Last Sunday was the Plant a Wish send off party at Thousand Peaks Beach on Maui's westside. It was another beautiful summer Maui day as Sara Tekula and Joseph Imhoff hosted a delightful gathering to say aloha to their friends and plant native nau paka plants along the coast. The dynamic duo filmmakers are getting ready to take another adventure to the mainland to spread the love through their Plant A Wish organization. The mission of Plant A Wish is to plant a tree in all 50 states of North America as they educate people about the need to preserve and plant trees. They are filming their activities and interviewing environmental experts, concerned citizens and wise elders for a documentary that will eventually be entered into film festivals throughout the country.
As Sara and Joe get their hands dirty in each state's soil planting trees, they also plant biodegradable wishes of each person who attends their events - a meaningful ritual they started at their wedding on Maui in 2007. The husband and wife team launched the Plant A Wish project on Earth Day 2010 and so far have planted trees in 41 united states! They are about to travel once again to the mainland to plant trees in 8 more states - bringing their total to 49! The grand finale of the 50-state tour is a state-wide community effort, attempting a record for the most people planting native Hawaiian trees on one day, in Hawaii, Arbor Day, November 5, 2011.
I was very happy I attended the send off party last weekend. It was a mellow Sunday as the party goers picnicked, paddle boarded and lounged on the beach. I had some great conversations with people I had never met before, and shared some laughs with old friends. Joe and his friend Drew moved rocks and shoveled dirt to prepare the area near the beach for the planting of the native Hawaiian nau paka plants. Just before sunset everyone gathered to hear the story of the nau paka and the plans for the next Plant A Wish adventure. We each threw our wish that we had written on biodegradable paper into a hole in the earth and proceeded to plant and water the nau paka. Then Joe asked all of us to touch the plants and at the same time and shout as loud as we could, to bless the plants with our "ha" which means breath of life, in Hawaiian. It may sound silly - but it felt great. Joe also asked each of us to water the plants if we are ever in the area. As I pulled a kiawe thorn out of my slippah (darn missionaries!) I had a sense of pride to have helped perpetuate native plants on Maui. There were very good vibes in the air and I was suddenly in a really good mood. I was starting to get the deeper purpose of this gathering.
I asked Sara more about their project. She told me she and Joe once had a conversation about what they would want to do with their lives if they had all the money in the world. They both shared the vision of Plant A Wish and decided to make it happen. Through lots of faith, planning, social marketing and fundraising, they launched the project. Sara told me that she and Joe do not pay themselves a salary, they only make enough money from their contributors for airfare, rental cars and supplies. As they travel, they usually camp out or sleep on the couches of kind friends. They are making a positive difference in the world and living out a dream - and that makes them happy - which is priceless.
Say what you will about tree huggers - I say their hugs are warm, real and last a long time! Personally I'd much rather hug a tree than a building. And I really want my grandchildren and all the generations beyond them to enjoy the shade of a giant tree as they soak in the fresh air of the great outdoors. As I left the party that evening, I thought about my father and all the times he took us in the wilderness and talked of the importance of respecting nature. It really is the small things we do, like planting, that nourish our soul.
Check out the Plant A Wish donation link and documentary trailer below:
http://www.plantawish.org/donate
Plant a Wish: The Film (Trailer) from Noni Films on Vimeo.
Much Aloha!! Alli
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