HAWAII — Arbor Day may be about a year away, but one group is calling for ideas now for the next Arbor Day Hawaii 2022.

Ahead of events on Nov. 5, 2022, Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry is encouraging the community to get involved by submitting proposals for projects that go beyond giving away trees. Kaulunani is a state program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

What You Need To Know

  • All trees planted, programs and events submitted in proposals must be accessible to the general public

  • Information on the Kaulunani Grant Program is available here

  • Deadline for proposals is Jan. 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. HST

  • All trees grown and planted through this program will count toward the state’s pledge to conserve, restore or grow trees by 2030

Nurturing the trees already around us; cultivating well-being and resilience in the community; enhancing relationships between trees, forests and people within the community are just a few of the objectives the organization is looking for and will prioritize in the proposals submitted. This is in addition to proposals for celebrations other than tree adoptions.

All trees planted, programs and events submitted in proposals must be accessible to the general public. The deadline is Jan. 12, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. HST. Grants range from $500 to $5,000, with a total pool of $28,000. A one-to-one federal match is required.

Kaulunani also encourages tree planting projects to use native species, Polynesian introductions or non-invasive plants screened by the Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment and are predicted to be a low risk of becoming invasive. Information to find the perfect plant can be found at Plant Pono. Learn more about the Hawaii Weed Risk Assessment on their website.

Various groups such as nonprofit organizations, private organizations, schools, churches, community groups, state, county and community agencies throughout the state are encouraged to apply. All grantees must be in compliance with state government requirements and provide Hawaii Compliance Express certification.

Kaulunani has awarded grants to hundreds of nonprofit groups, schools, community organizations, parks, museums and arboretums. As of 2021, more than $1.4 million has been awarded to more than 400 projects through these cost-share grants that have been matched by over $8 million in cash and in-kind contributions.

As part of the global One Trillion Trees campaign, the State of Hawaii has pledged 100,000,000 trees will be conserved, restored or grown by 2030. Kaulunani and the Arbor Day Hawaii Grants Program are proud supporters of the campaign. All trees grown and planted through this program will count toward the pledge.