Trees, a source of oxygen, shade, food, medicine and habitat and shelter for wildlife known to absorb carbon dioxide, are being celebrated on Arbor Day that falls on Saturday.
Before being officially proclaimed J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraska newspaper editor, who was a big proponent of planting trees, proposed “Arbor Day,” the idea of a “tree planting holiday”. When Morton became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he brought up the idea to the State Board of Agriculture and the date was set for April 10, 1872. An estimated one million-plus trees were planted on that first Arbor Day in Nebraska.
Arbor Day became “official” when Nebraska Governor Robert W. Furnas proclaimed the day on April 10, 1874.
This Saturday, tree-focused events will take place statewide with tree giveaways, educational booths and volunteer tree plantings. There may also be local experts on-site who can share their experience and insights.
Kaulunani is the urban and community forestry program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife that supports Arbor Day events each year. Communities can look forward to opportunities to connect with trees by learning about those that provide food to native trees that thrive in Hawaii and support the islands’ unique ecosystems.
One such event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in South Kona on Hawaii Island as the Hawaii ʻUlu Cooperative and Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden team up to host a celebration focused on food security and building community. The public is invited to gather at the Greenwell Garden for a native plant sale, food trucks, hula, music, keiki activities, garden tours and more.
“Growing ʻulu enhances community wellbeing and culture by providing connection to place, local history and nourishment,” said Dana Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative, in a release. “The West Hawaii community historically supported Kaluʻulu, one of the largest ʻulu agroforests of Hawaii, and we want to educate residents about this historic region and its past agricultural abundance.”
Molokai Land Trust celebrates with workshops and native plant giveaways—wiliwili, ʻaʻaliʻi, koʻokoʻolau, akia, ʻōhiʻa and pōhinahina—in addition to two workshops at their operations center in Hoʻolehua, Molokai. On Maui, Aloha Puʻu Kukui hosts a planting in Lahaina and Maui Nui Botanical Garden in Kahului is having its 21st Annual Arbor Day Garden Expo & Tree Giveaway.
Oahu also has a host of events going on that include community workdays at Sand Island State Recreation Park, Kapiolani Community College, Kokua Learning Farm, plus an opportunity to mālama the coconut grove at Kūkaniloko. Waimea Valley will also host a plant giveaway (while supplies last) at Waimea Valley, 8 a.m. Nov. 2.
On Kauai, the Kauai Landscape Industry Council will give away native and non-invasive trees and have educational booths at Kukui Grove Center. On Nov. 9, the Kauai Invasive Species Committee will host the ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest with a native plant sale, educational talks and booths, a keiki corner, food, craft vendors and more.
The majority of events on each island occur on Saturday, with a few on other dates. Visit the DOFAW Arbor Day Hawaii website for details on the events mentioned and others.
“We invite all residents to come together to plant trees and grow our shared community forests in Hawaii,” said Dr. Heather McMillen, DOFAW urban and community forester. “Every tree we plant and care for contributes to the health of our islands and creates a hopeful future for our keiki.”
Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.