Arbor Day in Hawaii is this Saturday, Nov. 2.
It’s a day to honor and celebrate trees where we live, work, learn and play. Communities across the state are hosting a variety of tree-focused events Saturday with tree giveaways, educational booths, and volunteer tree plantings.
Kaulunani, the urban and community forestry program of the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife, or DOFAW, supports various Arbor Day events annually. This year promises a range of opportunities for participants to connect with trees, from learning about those that provide food to native trees that thrive in Hawaii and support unique ecosystems.
In South Kona on Saturday, the Hawaii ‘Ulu Cooperative and Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden are partnering to host an Arbor Day celebration that focuses on food security and building community.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenwell Garden and will feature a native plant sale, food trucks, hula, music, keiki activities, garden tours and more.
“Growing ‘ulu enhances community well-being and culture by providing connection to place, local history and nourishment,” said Dana Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of the Hawaii ‘Ulu Cooperative. “The West Hawaii community historically supported Kalu‘ulu, one of the largest ‘ulu agroforests of Hawaii, and we want to educate residents about this historic region and its past agricultural abundance.”
Community members are encouraged to bring family and friends.
“We invite all residents to come together to plant trees and grow our shared community forests in Hawaii,” said 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.”
Sign up to receive an ‘ulu tree at the South Kona Arbor Day event at https://tinyurl.com/yc34r7pv.
Visit Kaulunani.org to view a list of celebrations by island and location.
