Celebrating and raising awareness for the importance of native plants. The Ko’oloa’ula is an endangered plant in Hawai’i. The beautiful plant deserves to be seen and cared for now more than ever if we hope to continue seeing it in nature.

I made this ring to highlight a Hawaiian plant with a troubled past. As some of you may know, James Cook sailed to the Hawaiian Islands and exploited the peoples for many of their goods that could make a profit. The Hawaiian peoples were forced to work in sugar cane fields on their own lands. It’s important to understand these histories when celebrating the importance and healing of plants and nature, because the way people and bodies interact with nature, affects both our’s and it’s well being.

Taro is a staple plant in Hawaii. I wanted to celebrate a plant that has been used since the first Hawaiian peoples inhabited the Islands.