Pulitzer-winning poet transformed barren Hawaii land into 19-acre forest

W.S. Merwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet renowned for his work with nature and environmental activism, embarked on a transformative journey in the mid-1970s. After moving to Maui, Hawaii, to study Zen Buddhism, Merwin purchased a barren parcel of land plagued by a desolate landscape and decimated soil. With a deep-rooted love for nature, Merwin set out to restore the land into a thriving 19-acre palm forest.

Merwin's adventure began in 1975 when he relocated to Maui to study under the guidance of Zen Buddhist teacher Robert Aitken. Finding solace in the quiet and anonymity of the island, Merwin was inspired to embark on an ambitious project to restore a small piece of Hawaiian rainforest that had been previously logged, grazed by cattle, and severely damaged by a pineapple plantation.

The land Merwin purchased was part of an ahupua'a (land division) called Pe'ahi, located in the North Shore of Maui. The area had been essentially a wasteland due to extensive logging in the 19th century and subsequent farming activities, including the diversion of a nearby stream to agricultural fields. The soil contained only sparse grass, and the stream that once flowed downstream had been dry for over a century.

Despite challenges, Merwin persevered in his mission, planting hundreds of native koa trees, which unfortunately most of them failed to survive. A local arboretum expert advised Merwin that restoring native rainforest in the area was unattainable. However, Merwin's determination led to the eventual success of his project, resulting in the flourishing 19-acre forest that still stands today.