Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative

View Original

Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk Plants Alula Tree for Earth Day

MEDIA CONTACT                                                                                                     
Teddi Anderson
President, TLC PR
(808) 535-9099
teddi@tlcpr.com

Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk Plants Alula Tree for Earth Day

The partnership with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative is part of an effort to reintroduce native plants, including the Alula, which is extinct in the wild

Waikiki, Hawaii, April 21, 2021– In honor of Earth Day and in partnership with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) along with the Hui Ku Maoli Ola Native Plant Nursery, Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk planted one of Hawaii’s rarest trees on its property. This symbolic planting took place in a special ceremony for the purpose of bringing attention to the plight of Hawaii’s native ecosystems.

“We are incredibly proud that we were able to participate in this valuable endeavor to restore the state’s endemic plants,” said Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk General Manager Simeon Q. Miranda. “In addition to being better for the environment, Hawaii's endemic plants encourage appreciation and respect for Hawaiian history and culture, which should be part of every guest’s lasting impression after they visit our beautiful island.”  

The Alula is a rare member of the lobelia family, once found on the steep sea cliffs of Kauai. This fantastic-looking tree sports a full head of succulent leaves sprouting from the top of a thick stem. Sadly, the Alula can no longer produce seeds in the wild because its native pollinator moth is extinct.

“We are grateful and honored that the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk and Hui Ku Maoli Ola support our efforts to reintroduce endemic and native plants to Hawaii,” said HLRI Co-Founder and Executive Director Jeffrey Dunster. “It’s refreshing to see people begin to think beyond the here and now and consider those who will come after us. Future generations will be in their debt.”

 Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk also participates in Malama Hawai‘i, which allows the state’s visitors to participate in engaging, entertaining activities while also contributing to saving our planet. Guests can select from a wide variety of native and endemic species and plant their very own Legacy Tree at the historic Gunstock Ranch Legacy Forest located on Oahu’s North Shore. Visitors can choose from a number of tree planting excursions which include a variety of transportation modes like hiking, UTVs, horseback  and even carbon neutral helicopters. As part of this program, the hotel contributes a portion of every resort charge towards planting native legacy trees at the Legacy Forest at Gunstock Ranch, part of HLRI’s initiative to restore the state’s rarest native forests.

###

About HLRI: Through state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies, HLRI works with landowners and conservation partners to establish and preserve economically viable and sustainable endemic Hawaiian forests, protect endangered species, sequester carbon, and recharge watersheds. HLRI’s Legacy Trees are sponsored by businesses and individuals, with a portion of proceeds donated to other charities worldwide. For more, visit LegacyTrees.org.