University of Hawai‘i Faculty & Staff Gather for a Writing Retreat in the Garden

In June 2021, in collaboration with the University of Hawai‘i Professional Development Department, The Merwin Conservancy hosted ten University of Hawai‘i Maui College faculty and staff from a variety of disciplines and departments for a day-long, customized reflection and writing retreat at the Merwin property.

Conservancy staff facilitated the retreat, which included quiet reflection time, an interpretive hike through the garden with poetry readings, free writing, and multiple poetry writing prompts that sourced inspiration from the garden and the story of this place. The participants wrote and read aloud several original poems while on site, and discussed as a group their deep concern as educators with kuleana (responsibility) to their students, their colleagues, and our local community.