Trees are the Earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven. — Rabindranath Tagore As today marks Hawai‘i’s Arbor Day, Kaua‘i celebrates 39 years of “greening the Garden Island,” according to Galen Kawakami, Kaua‘i Division of Forestry And Wildlife
Trees are the Earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.
— Rabindranath Tagore
As today marks Hawai‘i’s Arbor Day, Kaua‘i celebrates 39 years of “greening the Garden Island,” according to Galen Kawakami, Kaua‘i Division of Forestry And Wildlife management supervisor.
That’s when Norfolk Island Pines, grown at the Pua Loke nursery, were one of several featured trees for sale by the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, in October 1968.
The forestry division in recent years has featured federally listed threatened and endangered plants at the sale. This year, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and DOFAW from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. will have their annual plant sale in Pua Loke Nursery today.
Uhiuhoi and Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o will be featured. Both these species are endemic to Hawai‘i, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world.
Common native plants including Wiliwili and ‘A‘ali‘i will be available for discounted prices ranging from $3-$10, depending on the size and species.
Nationally, Arbor Day is recognized on the last Friday in April. However, in many states, including Hawai‘i, the day is celebrated at the height of the growing season.
Nebraska resident J. Sterling Morton proposed a resolution for the first Arbor Day in early 1872, making the tree-planting holiday April 10 of that year.
Morton, an agriculturist and former newspaper editor, urged Nebraskans to, “set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit.”
By 1920, Arbor Day was so popular, more than 45 states and U.S. territories celebrated the holiday annually.
To date, Arbor Day is observed in all 50 states as well as several countries around the world..
For more information on the DLNR’s tree sale, call 274-3433.
