Meet Danya Weber | Conservation Biologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danya Weber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danya, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Hawaiʻi is the endangered species capital of the world. Hawaiian species make up 44% of the endangered and threatened plants and animals in the U.S.—even though the Hawaiian Islands make up less than 0.2% of total land area in the United States. These numbers make a little more sense when you consider the fact that Hawaiʻi is isolated from all major continents by 2,000 miles in every direction. That means that the living beings of Hawaiʻi existed in pristine environments until recent human impacts. Habitat loss and invasive species have decimated Hawaiʻi’s native flora and fauna. Developers replaced native plants with foreign plants (mostly from Africa, Asia, and South America) and recreated an entirely new image of Hawaiʻi, which has been perpetuated by the tourism industry and the media. Nowadays when people think of Hawaiʻi, they imagine tropical plants that are actually non-native and misrepresent the Hawaiian Islands. So, I created Laulima with three goals: 1) Raise awareness of native Hawaiian species, 2) Educate about conservation, and 3) Repair images of Hawaiʻi. Plus, a portion of all sales is donated to conservation non-profits that work to save Hawaiian ecosystems

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am actually a conservation biologist by career, having spent years protecting endangered Hawaiian species and restoring ecosystems. I felt that there was more I could do to protect Hawaiʻi’s native flora and fauna, so I created Laulima as a passion project to educate and inspire others. I have always loved art (though I have zero formal training), so I began creating designs that celebrated native Hawaiian plants and wildlife. The hopes were that these products could be used as conversation starters and outreach tools to raise awareness about conservation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Hiking hiking hiking! One of the best ways to experience the true beauty of Hawaiʻi is to immerse yourself in the mountainous native forests. That being said, these areas are meant to be respected and protected. So when visiting the forest, one must aloha ʻāina, leave nothing, take nothing, and stay on trail.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am so, so inspired by the conservationists who dedicate their lives to saving endangered species! It is an uphill battle that we are all facing in the light of climate change, but conservationists’ passion and perseverance give me hope for the future. I also want to shout out all my supporters! It warms my heart to see the community of conservation advocates grow. The meaning of “laulima” is many hands working together— I believe we are collectively working to protect Hawaiian species and ecosystems.

Website: www.laulima.store

Instagram: @laulimahawaii