Po’ola or laukea (Kaua’i name only) (Claoxylon sandwicense) is one of those Hawaiian species that has an intriguing long-distance voyaging story to tell. The details of this voyage to Hawai’i from the heart of the Old World tropics, where most of the other Claoxylon species reside, remain a mystery.
Besides the single, native Hawaiian species, po’ola, the great majority of the other 60-70 species of the genus Claoxylon are native to distant islands such as New Guinea and the Philippines. The nearest representatives of the genus are mountain plants in the forests of Samoa and Rapa Iti, thousands of miles from Hawai’i.
At Auwahi, po’ola are rare, perhaps in part due to their soft-wooded habit which makes it susceptible to damage by non-native grazing animals. Whatever the reason, by the time restoration efforts began at Auwahi some 23 years ago, po’ola had faded to just a handful of plants across the dryland forests of southern Haleakala.
Because of po’ola’s rarity on Maui, we at the Auwahi project are especially excited by a gift of just over two dozen po’ola seedlings from Martha Vockrodt-Moran and the other good-hearted people at DT Fleming Arboretum (www.flemingarboretum.org). The po’ola at the arboretum were collected from Auwahi forest decades ago by Martha’s grandfather, an early dedicated conservationist, both whom we sincerely thank for their efforts to help save Hawaiian dry forest species.
Coordination between botanical gardens like DT Fleming Arboretum and wildland restoration projects like Auwahi offers hope that Hawai’i’s future can still be adorned with some of the original Hawaiian species that preceded us by millions of years and have come from so far.
mahalo no,
Auwahi Forest Restoration Project ‘ohana
Jillian Vickers of Piiholo Stables and her students join 2019 St Jude Trail Ride
Black clouds threatened rain on Maui’s 2019 St Jude Trail Ride. The 6 hour ride began on Thompson Road in Keokea through OW Ranch, Ulupalakua Ranch to the Fleming Arboretum within the Puu Mahoe cinder cone. Sixty horses and riders braved the ride through pastures and gulches up to 4,000 elevation of Mt Haleakala’s southern slope. Their commitment to ride despite the threat of downpour was rewarded with sunshine on a most beautiful day.
Jillian said she wanted to expand the riding experiences of her students. This certainly will be a ride they remember their lifetime.
Scouts Discover Upcountry Campground


Boy Scout Troop 1 of Kahului joined the Fleming Arboretum’s “Camping for Volunteers” program in August accomplishing projects supporting the Arboretum’s mission for the preservation of native plants, forests and wildlife. The Fleming Arboretum offers camping for community groups in a 17-acre, 5-star campground within Ulupalakua Ranch in exchange for a morning of volunteer labor accomplishing maintenance and progress projects. The Scouts distributed 6 yards of wood chip mulch, top dressing the native plants within the Fleming Arboretum. They finished the morning transplanting side shoots of the original medicinal Aloe brought to Hawaii by DT Fleming in the 1920s.
Volunteer programs involve the community in the Arboretum’s conservation work. Work Days teach volunteers to perform work projects caring for rare native plants and restoring Pu’u Mahoe’s old native forest. Projects are planned for the day’s completion for the pride of accomplishment. Participants work together to complete group projects, experiencing achievement, leadership, and friendship.
Community Group Volunteer days are available on weekends throughout the year. Volunteer Work Days for Individual volunteers are available the first Saturday of each month. Visit www.flemingarboretum.org or email info@flemingarboretum to learn more about the arboretum’s volunteer and educational programs involving the community as partners in conservation.
PUU MAHOE HOSTS THE NAPUA GREIG HALAU
There were some 500+ photos taken over the three days, impossible to catalog them or
even organize them all, so click here to see them

Na Leo Pulama o Maui– Maui’s Hawaiian Immersion pre-school visit February 2018

THE D.T. FLEMING ARBORETUM AT PU‘U MAHOE 2016
St. Jude Trail Ride raises $15,000


Ulupalakua- Maui’s 24th annual “Saddle Up” St Jude Trail Ride on September 24th was a success with good weather and $15,000 in donations for the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Sixty riders and their horses enjoyed a 10 mile ride from Thompson Road to the Fleming Arboretum within the Puu Mahoe cinder-cone through private lands of Ulupalakua Ranch and OW Ranch.
Jordyn Thompson-Sado earned the first-place buckle donated by Mike Vida at Maui Feed and Farm, for garnering $3000 in pledges. Maui Cattle Co. and DeCoite Packing donated the beef. Uncle Joe and his wife Aunty Gwen De Rego cooked the ride’s traditional cowboy stew and cornbread.
Thompson Ranch has organized Maui’s St. Jude Trail ride annually since 1992, generating more than $340,000 in donations. All funds donated go directly to helping the children at the hospital who have cancer and other serious illnesses.


Thank you to all the riders and those in our community who generously gave for the kids at St. Jude”, stated Andrea Thompson. “A saddle-up event allows people in the horse community to get together and raise money for a very worthy cause. We hope to carry on the tradition for many years to come.”
Fleming Arboretum hosts outer-island WCC Event
The IUCN World Conservation Conference, September 1-10, 2016 is being held in the United States for the first time since the beginning of the International Union of Conservation of Nature more than 65 years ago. Hawaii was chosen to host this important global event for its great diversity of native plants, wildlife and ecosystems. The Indigenous Crop Biodiversity Festival featuring indigenous crop biodiversity and biodiversity conservation is a recognized Parallel Event happening on Maui August 24-30, a week in advance of the Congress.
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters Offers Flights with Landing Adventures at Puu Mahoe
A Look From Above Maui’s Pu’u Mahoe Cinder Cone
Arboretum benefits from Boy Scout’s Eagle project
Maui News November 23, 2014
ULUPALAKUA– Teddy Wilson of Boy Scout Troop 100 of Kula completed his Eagle Project at the D.T. Fleming Arboretum at Pu‘u Mahoe to earn the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor – the Eagle Scout Award. An Eagle Scout Award requires Scouts to organize, coordinate, and direct a community service project, demonstrating commitment, skill, and leadership. Teddy coordinated a volunteer weekend and overnight camping November 8th-9th with Scouts from Troop 100 to accomplish his Eagle project. Teddy Wilson is a sophomore at Seabury Hall.
Teddy Wilson, the son of Mike Wilson and Dr Kelly Bass, planned, organized, and directed the upgrade of 125 feet of trail in the Fleming Arboretum for erosion control and safe access. Project supplies were funded by Atherton Family Foundation and Maui County Office of Economic Opportunity. Ulupalakua Ranch donated 160 feet of pipe used to retain the 4 by 4 inch, 7 foot eucalyptus posts supplied by South Pacific Lumber of Ulupalakua. Serpico’s Pizzeria of Pukalani donated pizzas for the Scouts’ Saturday dinner around the campfire. Ethan Romanchak of Native Nursery was Teddy’s Eagle Scout mentor to oversee the project.
The DT Fleming Arboretum at Puu Mahoe is Hawaii’s oldest and largest native plant Arboretum with 150 native plant species, the largest living collection in Maui Nui. The trail upgrade improves the native forest and wildlife habitat within the Pu’u Mahoe cinder cone in Ulupalakua, a conservation and educational resource for Hawaii, offering field trips, day tours, project opportunities, learning opportunities for the preservation of Hawaii’s native plant & wildlife species and the perpetuation of Hawaiian culture. (www.flemingarboretum.org)
Quote by Teddy Wilson:
“My Boy Scout troop has camped at the arboretum twice and we have done two conservation projects as a unit. It was so much fun to help out the Arboretum, while enjoying the camping experience. I want to give back to the Arboretum. They are truly worthy of an Eagle Project.”
On Friday morning August 8, severe winds blew through Pu’u Mahoe and Ulupalakua Ranch. Puu Mahoe trees and fence lines were damaged. Signature trees were blown over. Remaining trees and plants individually need care to prune & remove broken branches. Fortunately, the rarest trees in the Arboretum, although windblown, were spared. The irrigation system and trails need repair from uprooted trees. Large eucalyptus and wattle trees have damaged hog fencing protecting the 17 acre native forest reserve. The Arboretum needs to be repaired to Puu Mahoe’s original pristine condition for the health of the trees and safety & enjoyment of visitors.
Hawaiian studies teachers gather on Maui
Maui News, June 8
Trail ride on Saturday May 31st to benefit hospital
Maui News, May 21
Kihei youth work together to plant 50 native seedlings into the
Fleming Arboretum at Pu’u Mahoe on a Choice Mentorship Field Trip in March
Maui News, Nov.6th
August 2-4, 2013
Scouts “Adopt a Forest”
Ulupalakua- Boy Scout Troop 14 works together to plant 50 native seedlings into the Fleming Arboretum at Pu’u Mahoe on a Camping for Volunteers weekend August 2- 4. The Fleming Arboretum offers the community an opportunity to “Adopt a Forest”. Youth and community groups plant their forest then return seasonally to weed, work on trails, add new plants and apply mulch, replacing non-native plants with a complete cover of upper, middle, lower story native forest.
March 18, 2013
Choice Mentorship Program by MPD & KYC featured
in Native News clips with photography by Bob Bangerter.
Hawai’i Tourism Authority Natural Resources Recipient Corner Kihei patrol officer Ryan Ehlers with Kihei youth Kevin Cacho (center) and Kaleb Alconcel plant native Hame into
the Fleming Arboretum using planting techniques
taught during a morning volunteer training workshop at Pu’u Mahoe.
Kihei Police officers and Kihei Youth Center work together to plant 50 native seedlings into the Fleming Arboretum on a Choice Mentorship Field Trip to Pu’u Mahoe. Caleb Alconcel (lower right) leads group to carry buckets of mulch to new plantings. The Choice Mentorship Program was created by the Kihei Police Officers and Kihei Youth Center to teach youth to make good choices as a preventative to gang violence.
JANUARY 30, 2013
MAUI NEWS ARTICLE
Read full story w/ pictures here
July 2, 2012
Troop 14 Scouts earn Eagle Awards
Kula- Two Scouts of Troop 14 have earned the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor – the Eagle Scout award. Fletcher Prouty and Joshua Demetropoulos were recognized at the Boy Scout’s Court of Honor held at Holy Ghost Church community hall in Kula on July 2nd, 2012. The ceremony was followed by a dinner reception.
Fletcher Prouty, the son of Ann and Marty Pouty, planned, organized, and directed the planting of a 630 foot windbreak to protect and restore the Fleming Arboretum’s native forest and wildlife habitat within the Pu’u Mahoe cinder cone in Ulupalakua. He is a junior at Seabury Hall.
Joshua Demetropoulos, the son of Teri and Dale Demetropoulo, designed and installed an automatic irrigation system to service the newly planted 630 foot windbreak. Joshua is attending King Kekaulike High School as a junior.
The Scouts coordinated one year of volunteer weekends and overnight camping trips at Pu’u Mahoe with other Boy Scouts to accomplish their Eagle projects. Each of their projects represented 800 hours of commitment, including 6 months of monitoring installations.
Nationally, only 2 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle award, which requires Scouts to take on leadership roles within their troop, earn at least 21 merit badges, and organize and coordinate a community service project, demonstrating commitment, skills and leadership.
Fletcher Prouty and Joshua Demetropoulos are recognized
as Eagle Scouts at the Boy Scout Court of Honor in July.
Joshua Demetropoulos, second from left, designed and installed waterline, faucets and
automatic irrigation for a 630 foot windbreak on Pu’u Mahoe’s North Hill, with the help of volunteers from Boy Scouts of Troop 14.
Fletcher Prouty, second on right in blue T shirt, directs the installation, fertilizing,
mulching and staking of 60 Podocarpus for a 630 foot windbreak.
Fletcher Prouty, left, and brother RJ stake newly planted seedlings.
Fletcher Prouty checks windbreak trees in August that have multiplied
in size since installation in the summer of 2011.
May 25, 2012
KYC Volunteer at Kula San Hospital Field Trip to Fleming Arboretum
Ulupalakua- Kihei Youth Center youth volunteered as hosts to entertain residents, staff and volunteers of Kula San Hospital on a field trip to the Fleming Arboretum at Pu’u Mahoe. The youth assisted with the petting zoo, Arboretum tour and creating art gifts for the Kula San visitors.
The morning was busy preparing their assigned animals, 2 baby goats and 5 dogs, with towel baths and grooming. Youth were in charge of the animals, introducing them to the 8 disabled residents, staff and volunteers of Kula San Hospital. The Hospital staff also included their 3 service dogs.
After lunch, the youth volunteers helped guide interested visitors through the Fleming Arboretum. Art Instructor Pam Hayes gave a lesson on Graffiti Art to the youth volunteers to create a framed gift in graffiti design to present to each hospital residents and staff.
CLICK TO ENLARGE


Left to right: Tiani Naiwi-Valentino, Camryn Guerpo and William Fey
Left to Right pups: Rocky, Maggie



December 2011
Kihei Youth Center Art Event at Fleming Arboretum

July 20, 2011
Maui’s D.T. Fleming Arboretum Honored by Prestigious Awards

Scenic Hawaii presented the 9th annual Betty Crocker Landscape Awards June 27, 2011 at the Outrigger Canoe Club on Oahu. The awards are held annually to recognize and acknowledge those promoting and preserving the beauty of Hawai’i. Top honors of the evening went to The D.T. Fleming Arboretum at Pu’u Mahoe earning the prestigious Scenic Hawaii’s Legacy Award for preserving historical and cultural resources. In addition, the Fleming Arboretum was given the 2011 Betty Crocker Award of Excellence in the Community Garden division “for preserving and promoting Hawaii’s beauty”. Two other Maui landscapes were recognized: the Maui Nui Botanical Garden and the Wallace G. Sanford Memorial Garden, with an Award of Honor.
June 23, 2011
KYC Youth Learn to Become Volunteer Leaders on a field day at the Fleming Arboretum

June 15, 2011 Maui Plein Air Artists Full Moon Camp Out
May 21, 2011 Paia Youth and Cultural Center field trip to Puumahoe

April 30/May 29, 2011 Mahalo Month
Sponsored by Hawaii Tourism Authority & the Fleming Arboretum, Welcomes Activity Directors with an Arboretum Tour and Picnic
Apr 23 + Apr 29, 30, May 1, 2011- Boy Scouts Volunteer on 3 day camp-out at Pu’u Mahoe
Troop 14 volunteers for the Eagle Projects had an opportunity to work on their Forestry Merit Badge. Educational presentations throughout the weekend taught the Scouts about the value of native forests and forest restoration work at Pu’u Mahoe and the Fleming Arboretum. Dr. Fern Duvall of DLNR Forestry & Wildlife gave a presentation around the evening bon-fire and a Sunday morning tour of the arboretum discussing Forestry related subjects. The weekend included a tour of South Pacific Lumber sawmill in Ulupalakua by manager Skip Keathley.
Click here to see all pictures
Click here to read Maui News Release
March 2011-Fleming Arboretum hosts St Jude Trail Ride
St. Jude Trail Ride raises $15,000
May 4, 2011 The Maui News
Riders take their horses across Ulupalakua Ranch land during the 19th annual St. Jude Trail Ride held March 26. The event that began on Thompson Road and proceeded through Ulupalakua Ranch to the Fleming Arboretum at Puu Mahoe raised $15,000 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee. Lindsay Holmes earned the first-place buckle, garnering $2,140 in pledges. Jerry and Toni Thompson of Thompson Ranch have organized Maui’s St Jude Trail ride for 19 years since 1992, generating more than $300,000 in donations. All funds donated go directly to helping the children at the hospital who have cancer and other serious illnesses.
Click here to see all the pictures of the day
Arboretum News 2010 -click here to read: 2010 Program Highlights
March 1, 2010
Maui Waena’s Hawaiiana Club take a Sunday Field trip to Pu’u Mahoe
January 31, 2010Jewish Holiday celebrates the Jewish Plant New Year 2009
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![]() Dr. Fern Duval gives a introduction to native plants before the ceremony… |
![]() The congregation performed a ceremonial planting of 5 native plants, 3 Maua and 2 Pilo |
![]() Prayer |
![]() Rabbi David and son read from scripture |
![]() Plants are well watered |
![]() After the ceremony Fern led a tour of the Fleming Arboretum |
2/14/2010 Maui News Thank You LetterThe Jewish Congregation of Maui would like to say a huge mahalo to the D.T. Fleming Arboretum for its gracious hospitality Jan. 31.We celebrated Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish New Year for the Trees, with Fern Duvall and Martha Vockrodt-Moran. We were given a wonderful tour of the arboretum and participated in planting five new trees and plants. Everyone was overwhelmed by how beautiful the location and the views were. Thank you very much for this wonderful experience and for the opportunity to help more in the future. B’shalom – In peace, Click here to read news release -from the Maui News of the Celebration |
December 11, 2009Waldorff School goes on Hawaiian Botany Field trip to Arboretum |
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5th Grade class with teacher Virginia Fish [upper right in red] | ||
Click here to read Thank You Letter -in the Maui News |
November 7th, 2009
Volunteers Arbor Day 09-Alena and Ariel

Alena and Ariel managed the Pili Grass Contest
(click to enlarge)
Click here to see Thank You Poster to Volunteers
September 2009
Fleming Arboretum Offers Art Inspiration

Friends of D.T. Fleming Arboretum at Pu’u Mahoe sponsored free tours and overnight camping for artists in preparation for the Malama Wao Akua 2009 art show. Two weekends in September were dedicated to artist tours followed by an afternoon of sketching, painting and photography and an overnight campout. Dr Fern Duvall, DLNR wildlife biologist for Maui Nui, guided artists thru the D. T. Fleming Arboretum-Maui’s largest collection of Maui native species, noting flowering natives and their pollinators. A total of 45 artists participated in the 2 weekend event.
![]() Christy Fell of Haleakala Waldorf School does a painting of a Maui Koa during the Fleming Arboretum artist weekend in September. Photo by Martha V Moran |
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(Click to enlarge)
Art by Katherine Ayers (left) Maggie Sutro (right) were both accepted into the EMWP Juried Art Show at Viewpoints Gallery in Makawao. Both artists participated and submitted artwork inspired by the Fleming Arboretum special event Artist Weekend.
Click here for Arboretum’s EMWP Artist Invite Poster
Click here to read the Maui News article about the Arboretum’s Artist’s Weekend
September 27, 2009
Fleming Arboretum joins Conservation Groups at “Ulupalakua Cares” Event
The Fleming Arboretum Booth “Rebirth of a Forest” presentation shared:
*The Fleming Arboretum native seed resource for water conserving landscaping, restoration of Maui’s dry land forests and native habitat.
*Attractive combinations of native plants were displayed …using contrasting leaf shape, color, texture, and varied plant heights to inspire their use in public & private landscapes.
*Traditional and contemporary arts and crafts shared the potential for native plants in agriculture …raising native plants for lei, hula, floral arrangements, weaving and wood crafts perpetuating Hawaiian culture.The Pili Grass Endurance Race at the Fleming Arboretum Booth was a special attraction.
All contestants of the Pili Grass Endurance Race won a Halapepe plant.
The grand prize was a picnic for six at the Fleming Arboretum won by Eliza Reid of Waihee. (click to enlarge)
March 2009
Six 4 day old baby pigs were caught in the Pu’u Mahoe pig trap.
Dr Alan Kaufman donated special colostrum powdered milk. Animal Care Hospital generously gave a discount for castration under anesthesia of the 3 boys, including worming and parasite control for all. They were a joy to raise and yes, very smart. If breakfast was not early enough, Baby Imu, the runt and spokes pig, somehow got onto the porch, thru the dog door and oinked grunts thru our living room and into the kitchen. They went to 4 good homes that promised the best care.
Feeding was 5 times a day. Maggi adopted all the baby pigs, cleaning them regularly. (Click to enlarge)
November 8, 2008
FOFA participated in the Maui County’s Arbor Day Celebration with a presentation titled “Rebirth of a Forest”. Rare dry forest trees along with their seed were displayed.
As a special attraction, a PILI GRASS CONTEST was held throughout the day.
All contestants won a Pili Grass plant to take home.
The Prize winners were notified by phone and received their coupon awards via mail for picnics for 6, 4 and 2 people at the Pu’u Mahoe mountain cabin in Ulupalakua. |
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Martha Foss Fleming Hibiscus — gift from the Waimea Arboretum on Oahu The Martha Foss Fleming is a hibiscus hybrid, named after the wife of David Thomas Fleming.
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(Photos by Bob Bangerter)
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June 04
New species of endemic Hawaii Genus Cyanea was discovered by FOFA BOARD MEMBER Fern Duvall and Hank Oppenheimer of West Maui’s Maunalei Arboretum (another arboretum planted by D.T. Fleming) …
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…discovered on a casual hike with their wives through East Maui’s Ko’olau Forest in 2000.
Cyanea duvalliorum is the recently registered name of this newly discovered species.
Seedling of Cyanea duvalliorum is planted at the Arboretum.
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