UNDERSTORY ALLIANCE
Bringing the Forest to the People
Understory Alliance, a Kauaʻi-based nonprofit, creates and cares for Māla Lāʻau—community forest gardens—together with schools, local groups, and community members. Guided by Hawaiian knowledge and modern science, our work honors kuleana (responsibility) to future generations.
What we do
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Māla Lāʻau (forest gardens) embody traditional land stewardship, providing food, medicine, and comfort while sustaining ʻāina. Like native forests, they thrive with minimal care, relying on layered plant systems rooted in native species. This approach offers a simple, sustainable way to nourish people and place.
Learn more about Māla Lāʻau (Forest Gardens)…
Our Current Projects
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Understory Alliance offers hands-on learning experiences that remind us we are nature—not separate from it. Learn More about Our Education Programs…
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Biocultural Conservation Landscape Design and Consultation. Our specialized team is passionate about creating and restoring landscapes that are not only ecologically sustainable but also culturally significant. Read More…
Does time in the forest garden change how you feel?
Natalia Tangalin, a field botanist and DNP student, is studying that question here at the Māla Lāʻau. If you come to workdays at Wailua Homesteads and are 15 or older, we would love for you to take two short anonymous surveys. The first one takes about 15 minutes and asks about stress, well-being, and how connected you feel to nature and the people around you.
It is a genuine kindness to participate, and we are grateful to every person who does.
Current Projects
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Wailua Homesteads Park
Community Forest Garden
Phase: Planting
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Kauai Animal Education Farm
Community Forest Garden
Phase: Maintenance
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Westside Kauai
Community Forest Garden
Phase: Community Outreach