HAWAI'I GARDENS
Weed Circle adorns entrance to Hale'iwa
By Heidi Bornhorst
Dear Heidi: Is that dusty circle at the entry to Hale'iwa really, finally being planted? Whom do I hug and congratulate? It looks awesome!
— Tom Nakoa, Waialua
Dear Tom: Many dedicated people helped this planting come about. "It's wonderful. That's all you need to say," says Linda Baird, president of the North Shore Outdoor Circle, about the new plantings at Weed Circle.
"What a great addition to Hale'iwa town! The loulu palms at the entrance sway in the breeze as if welcoming people to Hale'iwa," says Baird, happily.
This project has been dreamed about, planned, and even planted numerous times over the years.
A blessing ceremony took place several months ago. Supporters included Jeremy and Ramona Harris, Rene Mansho, Patsy Gibson of the North Shore Outdoor Circle, Antje Miller and Boyd Ready of Hale'iwa Main Street, and the Weed family. (The family gave the land to the community some years ago.
The Weed family is active on projects that benefit the rural community.) It is the epitome of a cooperative planting project, with major support from the entire community. Partners include the North Shore Outdoor Circle, Hale'iwa Main Street, ITC water corporation, the City & County of Honolulu, and Kaulunani.
The irrigation is in, thanks to ITC, the trees are planted with berms and mulch and volunteers are watering twice a day to get the young trees well established in the ground.
Trees include 16 golds, 10 rainbow showers, eight royal poincianas, 17 loulu palms and a small grove of our state tree, the kukui. The largest kukui is in memory of Christine Snyder, the arborist for The Outdoor Circle killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Heidi Bornhorst is director of Honolulu's botanical gardens. Reach her by e-mail at islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com or at The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Letters submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
