This project is an in-depth exploration of hala (Pandanus tectorius) as both a cultural and ecological cornerstone in Hawaiʻi. With the resurgence of ulana lauhala (lauhala weaving) and the growing population of weavers in Hawai’i, there is an urgent need to address the simultaneous decline of hala groves due to invasive species, urban development, pests, and climate change. By combining archival research on mele (songs), moʻolelo (stories), ʻōlelo noʻeau (poetical sayings), and other ʻike kupuna (ancestral knowledge) with interviews of contemporary hala practitioners, this research documented the historical and cultural significance of hala groves, identified current challenges, and provided community-informed strategies for their restoration. In resurfacing forgotten stories and place names associated with hala, the results inform and empower communities with ancestral knowledge that can guide the protection and regeneration of hala for future generations.