From the Field with PBR Hawaii:
Native Plants & Landscaping
In the latest From the Field Series, Kimi Yuen and Stan Duncan from PBR Hawaii discuss landscaping design, the process of developing a plant palette and the importance of native plants. Kimi Yuen, President and Chairperson of PBR Hawaii, is a highly experienced planner and led the planning process for Ledcor Maui’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Kimi was joined by Stan Duncan, Chairman Emeritus with PBR Hawaii, and has worked in this profession for 46 years.
“As you mentioned, the plant material palette that we came up with was really a result of the EIS process that we went through and people were asking for more cultural sensitivity and more connection to traditional Hawaiian practices as part of that process,” says Stan Duncan. “. So we went back to the drawing board and said, what if every plant that we had incorporated in the project could tell a story about place?”
Stan who is a native and canoe plant enthusiast explains the deep connection Native Hawaiians have with the natural environment:
“Everything that was planted and used from a native cultural standpoint was very useful and functional,” Stan shares. “There’s an intention with everything that they did. From where they planted them and how they used them. The plant materials that they planted, the canoe plants that were brought here to Hawaii nei were materials and plants that could be used as a food source, medicinally to take care of their ailments, use for building materials, for building ka hales, canoes and so forth.”
PBR Hawaii has worked with the Ledcor team on past projects including the creation of the native and canoe garden at the corner of Wailea Alanui and Okolani Drive.
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April 8, 2021 blessing and groundbreaking ceremony
Walking this area and hearing mo’olelo of the land and history was very educational to the Ledcor Maui team. Everyone who attended was humbled by the warm welcome and aloha from Jimmy and Michelle.