Living Magazine Spring 2019 doTERRA Living Magazine | Page 14
Waimea
Kona Airport
Hilo
Kailua-Kona
H AWA I I
A New Safe Haven
Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park
Kealakekua
Bay
an opportunity to redefine the future of the islands’ native
trees—especially the Sandalwood. Lani Yamasaki, a respected
native Hawaiian practitioner notes, “By reforesting the land with
iliahi [Sandalwood] and other native plants, iliahi becomes a
symbol of regeneration, health, and healing for both the land
and the community.” The reverent approach to Sandalwood
management on the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve
represents Ka Lā Hiki Ola or The Dawning of a New Day.
Sandalwood’s Storied Past
Located near the western coast of the Big Island of Hawaii,
Kealakekua is a region whose history is deeply intertwined with
the many unique and endemic species of Hawaii.
“Kealakekua [translated, the Pathway of the Gods] Bay and the
surrounding land area have been recognized as one of the most,
if not the most, significant historical places in Hawaii. Supported
by the abundance of agricultural products from the upland
Kona field system and the rich marine resources of the bay, the
Kealakekua area became a densely populated settlement and a
religious political center.”— Excerpts from The State of Hawaii’s
Kealakekua Stewardship Area Management Plan.
Kealakekua Moutain Reserve (KMR) is located on an old
ranch, which was overgrazed and overlogged, inhibiting
natural regrowth. To form the Kealakekua Mountain
Reserve, a conservation easement was signed to protect
these precious native plants, including Sandalwood trees.
This management plan outlines harvesting limitations that
must be followed at KMR to guarantee the regeneration and
prosperity of the forest
At the outset of our efforts, only dead or severely damaged
trees will be collected, which will allow existing, healthy trees
to grow to full maturity before they are harvested at the
appropriate time, under sustainable tree management practices.
With these reforestation efforts in place, Sandalwood harvesting
will become sustainable and the native groves will flourish once
more. Together, the KMR Reserve, the management objectives,
an extensive nursery, and our ambitious reforestation efforts will
help Sandalwood and other native Hawaiian species thrive for
years to come. We anticipate that KMR will be the largest native
forest planting effort in the state of Hawaii starting in 2020.
Shortly following European contact in the early 1800s, the
Sandalwood trade with China boomed and King Kamehameha I
himself became heavily involved in the enterprise. The
astounding revenue flowing from this trade led to the
exploitation of the harvest workers. The
Hawaiian natives were compelled to labor in
extreme conditions, but the people were not
the only ones taxed by the overharvest. The
Sandalwood groves in the Kealakekua region
were becoming sickly and sparse.
Hope on the Horizon
Being mindful of the past is essential
to dōTERRA and the Hawaiian
people. dōTERRA’s
involvement with
the Kealakekua
Mountain
Reserve is
14 / SPRING 2019 LIVING MAGAZINE
KMR Nursery Seedling Production