This Environmental Advocate Is Using Trees to Rebuild West Maui – Sunset Magazine
How This Environmental Advocate Is Using Trees to Rebuild West Maui
An environmental steward is replanting trees and instilling hope in West Maui.
David Croxford, Honolulu Civil BeatWritten by Krista Simmons October 23, 2025
Kenneth Duane Sparkman is the embodiment of an advocate and arborist, focusing his life’s work on landscape management and preserving the watersheds of Maui. So when the 2023 Lahaina fires ravaged the land, Sparkman sprang to action, creating a nonprofit called Treecovery that works in tandem with cultural advisors on mindful replanting and reforestation, providing free trees to residents and businesses in Lahaina and Kula who lost their vegetation. Here, the founder and president of Treecovery and chief engineer at Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows shares his vision for the future of West Maui.
Courtesy of Treecovery Hawaii.Can you talk a bit about exactly what was lost? Why is that relevant to the greater ecosystem?
21,000 trees were removed from Lahaina by the Army Corps with 400 acres of forest and residential trees burned, resulting in a mudslide that closed South Kihei Road for over a month. Replanting will stabilize Kula’s deforested hillsides, and replanting trees in Lahaina will lower the general heat, bring food availability back, as well as cultural trees for healing, evapotranspiration for more rain, and a general sense of regrowth.
What native species are you prioritizing for replanting and why?
At least 95% of what was burnt was non-native or invasive … We’re promoting all native trees that will thrive in the habitats of Kula and Lahaina. Wiliwili, Koaia, Aalii, Ohia, Naio, Kamani, Hala, Kokiokeokeo, Milo, Iliahialoe, Pokalakala, Loulu, Ulu, Coconut, Noni—all for water reduction, cultural use, and/or medicine.
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