Mahalo to the Miss Hawaii Organization!

The Miss Hawaii organization has been planting native Hawaiian trees as gifts for their fellow Miss America and Miss America's Teen competitors.  Miss Hawaii 2024, Hayley Cheney-Kāne, and Miss Hawaii's Teen, Nicole Taylor McClain, got their manicured nails dirty digging in the dirt while planting milo, kou, hala, and 'a'ali'i plants.  Together with family, friends, HLRI field crew, and volunteers, big smiles were on everyone's faces as they gazed at the newly planted area with 200 + native Hawaiian plants!

These trees will help our ʻāina, but will also help reduce the carbon footprint of contestants traveling from all over the nation.  Past contestants have expressed gratitude for this special gift that keeps giving back.