Posted on: Friday, November 5, 2004
Giveaways mark Arbor Day
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
Today is Arbor Day in Hawai'i, and in celebration, Hawaiian Electric Co. will give away more than 2,000 free potted trees and shrubs tomorrow at five sites islandwide.
Along with the free trees, which are small enough to be carried, attendees will receive free brochures with tips on planting and caring for their new tree or shrub, plus additional information about each of the species being distributed this year.
Experts in selecting, planting and maintaining trees will be at each site to offer advice. The program is co-sponsored by the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the Urban Garden Center, and the Waimea Valley Audubon Center.
The annual giveaway began 11 years ago as a way to educate the public about the role of trees in the environment, Crawford said.
Arbor Day is marked in Hawai'i on Nov. 5.
The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska in 1872.
Hawai'i's state tree is the kukui, brought to the Islands by voyaging Polynesians.
I For more information, call 543-4441. In 1993, HECO and Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program started the Arbor Day custom of giving Honolulu residents free seedlings, along with a brochure about how to plant and care for the seedlings.
The brochure has since grown into a beautifully designed 153-page reference book, "Common Hawaiian Trees," which costs $16.99 at bookstores, including Borders.
The book describes 48 trees, providing drawings and information such as growth rate, dimensions, root spread and water requirement. It includes artwork depicting the blossoms of native Hawaiian trees, painted by Isabella Sinclair, an artist who lived on Ni'ihau and Kaua'i from the late 1860s to the 1880s.
"Common Hawaiian Trees" is published by Friends of Hawaii's Urban Forest and distributed by Island Heritage. Proceeds from the book sales will be used to print future editions of the book.
Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.
Supplies are limited to one per family and usually last for a couple of hours, said Janet Crawford, a HECO spokeswoman.
"I think people in Hawai'i are really concerned with the environment, and they love the beautiful trees and shrubs that are native or indigenous to Hawai'i, and want to continue this tradition of planting a tree," she said.
Arbor Day
National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, but many states, including Hawai'i, celebrate at times best suited to their own growing seasons
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| Here's where to go to get your tree
The giveaway begins at 7 a.m. tomorrow at the following sites (9 a.m. at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center): Hawaiian Electric Co.'s Kahe power plant, 92-200 Farrington Highway, Wai'anae Urban Garden Center, 955 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City HECO's Ward Avenue facility, 820 Ward Ave., across from the Neal Blaisdell Center, Honolulu HECO's Ko'olau Baseyard, 1387 Ulupii St., across from Maunawili Elementary School, Kailua Waimea Valley Audubon Center (formerly Waimea Falls Park), 59-864 Kamehameha Highway, North Shore • For more information, call 543-4441. |
