HECO and IBEW Local 260 volunteers prep the soil for native Hawaiian plants for the new garden at Keone‘ula Elementary School. Photo courtesy HECO.

There's a new garden at Keone‘ula Elementary School in Ewa Beach.

Every new school garden should  be celebrated.

This one features native Hawaiian plants and vegetables, comes with its own irrigation and sprinkler system, along with a walkway and  bench. School officials envision the garden as a place to foster learning about native Hawaiian plants, agricultural practices, environmental resources and sustainability.

It even has a name — Ka Uluwehi o Ka Na‘auao — which means "place where beautiful plants thrive."

Volunteers from the Hawaiian Electric Co. and members of IBEW Local 1260  last weekend helped students and teachers and members of the community create the garden. HECO provided the native Hawaiian plants from Hui Ku Maoli Ola, while the Haseko Corp. donated soil. Leeward Community College also donated native plants from its campus garden.

Hopefully, the garden will continue to flourish and grow.