Planting the Forest Back Together

By Rachel Laderman

The Kealakekua Forest Nursery

(KFN) is the biggest native plant nursery in the state, and it is run with a big heart, driven by love for the land and Hawaiian heritage. It provides seedlings for many reforestation projects, including the largest reforestation program in the history of Hawai‘i. The nursery, nestled on the lower slopes of Mauna Loa, was started to fulfill a need for native plants to be grown in the same environment that they would eventually be planted in. dōTERRA, a company that sells essential oils, was seeking a sustainable source of ‘iliahi (sandalwood), the native tree prized for its warm scent. Native Hawaiians used ‘iliahi for medicine, carvings, and to scent kapa (bark cloth). Hawai‘i Island’s sandalwood was heavily logged in the 1800s for sale to China, where it was

Sandalwood seedlings ready to transplant.

photo courtesy of Katrina Isch in enormous demand for use as incense and furniture. Thousands of tons of the fragrant tree were hauled out of the forests, devastating the forest ecology as well as the community.

After logging, the lands were turned into cattle ranches. Invasive grasses took over, and the hooves and grazing of cows, plus goats, sheep, and pigs, eroded the soil and degraded the remaining native forests. In 2018, dōTERRA purchased the Kealakekua Heritage Ranch, which still had patches of native forest, including some not-very-healthy ‘iliahi. The ranch had at one time been slated for development but had been protected by the Department of

Land and Natural Resources through the US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program. dōTERRA established the ranch as the 9,627-acre

Kealakekua Mountain Reserve (KMR), and

Koa seeds ready for cleaning and planting.

photo courtesy of Katrina Isch

The Barton family volunteers every month in the nursery. The nursery welcomes people who want to learn and ideally to develop the sort of long-term relationship

the Bartons exemplify! photo courtesy of Keli‘ikanoe Mahi

developed a 10-year forestry management plan to restore the native forest, with a focus on ‘iliahi. “Their plan includes harvesting only dead or dying ‘iliahi for their essential oils, which are extracted and distilled in Hawai‘i,” explains Keli‘ikanoe Mahi, director of Hiki Ola, a nonprofit offering education and cultural awareness through KMR. Healthy trees are left to grow to maturity, which may take 60 years. “They have planted 1500 acres so far, towards a plan of one million trees; 300,000 trees planted so far.” Keli‘ikanoe is the former principal of Ke Kula ‘o ‘Ehunuikaimalino, a Hawaiian language immersion school, where she first started taking school groups to work on reforestation. She continues to connect that community and the land through Hiki Ola.

Careful Processing

Forest Solutions, a company located in Pa‘auilo that has provided forestry services for 25 years, helps run the nursery and reforestation project. In addition to ‘iliahi, KFN grows a large amount of koa, pilo, ‘ōhi‘a, ‘a‘ali‘i, and naio, which also has a fragrant oil. All aspects of the nursery involve research, figuring out the best ways to propagate and ensure the healthy life of the different native species. The nursery is located at 3400 feet, downslope of, but within the KMR reforestation area, all of which is now fenced to keep out hooved animals. “The seedlings get to grow in the same conditions they will be planted out in,” says Katrina Isch, who helped start the nursery in 2019. The nursery workers enjoy going up mauka to collect seed, which is possible

Koa seedlings sprouting in the Kealakekua Forest Nursery, the largest native plant nursery in the state of Hawai‘i. photo courtesy of Katrina Isch

because pockets of old native forest survive intact in kipuka— knolls or other areas lava flowed around. “It’s a treasure to have this seed source,” says Katrina. Lore Witt, a nursery technician with Forest Solutions explains, “After collecting the seed, we process it and clean it. All the seeds are different and require different processing. We sow them in trays, and when big enough we prick them out and give them space to grow and breathe. Then we put them outside in the sun and get them ready to go in the ground, which is always a really exciting day.” She adds, “I love my job, all aspects of it. I love seeing the whole cycle.” KFN is “planting the forest back together,” as Katrina puts it—at several sites around the island. As with a forest, they

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PROPERTIES CHANTEESHIROMA@GMAIL.COM plant in succession, starting with koa and ‘a‘ali‘i, because these saplings can handle direct sunlight, and then once they are established, a mix of other native species are planted in their shade. When the forest is established, it will start to reseed naturally. Until that time, the nursery shelters the seedlings from pests and harsh conditions. In the four years since being planted, the koa trees are now 15–20 feet tall. “I am always filled with joy and hope as I drive through the area that was planted in 2018, in awe of how they grow so fast,” says Keli‘ikanoe. It does bring hope that the forest can be planted back together, with the work of so many loving hands. 

For More Information and Volunteer Opportunities: hikiola.org kealakekuaforestnursery.com

Rachel Laderman, Lynker Sustainable Pacific Program Hawai‘i Island

Driving down from the nursery in the evening. photo courtesy of Katrina Isch

Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact on the Bottom Line

By Arliss Dudley-Cash MA, MBA

According to Travis Bradberry, author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, “Emotional Intelligence is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.” Emotional Intelligence is being recognized as a key ingredient to being a successful leader. In 2004, Psychologist Daniel Goleman wrote an article in the Harvard Business Review that highlighted Emotional Intelligence as the main factor that sets high performing leaders apart from their peers who have similar technical skills and knowledge.

Emotional Intelligence, or EQ (as opposed to IQ), is broken down into five main components:

• Self-awareness • Self-regulation • Social skills • Motivation • Empathy

How can the five components of Emotional Intelligence help in business?

First, self-awareness gives us a clear view of our feelings, needs, and behavior. When we are truly self-aware, it is easier to self-regulate by taking responsibility for our actions and meeting our own needs. We are less likely to blame others or rely on others around us to meet our needs. We become aware of how our actions affect those around us (social skills) and what is and isn’t appropriate in context. By being more aware of our needs and behavior, our excitement to show up and grow our business can improve (motivation). Empathy allows us to understand perspectives outside of our own and see situations from another person’s point of view. Finally, as we navigate working with others in our business, we are better equipped to set healthy boundaries, respect the boundaries of others, and have productive communication. We waste less energy on conflict and emotional hangovers. The overall work environment is more positive, which improves employee retention and promotes more feelings of fulfillment and happiness at work. Dr. Bradberry, individuals with high EQs make an average of $29,000 per year more than people with low EQs. On average, every point increase in Emotional Intelligence adds $1,300 to an annual salary. There is a linear relationship with increase in annual income with an increase in Emotional Intelligence. Why is this? Individuals with higher EQ are better communicators, they bring higher value to their clients and customers, and they perform better in stressful situations. Unlike IQ, which is thought to be a fixed and unchangeable, EQ can be increased through learning self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, motivation, and empathy.

Ways to increase Emotional Intelligence:

1. Be willing to see the other side—If your actions or choices impact another person or group, be willing to see the impact of that action or choice from their side. Would you want to experience that outcome if you were on their side? 2. Know the difference between intent and impact—Intent is what you thought the outcome would be and impact is the actual outcome that happened. If you impact someone in a negative way, take responsibility for that and apologize.

Denying the impact of something because of a positive intent can be more damaging than the initial negative impact. 3. Practice self-evaluation—What areas of Emotional

Intelligence are you strong in and what areas could you improve? Are you able to see yourself as not perfect and still be supportive and gentle with yourself as you are learning? Make a plan for the areas you want to grow and improve in. 4. Reactions to stressful situations—How do you react when you are under stress or pressure? Do you go to a place of blame or shame of yourself or others? Do you get upset or angry with yourself or others? Emotional Intelligence is highly valued in the business world because individuals with high EQ can stay calm under stress and make sound decisions. 5. Where are you shining your light?—Are you shining your light on your accomplishments or are you championing others around you? You can be outgoing and confident and allow others around you to shine. This can help in building trust and relationships which are so important in business. In order to practice Emotional Intelligence in our businesses, we must start on the inside first—with ourselves. You can’t give to others from an empty cup.