Senator Hirono Honors Park with Centennial Resolution; Plants Silverswords with Local Students

In the pouring rain, Senator Hirono plants silverswords with local fourth grade students.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: November 21, 2016

Contact: Polly Angelakis, 808-572-4450

On Monday, November 21, Senator Mazie K. Hirono presented Haleakalā NP a resolution commemorating the park’s Centennial. In her remarks, the senator noted the importance of protecting national parks for future generations and engaging youth people to become park stewards.

Park staff presented Hirono with a reproduction painting of “Haleakalā Crater,” by Paul Rockwood (1895-1972). After the presentation, in heavy rain, she worked alongside fourth grade Kula Elementary School students and planted `āhinahina (silverswords) to commemorate the 2016 Centennial celebrations of both Haleakalā National Park and the National Park Service.

Throughout 2016, students in the fourth through eighth grades from several Maui schools, as well as students from the Horticulture Certification Program at UH Maui College, have been planting `āhinahina (silverswords) in the park. By Monday the 21st they will have planted 1043 of the federally threatened plants, greatly augmenting at-risk populations.

Since February, the following schools have participated in the plantings: Montessori Hale O Keiki, Seabury Hall, Kamehameha Schools, Kalama Intermediate School, Haleakalā Waldorf School, Carden Academy, and the Pukalani, Makawao, and Kula elementary schools.