{"id":222077,"date":"2025-09-16T12:39:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T22:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=222077"},"modified":"2026-08-10T12:42:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T22:42:20","slug":"native-plantings-for-9-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/16\/native-plantings-for-9-11\/","title":{"rendered":"400+ native plantings at Ke\u02bbehi Lagoon honor 9\/11 first responders"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Volunteers planting native plants. (Photo credit: DLNR<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In remembrance of September 11, 2001, and in honor of the 441 first responders who lost their lives at Ground Zero, more than 100 volunteers came together at Keʻehi<\/span> Lagoon Memorial State Park on September 13 to plant 441 native plants.<\/p>\n

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Volunteers planted p\u014dhinahina, naupaka kahakai and maʻo<\/span> hau hele. (Photo credit: DLNR<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Students and faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa and Kapiʻolani<\/span> Community College joined forces with the Hawaiʻi<\/span> Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR<\/abbr>) and community partners for the 9\/11 Day of Service. The national initiative encourages Americans each September 11 to engage in acts of kindness and service, reflecting the unity that emerged in the aftermath of the tragedy.<\/p>\n

“I think 9\/11 affected everybody in different ways, and how we deal with that can really affect your well-being,” said Denise Pierson, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> civic and community engagement coordinator. “If we can get them to look at it not as a negative thing in their life, but let\u2019s do something positive around that, maybe it\u2019ll change their attitude about it.”<\/p>\n

Coming together to do good<\/h2>\n
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Volunteers cleaned and beautified the beach park. (Photo credit: DLNR<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following an opening program in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Hall, participants fanned out across the park to plant p\u014dhinahina, naupaka kahakai and maʻo<\/span> hau hele (yellow hibiscus)—the state flower—each symbolizing one of the fallen first responders.<\/p>\n

“There is no better way to honor the brave first responders who gave their lives saving others than through service,” said 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Office of Civic and Community Engagement Program Specialist Liane Akana. “By volunteering, we turn what was once a day of tragedy into a day of coming together to do good.”<\/p>\n

Volunteers also cleaned the beachfront, beautified the park, and learned about the cultural and environmental history of Keʻehi<\/span> Lagoon.<\/p>\n

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Volunteers learned about the cultural and environmental history of Keʻehi<\/span> Lagoon. (Photo credit: DLNR<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“DLNR<\/abbr>\u2019s Division of State Parks is honored to help pay tribute to the first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9\/11,” added DLNR<\/abbr> Division of State Parks Interpretive Program Specialist Kekai Mar. “By working alongside 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr>, our Division of Forestry and Wildlife and dedicated community partners, we\u2019re turning remembrance into action\u2014planting in spaces that inspire reflection, peace and unity.”<\/p>\n

A second planting event is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, at Diamond Head State Monument.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa, Kapiolani CC<\/abbr>, DLNR<\/abbr>, community mark 9\/11 with service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[63,71,9,947],"class_list":["post-222077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-manoa","tag-uh-system","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t