Since I was a little girl this Kwihi Tree has been a pivotal characteristic of Palm Beach. My people and I have spent birthdays, family hangouts, etc. around this tree. The entire North side of Aruba is now packed with hotels, on lands that have been ancient “Mondis” and local hangout spots. For years our governments have taken no account in the opinion of our people on our own lands. They’ve been deforesting our lands, and taken local spots away from us. I’m so tired of seeing hotels and destruction everywhere on our island. Our island doesn’t even get the chance to breathe properly anymore. We are all suffocating both literally and metaphorically. The lack of remorse from our government stops now. We’re now here to say that enough is enough. It’s time that we start fighting for the sake of our flora and lands. Let’s start by taking this first step by doing our best to save our beloved Kwihi Tree.

Di tempo cu m’a haya tino e palo di Kwihi ta un icono di Palm Beach. Ami y gran parti di Pueblo Arubano sa pasa dia y tin un monton di memoria akinan.
Ja pa añas, e personan encarga di e pida baranca ‘ki ta rosando y kita mas y mas di nos flora. Pueblo a fada. A bira ora pa bringa pa loke ta di nos. Pa bringa pa nos naturalesa. Ban hunto y salba nos pal’i kwihi tan stima.