Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Friday, April 21 was a day filled with celebrating our Earth. Students, teachers and other members of the Leone High School community started their day with a wave to encourage drivers to ‘Honk for Mother Nature,’ and ‘Plant A Tree because Your Future Depends On It.’

“In 2023 and beyond, we really want to make a push to restore our forests and educate our next generation about the value of our trees, not only environmentally but culturally as well,” said Leone High School teacher and club adviser, Mikaela Saelua.

Leone High School took it one step further by hosting an outreach for their community to "Be Green." Principal Leo’o Dr. Patrick Danielson supported the efforts and welcomed community members and Land Grant to join in the activities. It was an outreach that included student poetry, student rap music, a shirt design contest, and the unveiling of signs, created by JSA and Close Up Officers. The theme was - Be Green.

Adviser Vera Peck, said, "The focus for the outreach was to emphasize the importance of protecting our environment. To do that, we have to invest in the environment instead of just taking away. One way to do that is to plant trees; specifically local trees and shrubs that contribute to our very delicate ecosystem."

Officers for the clubs who implemented the program include — Fuarosa Molesi, Fa'anape Suani, Emma Fiu, Alana Sorensen, Fuatai Iosefo, Moemamao Taua, and Topelei Matoka. Close Up Club adviser, Edmund Amataga shared that, "for the past year, these ladies have worked together to share their passion in protecting the environment and adding to it by planting trees."

This program was made possible when Land Grant Forestry Program Manager, Denis Sene, awarded Leone High School a sub-grant to support their endeavors financially last year.

His team, spearheaded by Urban Community & Forestry Specialist, Tony Maugalei provided the trees, shrubs, and expertise to support the Leone student body initiative.

They would have campus Plant Days on Saturdays during which Land Grant would come out and support the students by showing them proper planting and pruning techniques.

Let us all be proactive in taking the steps needed to contribute to our environment. Plant a tree, and use fewer one-time-use items such as styrofoam. We only have one Earth. Protect It!

(Source: Leone High School press r