About Us

Welcome to Save Mangroves Nursery, where a small idea between a daughter and father grew into something more than just a hobby; it became our purpose to help others while giving back to Mother Nature.

By the most awesome chance in the world, I was gifted the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life – a baby girl. From this point on, I knew down to my bones that I would love her and teach her every cool thing that I know about growing up in the outdoors of Hawaii.

…keeping something in mind:

Let’s help protect our environment any way we can. Mother Nature provides to us, so let’s give back!

As a waterman growing up in Hawaii, it taught me that in order for us to have a healthy ocean, we need to take care of it. And, it was always my dream to pass this knowledge down to keep things sustainable for the next generation.

⏱️ Some time passes…

My daughter is now in 1st Grade and it becomes a weekly thing to take her down to different beaches around the island to have fun, while also learning about the outdoors.

Teaching her about the ocean and the names of the fish was super fulfilling, and we would also regularly find mangrove propagules washed up on the shore as well.

One day, a few of these little plants changed our lives forever.

💡 A lightbulb went off…

While at the beach doing the daddy duty of digging the hole for the ultimate sand castle, my daughter starts gathering sticks, rocks, and whatever else for decoration.

To my surprise she comes back with a bunch of mangrove propagules and starts making her castle’s fence by sticking them in the sand.

This was the perfect opportunity for me to teach her about how important these plants are to all the coastal environments around the world.

The beach day was about to end so we started to break down our sand castle, and with the extra mangrove propagule seeds, we both thought it would be cool if we planted them in the sand.

We knew we couldn’t just plant them anywhere, since the waves or other kids would eventually wash them away so we came up with a plan and planted them in a secret spot in the sand.

The most unlikely thing happened…

We came back a few weeks later to the same spot and my daughter said, “Dad, let’s check on our plants!”

To be honest, I thought they would have been washed away or moved by some kids.

It was a complete surprise but not only were most of the plants in the exact same spot, but they were growing with their first set of leaves.

So, of course, as a long-time gardener myself, I needed to check out the root structure.

While being super careful not to break off the roots, we dug down to see what the progress was, and when we got to the bottom, we both shouted at the same time, “THEY’RE GROWING!”

🐟 Since I was a kid, I've always loved raising aquarium fish and also growing plants in the garden. Those of you that love growing things know exactly how satisfying it is!
...why not turn it into a business?

So began our journey…

From decades of experimenting with several freshwater and saltwater tanks, it hit me that there are tons of aquarium hobbyists that don’t have these plants in their area.

While doing some research, there seemed to be a bunch of people that loved the idea of having a real-life miniature mangrove system inside of their own home.

So I reported back to the Big Boss (my daughter) and let her know the findings. We discussed it, came up with a business plan, and out came SaveMangroves.com

From what started as a fun backyard project, it quickly turned into a passion for helping to balance out Mother Nature and Aquarium Tanks, one mangrove at a time.

🌱 Over the years, we've provided thousands of mangrove plants to aquarium enthusiasts everywhere while also planting the propagules around struggling Hawaiian coastal regions.

Why Grow Mangroves

Adding mangroves to your aquarium isn’t just beautiful, they’re powerful!

They act as natural filters in saltwater, freshwater, and brackish aquariums, improving water clarity, absorbing excess nutrients, and providing shelter for fish, shrimp, and other aquatic life.

💡 In Mother Nature, mangrove forests play a vital role in protecting shorelines from erosion, serving as fish nurseries, and even balance Earth's climate through carbon storage.

Our Family Operation

This nursery isn’t run by some massive corporation; it’s run by two little dudes down in Hawaii!

When we’re out on outdoor field trips we hand-pick, grow, pack, and ship these plants from our home to yours. Every order is carefully packed so that your plants arrive perfectly healthy.

Our main focus:

✅ Educating new live plant aquarium hobbyists
✅ Helping experienced aquarists optimize their set-up
✅ Empowering others to protect our beautiful planet

What We Offer

Whether you’re looking to start your first mangrove tank or add more greenery to your aquascape, we’ve got you covered.

🌱 Red and Oriental Mangrove Plants in multiple sizes
📦 Fast, daily shipping to all 50 U.S. states
🌊 Natural water filtration for saltwater, freshwater, and brackish aquariums

Our Promise

We’re here for the long haul, not just to sell plants, but to build a community of mangrove enthusiasts. Whether you’re a reef tank expert or a freshwater beginner, we’re here to help your mangrove plants thrive.

If you ever have questions or concerns, reach out to us anytime at help@savemangroves.com

When you support Save Mangroves Nursery, you’re not just getting a plant – you’re supporting a family-run business, inspiring the next generation to make a difference, one root at a time.

Thank you so much for your time!

With Aloha,
Save Mangroves Nursery