Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG) in Kaka'ako was established by the O‘ahu chapter in 2019 to showcase how intentional landscape design can filter urban runoff and prevent ocean pollution. For years, the garden flourished as a food forest based on agroforestry principles, demonstrating how urban spaces could produce fruits, vegetables and herbs while protecting our waters.

But as climate conditions shift, the needs of our local ecosystem and community are evolving with them. The garden is now embarking on a deliberate, meaningful pivot: transitioning from an agroforestry-based food forest into a dedicated Native Hawaiian demonstration garden and community propagation hub.

The garden will still function as a community space for learning and connection, but with a renewed energy and focus on biodiverse, climate-resilient species.

Why We're Pivoting to Native Plants

While tropical fruit trees and food forests offer valuable lessons in permaculture, native plants have multiple benefits for sustainable stewardship. Here is why this evolution matters for our watersheds, coastal waters, and community.

1. Unmatched Climate & Drought Resilience

Hawaii’s climate landscape is experiencing more frequent dry spells, rising temperatures, and intense, short-duration storm events. Fruit trees and agricultural crops require lots of water and fertilizer to stay productive during dry seasons. This puts stress on our limited fresh water supply, and creates nutrient runoff that impacts our reefs and marine ecosystems.

In contrast, native Hawaiian endemic and indigenous plants — such as pōhinahina and ʻilima — have spent millennia adapting to local microclimates. Once established, native groundcovers and drought-tolerant shrubs form deep, resilient root systems that hold soil intact during heavy downpours while thriving on minimal water during extended dry periods. They are also adapted to our soils, and do not need extra fertilizers and nutrients to thrive.

2. Honoring Pilina (Connection) & Indigenous Knowledge

Landscape design is never just about plants; it is about identity and relationship to place (pilina). Returning to native species re-establishes a direct connection to traditional Hawaiian ecological knowledge, and creates hands-on learning opportunities to share and sustain this wisdom.

Ridge to Reef (Ahupuaʻa): In traditional Hawaiian resource management, land stewardship from the mountain (uka) to the sea (kai) ensures that actions upstream directly safeguard the health of the ocean down below.

Read the full article about Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden in Kaka'ako by Therese Howe at Surfrider Foundation.