Hawaiians have a name for their deep connection to the earth: aloha ‘aina. It describes a kinship with the land, a love that is absolute and protective – the feeling you might have for your beloved. This ancient bond dates back millennia, to when these islands were blanketed with lush forests filled with unique native species. Felling a tree was done with purpose and respect, and the spirit of the tree was carried through to the product it created: the towering koa was used to make canoes and surfboards, sandalwood was prized as a perfume and milo was carved into bowls and instruments.
Over the centuries, these hardwood forests were decimated to make way for sugarcane and pineapple plantations, their magnificent wood exported to make high-priced furniture. Some species nearly disappeared.
Today, ʻAlohilani Resort is proud to play a role in bringing those forests back. Residing on the land where Queen Lili’uokalani’s beachside cottage once stood, ‘Alohilani is honoring her legacy by partnering with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) to return 100,000 treasured native trees and restore Hawaii’s natural ecosystem.
As our guest, you contribute to that effort. We add a $5 “tree fee” to each stay that goes straight to HLRI’s thriving reforestation program. On the Big Island, HLRI has already planted 400,000 trees on 1,200 acres – designated as the first Gold Standard Certified Forest Carbon Credit in North America by the World Wildlife Fund, and to date the only koa carbon credit in the world. The forest is pumping clean oxygen into the atmosphere at an astonishing rate: one koa tree alone can offset a weeklong vacation for a family of four.
We invite you to take part in your own tree-planting ceremony within the ʻAlohilani Forest on Oahu. Guests who plant a tree – to commemorate your wedding, as a gift to your partner or in honor of a loved one – can track their tree throughout their lifetime. Each of the trees planted are tagged with an individual radio-frequency identification chip that records everything from their genetic make-up and health to the story of their planting. It’s living proof of your love: the essence of aloha ‘aina with a modern twist.
Book your special ‘Alohilani experience today with our Grand Opening Offer: Rates starting at $290 for an Ocean View room.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I really happy and overjoyed for your kind words for my work.