A few years later, the Forestry Division embarked on the Koka cookei Restoration Project. Kokia cookei represents a plant that has come so inconceivably close to extinction that it is hard to find a comparable example. The last tree was was growing at the Waimea Arboretum, where it had been propagated by a graft from the last tree on Molokai, which had later died. It was decided that the Maui Forestry Nursery would attempt to propagate grafts from the Waimea Arboretum tree for an out-planting project. The Arboretum manager scheduled a trip to Maui with ten Kokia cookei scions that would be grafted on Kokia drynaroides stock which had been grown for this purpose. On the appointed day, all were gathered at the Maui Forestry Nursery. The Waimea Arboretum manager unpacked the ten Kokia cookei scions and proceeded to show how it was to be cone, explaining how to make the cuts, how to match up the cambiums, how to apply the rootone, and how to wrap the stems. He said he would do four of the grafts and then let Richard do the remaining six. Richard watched intently as he he quickly made the four grafts. As I watched (he will remain unnamed) he looked like he was working too quickly, almost haphazardly, as though to show he was the pro at this. Then Richard took over and did the remaining six slowly and meticulously. When they were done, we put them in the mist room. I wanted to keep the ones Richard had done separately, so I could evaluate the results. About two weeks after I got my answer. Five out of the six grafts Richard had done had taken. The other four were all dead. I was so proud and I knew I had the right man running our nursery.

Richard was excited by the possibilities of grafting. He read everything he could get his hands on. Soon we had a hibiscus bush at the baseyard with three colors of flowers on it. It wasn't long before word gout out and he started to get invitations to conduct grafting workshops and classes. Richard Nakagawa was always a soft-spoken, unassuming person. It was a great satisfaction seeing him being recognized for his talents.

I am sorry to miss this memorial, but I am with you in spirit. Today you are planting another Kokia cookei that is descended from one of Richard's grafts. Without him, Kokia cookei would be only a memory.

More photos of the memorial are on the NHPS SmugMug site.