Help us re-develop people’s relationship with plants.

In a fast-paced industrial world, people often overlook the natural treasures that surround them and fail to recognize the vital role that plants play in our community, often leading to the misguided belief that plants are somehow inferior to animals. This phenomenon, known as “plant blindness,” affects about 91.9% of the population in Hawai'i residing in urban areas. Despite our ancestors thriving alongside these plants, many fail to notice their significance.

What is ‘ĀinaQuest?

A gameplay that centers around the interaction of plants in ‘āina, cultivating our ahupua’a and mitigating invasive plants.


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Hawaiʻi is a beautiful and unique place as the most isolated island chain in the world. Hawaiʻi is home to thousands of native and non-native plants, and 40% of the total endangered plant species in the United States. As kanaka and kamaʻāina of this land, we believe it is our duty to preserve the beauty of Hawaiʻi for future generations--and that includes our plants! In order to educate and inspire people to care about native plants, we must meet the community where they are at, and we believe our fun and educational card game will help players cultivate the knowledge needed for environmental stewardship and conservation.

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Featured

April 26, 2024

Hanahau’oli School
Progressive Education

‘ĀinaQuest: Place-Based Gameplay in Education

April is Native Hawaiian Plant Month, and as many still have Earth Day in their hearts and minds, we are happy to feature a local organization that is working to re-develop people's relationships with native plants. ‘ĀinaQuest is a wonderful example of collaboration, innovation, and ‘aina-inspired action for improved education in 21st Century society. – Amber Strong Makaiau

Our quest feed

'Ōhi'a lehua comprises of 80% of Hawaii’s native forests. Wow! ‘Ōhi‘a lehua is often one of the first plants to grow after volcanic eruptions or lava flows, symbolizing rebirth and strength. Traditionally, its wood was used for ka
Half way through the week! This week, we're featuring Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum). Strawberry guava is known for its tasty fruit, but it invades native forests. The fruit’s seeds are dispersed by birds and pigs. Have you seen Stra
Even though you can't have lightsaber battles at 'ĀinaQuest, you can watch our plant-mon characters take on lightsaber battles! It's Native Plants vs. Invasive Plants... Which side are you? ---- #nativeplants #invasiveplants #plants #hawaii #star
We are learning about 'Uki this week! ʻUki is a wetland plant with triangular stems. It was used by Hawaiians to weave baskets and mats. The bright blue berries of ‘Uki appear almost year-round on stalks rising above its arching strap-like l
It's Invasive Plants Wednesday!! This week, we're learning about Koster’s Curse (Clidemia hirta). Koster’s curse produces vibrant pink flowers and small berries. Birds consume the berries and spread the seeds, contributing to its invas
This week, we're learning about 'ohelo! ‘Ōhelo is found on all Hawaiian islands except Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe. ʻOhelo berries grow in volcanic soil near the summit of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. They are a favorite food of the native
It's Wednesday again... You know what that means? It's Invasive Plants Wednesday!! This week, we're learning about Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii). This tree grows rapidly, competing with native vegetation. Its large yellow flower clusters contrast
Our plant-mon character stickers became an instant hit across generations at Uluwehi! 🌱 People mentioned our plant-mon characters reminded them of their favorite childhood cartoons like Pokémon and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. These
Our stories in Hawaiʻi tell of the strong relationships (pilina) our ancestors had with the natural world. However, today many of us are unable to recognize our plant relatives, much less differentiate native and canoe plants from non-natives and inv