Significance

• Hawaiian food gardens can produce nourishment year-round because of the temperate climate. At high elevations, such as the top of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii, cool-weather crops such as lettuce, peas and cauliflower can thrive. At sea level, temperatures rarely dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit so warm-weather crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and squash do very well.
  
  

History

• Before the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778, native Hawaiians harvested fruits and nuts growing naturally in the rain forests. Banana passion fruit, java plum and lilikoi provided valuable vitamins while kukui and macadamia nuts provided extra protein. Natives also relied heavily on hunting boar and fishing for nourishment rather than cultivating food gardens.
  
  

Types

• Hawaiian food gardens generally cultivate a combination of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Mango, kukui and longan trees provide much-needed shade to lettuce, strawberries and other crops, and most of these plants mingle well.
  
  

Fun Fact

• Jack Johnson, musician and Hawaii native, founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. The Kokua Foundation sponsors 'Aina in Schools, a program designed to teach children about living off sustainable resources. The Hawaiian word 'aina means land.