HONOLULU — The Arbor Day Foundation has once again recognized the City and County of Honolulu as a Tree City USA. By fulfilling the program’s requirements year after year, Honolulu has been designated a Tree City for 42 years and even received a Growth Award in 2022 “for demonstrating environmental improvement and an outstanding level of tree care,” according to a news release.

What You Need To Know

  • Over two dozen certified arborists from Honolulu DPR’s Division of Urban Forestry manage 650 acres of botanical garden land, several nurseries, and an estimated 250,000 street and park trees around Oahu

  • “Help our trees so they can help us all,” said DUF Administrator Roxanne Adams

  • For every $1 spent on tree planting and care, trees provide two to five times the benefits, according to the U.S. Forest Service

The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation’s Division of Urban Forestry has over two dozen certified arborists who manage 650 acres of botanical garden land, several nurseries, and an estimated 250,000 street and park trees around Oahu.

“With the onset of climate change, people want to do something and help. Planting trees and growing our forests, particularly in urban areas, are some of the best solutions to improve our situation,” said DUF Administrator Roxanne Adams in the release. Adams joined DUF in April 2023 after being the Campus Arborist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

“But it’s not all about just planting trees; it’s about caring for them. These awards belong to the entire island, as we encourage more and more of our neighbors to be part of our Community Forestry team by helping ensure these trees survive. Particularly during the first 18-24 months when a tree is newly planted. Help our trees so they can help us all,” said Adams.

Since the creation of the Shade Tree Commission in Nov. 1922, DUF has focused its efforts on growing, maintaining and preserving city trees along streets and in parks. Trees are the only city infrastructure that appreciates in value over time.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, every dollar that goes into planting and caring for a tree provides benefits to the community two to five times the investment. Benefits include:

  • Sequestering and storing carbon dioxide, thus helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change
  • Providing oxygen
  • Filtering air and water
  • Conserving water and reducing soil erosion
  • Serving as a habitat for wildlife
  • Lowering air temperature for nearby buildings, which in turn helps to conserve energy
  • Providing shade for humans and wildlife
  • Reducing noise pollution
  • Providing mental and social benefits
  • Creating and reinforcing a sense of community

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Honolulu is part of a network of over 3,600 Tree City USA communities nationwide.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.