrounding ecosystems. When planted with intention, they help shade out invasive grasses, stabilize soil and support the long-term health of ʻāina.
While shaped by the needs of Lahaina, these ideas extend across Hawaiʻi beginning with how to choose what to plant. And while no plant is 100% fireproof, residents can look out for a few key characteristics:
- Stay green, even in the dry season
- Hold moisture in thick or leathery leaves
- Produce minimal dry debris
- Are native or non-invasive
The guide also encourages residents to pay attention to their surroundings — from soil to sun to proximity to the ocean — and plant accordingly.
That can look different in every yard, with new plantings needing a reliable water source early on. Native trees and shrubs can create shade that cools the ground and holds moisture. Groundcovers like pōhuehue and ʻilima protect soil and limit the spread of invasive species. Even edible gardens can be incorporated, using thoughtful spacing and materials to support both productivity and landscape health.
Across each of these strategies, the emphasis is on care and consistency. Healthy, hydrated plants are easier to maintain over time and befitted to Hawaiʻi’s evolving climate as no yard exists in isolation. One home can make a difference but when neighbors plan and maintain their landscapes together, entire communities become more protected through small, persistent actions rooted in ʻike Hawaiʻi and kuleana.