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Group attempts to save Lahaina’s ulu, kukui nut and culturally important trees

A band of arborists, farmers and landscapers has set about trying to save Lahaina’s ulu, kukui nut and other culturally important trees.

By Hokuao Pellegrino and Associated Press

Oct. 19, 2023

Hawaii PhotosMauiMaui Wildfires

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VIDEO BY AUDREY MCAVOY, ED KOMENDA, MANUEL VALDES
As Maui recovers from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, a band of arborists, farmers and landscapers has set about trying to save Lahaina’s ulu, kukui nut and other culturally important trees.
2/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A banyan tree rises among the wildfire wreckage, Thursday, Aug. 10, in Lahaina. After the deadly wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina this summer, people across the world focused their attention on the green leaves sprouting from the scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree as a symbol of hope. Teams rushed to save it. But arborists are also trying to save another set of trees, ones with greater significance in Hawaiian culture, such as breadfruit and kukui nut trees introduced to the island by Polynesian voyagers long ago.
3/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A man reacts as he sits on the Lahaina historic banyan tree damaged by a wildfire on Friday, Aug. 11, in Lahaina. After the deadly wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina this summer, people across the world focused their attention on the green leaves sprouting from the scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree as a symbol of hope. Arborists are also trying to save another set of trees, ones with greater significance in Hawaiian culture, such as breadfruit and kukui nut trees introduced to the island by Polynesian voyagers long ago.
4/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A banyan tree stands along Lahaina town's historic Front Street in February 2018, in Lahaina. After the deadly wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina this summer, people across the world focused their attention on the green leaves sprouting from the scorched, 150-year-old banyan tree as a symbol of hope. Arborists are also trying to save another set of trees, ones with greater significance in Hawaiian culture, such as breadfruit and kukui nut trees introduced to the island by Polynesian voyagers long ago.
5/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Hokuao Pellegrino, are burned breadfruit trees — or ulu — in Lahaina, on Sept. 13. As Lahaina rebuilds in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfire this summer, a volunteer band of arborists, landscapers and farmers hope to use viable root matter extracted from the damaged trees to plant new ones.
6/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Hokuao Pellegrino, is a burned breadfruit tree — or ulu — in Lahaina, on Sept. 13. As Lahaina rebuilds in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfire this summer, a volunteer band of arborists, landscapers and farmers hope to use viable root matter extracted from the damaged trees to plant new ones.
7/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Hokuao Pellegrino, a volunteer tends to a burned breadfruit tree — or ulu — in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Sept. 13. As Lahaina rebuilds in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfire this summer, they hope to use viable root matter extracted from the damaged trees to plant new ones.
8/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Hokuao Pellegrino, are burned breadfruit trees — or ulu — in Lahaina, on Sept. 13. As Lahaina rebuilds in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfire this summer, a volunteer band of arborists, landscapers and farmers hope to use viable root matter extracted from the damaged trees to plant new ones.
9/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Hokuao Pellegrino, are burned breadfruit trees — or ulu — in Lahaina, on Sept. 13. As Lahaina rebuilds in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfire this summer, a volunteer band of arborists, landscapers and farmers hope to use viable root matter extracted from the damaged trees to plant new ones.
10/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Hokuao Pellegrino, is a burned breadfruit tree — or ulu — in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Sept. 13. As Lahaina rebuilds in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfire this summer, a volunteer band of arborists, landscapers and farmers hope to use viable root matter extracted from the damaged trees to plant new ones.
11/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo provided by Hokuao Pellegrino, are burned breadfruit trees — or ulu — in Lahaina, Sept. 13. As Lahaina rebuilds in the wake of the deadly Maui wildfire this summer, a volunteer band of arborists, landscapers and farmers hope to use viable root matter extracted from the damaged trees to plant new ones.
12/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino touches a poi board he carved with a piece of breadfruit wood 20 years ago at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

White saps drip out from a breadfruit at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. When ripe breadfruit falls, it splats and rots in an unsightly, gooey, fragrant mess.
14/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino picks a fruit of a breadfruit tree at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
15/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two sprouts grow from the lateral root of a breadfruit tree at at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Researchers believe breadfruit and kukui nut — now the state tree of Hawaii — were among the many edible plants Polynesian voyagers brought around 1,000 years ago.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A breadfruit during the flowering stage at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Hokuao Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
17/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

A breadfruit tree at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. The wildfire fire nearly wiped out a set of trees, one with a long history in Lahaina and a great significance in Hawaiian culture: breadfruit, or ulu, which had given sustenance since Polynesian voyagers introduced it to the islands many centuries ago.
18/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino feeds a breadfruit to his kunekune pig, Pua, at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino talks about the history of breadfruit in Lahaina at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
20/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

The first breadfruit tree that was planted 20 years ago at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. “You probably don’t want to put breadfruit in a really high traffic area," said Hokuao Pellegrino, an ethnobotanist who has helped in the volunteer effort and who has 22 breadfruit trees on his own farm in Waikapu, on the other side of the West Maui Mountains from Lahaina.
21/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino breaks open a ripe breadfruit at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. When ripe breadfruit falls, it splats and rots in an unsightly, gooey, fragrant mess.
22/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

White saps drip from a breadfruit tree at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Hokuao Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
23/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino holds a breadfruit at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
24/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino poses for portrait in front of his first breadfruit at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Researchers believe breadfruit and kukui nut — now the state tree of Hawaii — were among the many edible plants Polynesian voyagers brought around 1,000 years ago.
25/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino looks at the first breadfruit tree he plant 20 years ago at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
26/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hokuao Pellegrino picks a breadfruit at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”
27/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Breadfruit trees at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu. “You probably don’t want to put breadfruit in a really high traffic area," said Hokuao Pellegrino, an ethnobotanist who has helped in the volunteer effort and who has 22 breadfruit trees on his own farm in Waikapu, on the other side of the West Maui Mountains from Lahaina.
28/28
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Breadfruits hang during the immature stage at Noho'ana Farm on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in Waikapu, Hawaii. Hokuao Pellegrino said the efforts to replant breadfruit in Lahaina should also come with efforts to teach people about its care and its uses: “We want people to use the breadfruit. We don’t want it just to be in the landscape.”

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