LIHUE — In 1968, Hawaii had its first official Arbor Day plant and tree sale or giveaway, building on more than a century of recognizing this internationally designated holiday.
LIHUE — In 1968, Hawaii had its first official Arbor Day plant and tree sale or giveaway, building on more than a century of recognizing this internationally designated holiday.
It was on Kauai and for the past 50 years the annual celebration of trees and plants has continued, expanding across the state with a multitude of tree and plant giveaways and sales. This week thousands of plants are being readied for sale with lots of help from ample rain.
Kauai holds two events this weekend, beginning with the annual DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife native plant sale on Friday at the DOFAW base yard in Lihue.
DOFAW Horticulturist Lynlie Waiamau has spearheaded this Arbor Day event for the past 11 years. She said what makes it particularly unique, even a half-century later, is people can buy threatened and endangered species to plant in their home gardens or yards.
She ticks off the scientific or Hawaiian names for some of these T&E offerings, “Hibiscus clayi, hybiscus brakenridgei, and Koki’o ke’oke’o.”
Prices range between $3 and $40 and Waiamau says it would be challenging to find some of these rare plants for sale in a commercial nursery.
In addition to the Kauai 50-year anniversary plant sale and two Arbor Day sales on Hawaii island, this year, DOFAW’s Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry program is funding tree giveaways of plants and seeds at five events on Oahu, one on Maui and one on Kauai.
Master Gardeners, arborists, and local volunteers, will be at each giveaway to share information on the best growing environments and tree care for each species.
