The Fairmont Orchid (fairmontorchid.com) is a spectacular property on one of the most breathtaking stretches of coastline on Hawai‘i Island. The resort is hoping to share the importance of the land and how Hawaiians connect with it with its guests with its new Ulu Pono Gardening Experience. “The word ‘āina is loosely used to describe ‘land,’ but the literal translation is ‘that which feeds.’ Our job is to be stewards of the land so it can care for us, so what we produce on it is nutritious and helps us grow,” says Director of Hawaiian Culture Ka‘iulani Blankenfield, who leads guests on a tour of the Chef’s Garden. She educates guests on the native flora, as well as canoe plants—such as ‘ulu (breadfruit) and kalo (taro)— and introduced plants, all while working together in the garden to plant and harvest fruit, herbs and vegetables. The experience also includes a mo‘olelo (story) time and a tasting from the garden. “It is our hope that this tour inspires our guests to not only care for the land of Hawai‘i but to return to the land from which they came and think of how the mālama concept applies to how we do everything in life, because whatever goes into our land goes right back into our ocean.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF FAIRMONT ORCHID
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