In recent years, the frequency and intensity of wildfires on Maui have escalated, culminating in the 2023 tragedy in Lahaina. This emphasizes the critical need for proactive measures to fight back against the increasing dangers. Whether you live in a rural area surrounded by forest and jungle, or in a suburban neighborhood with limited greenery, implementing effective strategies to reduce fire risk is paramount for safeguarding lives, homes, and natural habitats.

Here are some effective strategies that every Maui resident should consider:

Planting an orchard is a dream of many, but can be prohibitively expensive. Especially in a place like Maui. Doing it yourself can save some costs. But, the greatest savings come from a land planning strategy that can effectively utilize the local resources available.

One often overlooked way to save on initial cost is to select trees that can be grown from seed, rather than purchased as grafted stock. You have probably heard that trees grown from seed are slow to produce fruit, and of unreliable quality. This is true more often than not. Only some specific types of tree can be planted from seed without compromising on quality…

Pruning can be a relaxing and gratifying activity. With proper pruning, you can beautify and improve your landscape and the health and productivity of your plants.

However, pruning is also easy to over-do, and actions you take can have consequences that persist for many years - the lifetime of the shrub or tree.

Pruning on Maui, or anywhere in the tropics, also offers additional unique challenges compared to the continental US.

Here are some essential things to know when pruning a tree:

How can you tell if your fan palm on Maui, Hawaii is an invasive Chinese Fan Palm, or an endangered endemic Pritchardia palm? They look very similar, but there is one important characteristic…