'ĀinaQuest tackles plant blindness by re-developing people's relationships with plants

ʻĀinaQuest, a diverse team of educators, artists, technologists, and board game enthusiasts in the community, are on a mission to increase community interest in plants through interactive gameplay and cultural storytelling. Their team emerged from the Build4Good AI Hackathon, hosted by Purple Maiʻa, with a shared vision: to deepen their pilina (relationship) with native plants. Their journey began on December 8, 2023, when they secured second place in the hackathon. Since then, they've embarked on an exciting adventure, combining their love for board games, plant knowledge, and community engagement.

Plant Blindness: A Global Challenge

A total of 35 studies have shown that urbanization negatively impacts plant knowledge, reducing the utility of plant foraging. In contrast, rural communities in low and middle-income countries tend to have higher plant knowledge due to their dependence on natural resources 1.

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 approximately 71.5% of the state's population with residents living in places classified as urbanized areas. Despite our ancestors thriving alongside these plants, many fail to notice their significance.

Plant blindness is multifaceted, influenced by both biological (including cognition) and cultural factors. While some researchers emphasize cultural origins, understanding the biological underpinnings is crucial for effective plant science education. Overcoming plant blindness requires identifying factors that can be changed, and bridging the gap involves fostering a renewed connection with plants, appreciating their significance, and enhancing teaching and learning about them.

ʻĀinaQuest: Fostering Connection

The antidote to plant blindness lies in fostering a renewed connection with the natural world. ʻĀinaQuest offers an innovative solution-an educational card game that combines fun, learning, and storytelling. Through ʻĀinaQuest, people explore native Hawaiian plants, read their mo'olelo (stories), and rediscover the biodiversity of our ecosystem.

"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," said Amy McKee, a co-founder of 'ĀinaQuest.

Their Journey So Far

Hackathon Celebration: At the Build4Good AI Hackathon, they swiftly transformed their shared passion into action. Within 48 hours, they conceptualized and printed their first deck of plant-mon playing cards. These cards feature captivating illustrations and fascinating plant facts, and their mo'olelo (cultural stories).

Kalo Grant Victory: In February 2024, they secured the prestigious University of Hawaii's Kalo Grant, validating their commitment to environmental education.

Empowering the Community

As April is Native Hawaiian Plant Month, the team at 'ĀinaQuest invites the community to rally behind their cause. On April 2, 2024, they launched a grant campaign to breathe life into their plant characters. Here's how they encourage community members to get involved:

Workshop with Experts: They'll facilitate a workshop, bringing together cultural experts, ecologists, and community members. Their insights will enrich the game and deepen understanding of native plants. Sign up on their website to receive updates on how to participate in the workshops: www.ainaquest.com.

Hiring an Artist: To infuse their cards with authenticity, they aim to collaborate with a talented artist who identifies as Kanaka ʻŌiwi or Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), or an artist that is rooted in 'āina. If you know any artist who might be interested, go to the Careers page on their website: www.ainaquest.com/careers.

$10,000 Goal: Their target is to raise $10,000 by April 30, 2024. Every contribution counts! They are collecting contributions on Experiment, an online platform for funding and sharing scientific discoveries. Donate using the link: https://experiment.com/projects/how-can-we-make-building-pilina-relationships-with-native-plants-fun-for-the-whole-family

Join Them in Cultivating ʻĀina-Based Stewardship

ʻĀinaQuest is more than a card game; it's a movement. Let's bridge the gap between humans and plants, one plant card at a time. Together, they can nurture the next generation of Hawaiian botanists and ecologists and re-discover people's relationship with the natural world.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Carolyn Rojsutivat Co-Founder, ʻĀinaQuest Email: team@ainaquest.com

Visit their website: www.ainaquest.com or aina.quest

Follow them on social media:
Facebook Page: AinaQuest
Instagram: @AinaQuest

ʻĀinaQuest: Connecting People, Plants, and Purpose

Carolyn Rojsutivat
Co-founder of 'ĀinaQuest
Honolulu, HI
team@ainaquest.com

'ĀinaQuest is a fun and educational card game for people to learn about native plants and share their stories. We hope our game will nurture the next generation of locally grown Hawaiian botanists and ecologists and provide a pathway towards ʻāina-based stewardship.

This release was published on openPR.