Empowering Sustainability: My Journey with ENV 490 by Plantoem (by Aleeyah Lemons)
During my final year at Chaminade, I had the privilege of participating in ENV 490: Sustainability Innovation I and II. These courses allowed me to learn directly from real-world sustainability entrepreneurs and explore how to build a business platform that supports both emerging and established entrepreneurs. The opportunity to network and collaborate with some of the most creative and open-minded individuals on campus made this one of my favorite academic experiences.
Our final project for ENV 490 I involved working closely with a local small business to develop a business design aligned with their sustainability goals. My group had the honor of partnering with Plantoem, an exotic plant shop and café that’s part of the #KeepItKaimuki community. Working closely with Zoe Zhang, the owner of Plantoem, we brainstormed and prototyped a month-long Sustainability Awareness event that would take place at the shop. The idea was to host discussions on different sustainability topics and create opportunities for the community to get involved, deepening Plantoem’s connection with its loyal customers.
Fast forward to my final semester, I was lucky enough to help bring this prototype to life with one of my group members, Alexandra Zingarelli. Plantoem’s Sustainability Awareness Month kicked off from April 6th to 28th, 2024—perfect timing for Earth Month! We covered four major sustainability topics: carbon offsetting and footprints, native plants, composting, and plant therapy. Each event was designed to meet U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, which we were super passionate about highlighting. We invited the local community and anyone curious about sustainability to join us at the shop, where we hosted activities like making your own compost bin and service learning at Kuilei Cliffs. The turnout was amazing, and it was so cool to see Plantoem attract a new audience of sustainability enthusiasts while also connecting with other local organizations focused on similar goals.
I’m beyond grateful to have been part of this project and to have contributed to such a meaningful chapter in Plantoem’s history. None of this would have been possible without the ‘Inana Innovators Program, which gave me real-world experience in something I’m truly passionate about. I can’t wait to see what Plantoem does next with its sustainability efforts and how it continues to spread awareness about the SDGs and sustainability to our local community.
