Arbor Day Hawai'i is an annual celebration of trees and the special benefits they provide to our island communities that has been celebrated in Hawaii for over 110 years!!! This year, Smart Trees Pacific, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and support for Hawaii's urban forests, has partnered with the City and County of Honolulu to host the first Arbor Day Honolulu Festival!



The Oʻahu community is welcome to spend the day enjoying music, yoga, keiki activities, forest bathing, lauhala weaving and other fun and educational activities. Mayor Kirk Caldwell will join us to speak about his commitment to grow Honolulu's urban forest, and community members will learn how they can register their newly adopted trees with the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency to show their own dedication to growing Oahu's urban forest! Throughout the day, we will hear from others in the community committed to increasing our tree goals along with a special dedication for Marjorie Ziegler, the late Executive Director of the Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi and a powerful environmental advocate who departed this year.

Foster Botanical Garden will open to the public at 9:00 AM. At arrival, attendees will check in to receive a number and called in groups to select their free tree (limited to one per family, while supplies last). Arborists and volunteers will be on site with information on the best growing environment and tree care practices for each tree.

Attendance to the Arbor Day Honolulu Festival includes free admission to Foster Botanical Garden, a beautiful 14-acre urban forest sanctuary in the midst of downtown Honolulu.





The following trees and shrubs will be given away (one plant per family), while supplies last:

Fruit Trees / Edible Plants:

Cacao, Theobroma cacao

Calamondin, Citrofortunella microcarpa

Fig tree, Ficus carica 'White Kadota'

Lemon drop mangosteen, Garcinia intermedia

Meyer lemon, Citrus x meyeri 'Meyer'

Miracle berry, Synsepalum dulcificum

Tahitian lime, Citrus latifolia

Native:

Kou, true kou, Cordia subcordata, Ind.

Ilima Kula, Sida fallax, Ind.

Nānū, na'u, Gardenia brighamii, End.

Koki'o ke'oke'o, Hibiscus arnottianus, End.

Mao hau hele, Hibiscus brackenridgei, End.

Other Trees/Plants:

Plumeria, bridal bouquet, Plumeria pudica

Tiare, Gardenia taitensis

Gardenia Aimee Yoshioka





How to choose the right tree for your home:

Planning ahead is the most important step you can take to ensure that the time and money you invest in planting a new tree are well spent. The key to successful landscaping is to plant the right tree in the right place. Make sure there is room for the tree to grow to its mature size without coming into conflict with wires, other trees, buildings, etc.

Make a plan for how you will water and maintain the tree in the future. Do you have a hose nearby? Ability to carry a bucket to water it?

Are you trying to shade your home to cool it during hot summer months and save on A/C costs? Choose a tree that can thrive in full sun and plant it on the south or east side of your home!

Check out the website for updates and tips on planning for your free tree! http://www.arbordayhawaii.org/tree-info/

















We are actively seeking community groups, businesses and organizations that would like to get more involved with Arbor Day Hawai'i! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, volunteer, vendor, or educational partner, please email Crystal Rogers at crogers@smarttreespacific.org





Please visit ArborDayHawaii.org for information on other Arbor Day Hawai'i events and tree giveaway sites!

http://www.arbordayhawaii.org/upcoming-events/

http://www.smarttreespacific.org/projects/arbor-day-hawaii/

https://www.facebook.com/arbordayhawaii





Funding for the Arbor Day programs across the state is provided in part by the Kaulunani Urban and Community Program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the State and Private Forestry branch of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Region 5. In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, these institutions are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, or disability. Additional support in thanks to the City & County of Honolulu, Oʻahu Urban Garden Ohana, Aloha Arborist Association, University of Hawai’i Master Gardener Program, Smart Trees Pacific, Hawai’i Gas, Oahu Print Company, The Purple Room, and Hawaiian Electric.