By Staff Reports
(Oahu)– With the continuing pandemic emphasizing the importance of the outdoors and our natural areas, efforts to improve our environment have become even more essential.
Normally, the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Urban Forestry (DUF) would continue these efforts by planting several trees and giving hundreds away to the public as part of Hawai‘i’s Arbor Day (the first Friday in November). However, like so many parts of our lives the way we celebrate our trees and forests has adapted.
At Foster and Wahiawā botanical gardens today approximately 650 trees were provided to two community partners, the Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i and Blue Zones Project. With assistance from Arbor Day Hawai‘i, these partners will disperse these trees amongst their respective organizations, and eventually plant them into our island for the benefit of future generations. For instance, Blue Zones Project will be planting some of their trees at three elementary schools: ‘Iliahi, Ka‘ala, & Wahiawā.
Prior to this giveaway, DUF’s Community Forester provided an instructional video to the Girl Scouts on the best way to plant a tree, while helping to develop a unique, Hawai‘i Tree Badge to show their understanding and appreciation for our forest friends. In order to earn this one-of-a-kind badge, the Girl Scout has to finish two of the following activities: complete an urban forest scavenger hunt, create an artistic tree guide, plant a tree and record it online, or take action in their communities by linking with other organizations.
That instructional video can now be viewed by everyone as the 17th episode of Nā Pāka ma ka Hale (Parks at Home), DPR’s at home video tutorial series designed to provide recreational and educational opportunities to our communities in this COVID era of physical distancing. Visit DPR’s YouTube Channel or click here to view that video.
Anyone planting trees on O‘ahu is encouraged to input that planting information into our tree planting map. Visit https://bit.ly/100ktreesoahu to provide that information and help us reach our goal of planting 100,000 trees by 2025!
