Happy Earth Day kākou!
Over the last month, the air has been cleaner than usual up here and the sounds of the natural world are easier to hear. Now that I have 24-hour internet access, I’ve realized that the environmental changes I have been seeing in this gully near the top of the mountain are really just a microcosm of what is happening throughout the rest of the world. I also see that many of you are looking forward to a return to a normal way of life. As an endangered plant, I’ve been social distancing for quite a long time already, so I know how you feel!
With all the talk of returning to normal, I want to take this day to discover a new normal, and to recognize the opportunity to forge a more sustainable path. I would encourage you to move forward and not backwards in a time of profound local and global environmental change, and collectively move towards becoming more resilient to adapting to such changes. Let us create a future our keiki can be proud of.
I am certain that with the help of research, technology, and dedicated restoration ecologists, we will create a brighter future in a post-pandemic world. Be a voice for the environment, as your voice wants to be heard now more than ever. Despite all the uncertainty the future may bring, I can pretty much guarantee one thing: If I survive, so will you.