The Hawai‘i Forest Institute (HFI) and the Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association (HFIA), along with community partners completed the first phase of the Pana‘ewa Zoo Discovery Forest project in December 2011 and initiated Phase II in 2012. Phase I engaged over 180 community volunteers in creating native and agro-forest demonstration gardens at the Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens in Hilo, Hawai‘i. The project is providing education, recreation, and volunteer opportunities for community residents and visitors.

Phase II includes:

Clearing undesirable plants and trees;
Creating Phase II landscape plan;
Engaging community volunteers in project workdays;
Creating interpretive signs and plant ID signs;
Installing viewing platforms;
Creating web pages and articles documenting project activities; and
Continued maintenance and outreach.

Pana‘ewa Zoo Discovery Forest Brochure

Phase II Site Prep April 4, 2013 Beginning of Day

Phase II Site Prep April 4, 2013 End of Day

The Discovery Forest features a demonstration of native, cultural, and medicinal plants. Culturally significant plants that once grew in the traditional farms and native forests of East Hawai‘i are featured in the Discovery Forest, including Polynesian-introduced plants that arrived with migrations in voyaging canoes. These “canoe plants”, along with many endemic species, play essential roles in Hawaiian culture, for food, fiber, tools, implements, building materials, and medicine. Many of these culturally significant plants have found a place in the Discovery forest.

Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalani‘ana‘ole Elementary and Intermediate School first grade students planted native Hawaiian plants and learned from native plant experts at the Pana‘ewa Zoo Discovery Forest. See gallery here.

Kamehameha Schools preschool and first grade students cleared weeds, planted seedlings, and learned from native plant experts at the Pana‘ewa Zoo Discovery Forest. See gallery here.

In addition to area school and community groups such as Pacific Quest, Kiwanis Kids are helping to create and maintain the Discovery Forest.

FundersCLEO FOUNDATION

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority
DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife and USDA Forest Service through Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program
Cleo Foundation
Change Happens Foundation
Captain Planet Foundation
HPM Building Supply
Hawai‘i Forest & Trail
Big Island Candies

Project Partners and In-kind Donors

Aileen’s Nursery
Awapuhi Farms & Mill
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR)
Friends of the Zoo
Forest Solutions, Inc.
Hawai‘i Community College Forest TEAM and Junior Forest Team
Hawai‘i County Parks & Recreation
Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association
Leonard Bisel Associates
Mālama O Puna
Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens
San Diego Zoo Institute of Conservation Research
Tree Works Inc.
University of Hawai‘i Tropical Forestry Program

Landscape Architects, Leonard Bisel Associates (LBA) created thoughtful preliminary native and agro-forest demonstration design plans.

Native Forest Plan

Agro-forest Plan

The native plan provides a tiered effect of native trees, plants, and groundcovers including Naupaka kuahiwi (Scaevola gaudichaudii), Maile (Alyxia stellata), Hāpu‘u pulu (Cibotium glaucum), Kōlea (Myrsine lessertiana), and Kōpiko (Psychotria hawaiiensis). Boulders, gravel rock, and stepping pavers provide for a low maintenance viewing platform and add visual interest. Native species will be outplanted among existing native species including Lama, Hāpu’u pulu, and ‘Ōhi‘a.

The agro-forest features a strategically-placed viewing platform overlooking low, mid and higher canopy species such as ‘Awa, (Piper methysticum, Noni (Morinda citrifolia), ‘Ulu (Artocarpus altilis), and Milo (Thespesia populnea). An existing Kukui (Candlenut) and palms are incorporated into the design. Edged planting beds, stone groundcovers, and decorative pavers enhance the plantings.

Mahalo to LBA for donating 50% of their design services.

HFIA is seeking monetary and in-kind donations through the Hawai‘i Forest Institute, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Volunteers and contributions are needed for planting seedlings, caring for new plants, plants and planting materials, interpretive features, and hardscape materials. To learn more about volunteer and partnership opportunities, contact HFI at 808-933-9411 or hfia@hawaiiforest.org.

The Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens is operated by the County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation and is open to the public free of charge every day of the year except Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Zoo & Gardens is located in the middle of a lush Hawaiian tropical rainforest in Hilo, Hawai‘i. It is a popular attraction for both residents and tourists, with an estimated 170,000 visitors annually.

Discovery Forest Committee Members
Aileen Yeh (Chair), HFI, HFIA
Dr. J.B. Friday, UH CTAHR, HFI
Dr. Travis Idol, UH, HFI
William Yuen, HFI
Mike Robinson, HFIA, HFI
Peter D. Simmons, HFIA, HFI
Elin Walburn, HFIA
Nick Koch, HFIA, Forest Solutions
Leonard Bisel, Landscape Architect-Leonard Bisel Associates
Heather Gallo Simmons, HFIA, HFI

To learn more about the many ways you can support the Discovery Forest, download the Sponsorship Packet. Discovery Forest Sponsorship Packet.

J.B. Friday’s Pana‘ewa Zoo plants: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbfriday/sets/72157633163092622/

J.B. Friday’s Pana‘ewa Zoo native plant gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbfriday/sets/72157625097437696/

: Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens

: ‘Ulu (Breadfruit)

: Site Preparation.

: Mike Donoho and volunteer Leighton Hind prepare the Native Forest plot.

: Mike Donoho and volunteer Peter Simmons preparing the Native Forest plot.

: Discovery Forest Work Day Refreshment tent.

: Discovery Forest Native Forest-Before.

: Discovery Forest busy volunteers.

: Discovery Forest- Sunny, UH student volunteer plants a tree.

: Discovery Forest Coordinator Mike Donoho.

: J.B. Friday demonstrates how to plant a tree.

: UH student volunteer tags the plants.

: Mother and daughter volunteers.

: Happy volunteer after a long days work.

: Native Forest outplants.

: Native Forest outplants.

: Native Forest outplants.

: Clearing the Agro-forest.

: Agro-forest site all cleared

: Happy Volunteers.

: Volunteers creating a ‘au.wai in the Agro-forest.

: J.B. Friday (L) and Leonard Bisel (in front) give planting demonstration to volunteers.

: Volunteers outplanting native plants.

: UH Student tags a native plant.

: Kealakai Kanaka‘ole with group after blessing.

: J.B. Friday talks about the plants at unveiling.

: Heather Simmons thanks sponsors at unveiling.

: Native Forest.

: Agro-forest.

: Volunteers outplanting native plants.

: Volunteers create a ‘au.wai in the Agro-forest.

: Busy volunteers in Agro-forest.

: October Event Volunteer Group.

: J.B. Friday talks about the plants.

: Leonard Bisel gives direction on implementing his landscape plans.

: Peter Simmons, a happy volunteer.

: Coordinator Mike Donoho with volunteers Peter Simmons and David Winter.

: Volunteers Leighton Hind and Peter Simmons.

: December Work Day Volunteers.

: Blessing participants in Native Forest.

: Native Forest in process.

: Alika Maikui Jr. and Mike Donoho.

: Agro-forest.

: Agro-forest.

: Native Garden.

: Kiwanis Kids Workday, April 14, 2012.

: Mike Donoho and J.B. Friday give direction to Kiwanis volunteers

: Aileen Yeh sorts the plants.

: J.B. Friday talks about the plants.

: J.B. Friday with Kiwanis Kids in front of the Agro-forest.

: Kiwanis volunteers pull weeds in the Agro-forest.

: Kiwanis volunteers.

: Kiwanis Kids team leader Liz Field plants native seedlings.

: Aileen Yeh and Liz Field planting native seedlings.

: Volunteer Mike Donoho in Native Forest with Kiwanis Kids.

: Kiwanis Kids and HFIA volunteers in the Native garden after a hard days work.

: A happy group of volunteers, pau hana.

: Circle K volunteers.

: Circle K Volunteer.

: J.B. Friday behind a weed pile.

: Kiwanis Kids volunteer with a fist full of weeds.

: Circle K volunteers.

: Kiwanis Kids volunteers.

: Circle K and Kiwanis Kids volunteers.

: Mike Donoho talks to the volunteers about the plants.

: Volunteers hard at work.

: Happy volunteers after a hard days work.

: Sophia and her husband Alika hard at work.

: Sophia Cabral-Maikui

: Phase II Site Prep April 4, 2013 Beginning of Day

: Phase II Site Prep April 4, 2013 End of Day

One-time Donations (Online)

Your donation is important. The Hawai‘i Forest Institute relies on donations to continue support of programs that sustain research and promote awareness of Hawaii’s Forests. Donations are secure when using our Pay Pal account. You determine the amount. Payments can be made by credit card.

Planned Giving (Online)

Would you prefer to give on an on-going basis? To make it easier for you, we have options for giving throughout the year. Planned monthly donations can be made to our secure Pay Pal account by using your credit card.

Donate by Mail

Please make your check payable to the “Hawai`i Forest Institute”. Your donations by mail can be mailed to:

Hawai`i Forest Institute
P.O. Box 66
O`okala HI, 96774

Thank You!

All donors are acknowledged with a written thank you and a receipt.
You will be acknowledged as a donor and we will keep you up to date on HFI events.

Supporting Documentation

that any day other than Mar. 31 works for the zoo.

Pana‘ewa Zoo Discovery Forest