Malama i ka Aina Award

The award is co-sponsored by the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals and the County of Maui. There is no fee to apply. Self-nominations are welcome.

The winner receives a plaque, one-year free membership in the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, and recognition in local media.

Applicants are requested to explain how the nominee's activities or decisions contribute to keeping Maui free from invasive species. Examples include: not selling or using invasive plants; steps taken to learn about invasives; and efforts to reduce use of invasives by others.

Nomination applications may be submitted in the following ways:

• fax: (808) 573-6475
• e-mail: miscpr@hawaii.edu
• mail: P.O. Box 983; Makawao, HI 96768

Nominations for the 2011 award are due 1 November 2011.

• Malama i ka Aina Award 2011 nomination form 

For more information contact MISC Public Relations & Education Specialist, Lissa Fox Strohecker at 573-MISC (573-6472) or miscpr@hawaii.edu.

Award recipients

2009 Malama i ka Aina Award
Maui Community College associate professor of agriculture Ann Emmsley received the 2009 Malama I Ka Aina Award for her work stopping the spread of invasive species. Sixty-two of her current and former students got together to nominate her for the award.

2008 Malama i ka Aina Award
Jonathan Keyser and Ethan Romanchak, owners of Native Nursery, accepted the Sixth Annual Malama i ka Aina Award on Saturday November 8, 2008 in a ceremony at the 2008 Arbor Day Lawn and Garden Fair and Hawaiian Tree Give-Away at the Maui Nui Botanical Garden. Native Nursery specializes in native plants for ecosystem restoration. The recipients are also dedicated volunteers in restoration and education programs.

2007 Malama i ka Aina Award
Martha Vockrodt Moran, David Moran, and the Friends of D.T. Fleming Arboretum were recognized with the Fifth Annual Malama i ka Aina Award for their dedicated efforts to preserve and propagate native plant species at the D.T. Fleming Arboretum at Puu Mahoe.

2006 Malama i ka Aina Award
William Jacintho accepted the Fourth Annual Malama i ka Aina Award on Saturday November 11, 2006 at the Maui Association of Landscape Professional's Lawn & Garden Fair. Jacintho was honored for the actions he and his family take to keep invasive species out of their nursery and cattle operations and for his efforts to educate students at Maui Community College about pest species.

2005 Malama i ka Aina Award
Nancy Snow, nursery manager of Kula Hardware and Nursery, was presented the Malama i ka Aina award for her efforts to prevent coqui frogs from being introduced into Maui County via nursery shipments.

2004 Malama i ka Aina Award
Arlene Taus, certified arborist, received the Malama i ka Aina award for her work planting and protecting native plants at Halekulaniaina Gardens, the Maui Nui Botanical Garden, and the D.T. Fleming Arboretum. She also shares her knowledge with her clients, often convincing them to replace invasive trees or shrubs with native plants.

2003 Malama i ka Aina Award
The Maui Tropical Plantation received the first Malama i ka Aina award. Employees have been planting native species and removing invasives from their grounds. Crew, supervisors, and managers attended seminars and went on hikes to learn how invasive species are harming our island, and the employees share this knowledge with visitors to the plantation.