Trees Planted in Salt Lake to Celebrate Arbor Day

Befitting the unique ecosystems of the Hawaiian Islands, Arbor Day in Hawaii coincides with the best time to plant a tree; at the onset of the rainy, winter season. Today, Mayor Rick Blangiardi was joined by Councilmember Radiant Cordero, keiki & teachers from Navy Hale Keiki School, City staff from the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation and Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency to finalize the planting of five new trees at Connie Chun Āliamanu Neighborhood Park.

“Planting trees has a significant impact on neutralizing our carbon footprint and helps combat the negative effects of climate change. Looking long range, planting a tree is one of the best things we can do to profoundly benefit future generations,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “It’s especially important to get our keiki involved in this process, so the kids can grow along with the trees and have an innate appreciation for the many environmental, economic, and psychological benefits trees provide. We applaud all of the efforts to increase our community forests as Arbor Day is celebrated throughout the state.”

The five new trees include three Silver Trumpet and two Nii Gold Rainbow Shower trees planted around the periphery of the park’s parking lot. While these are not native trees, they are better suited to thrive in these urban landscapes, giving the young trees a better chance of surviving the critical first months of transplanting. The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation’s Division of Urban Forestry and Community Forestry Program firmly believe in planting the right tree, in the right space, at the right time along with creating a diverse community forest that is more resilient against adverse environmental impacts.

“Each Arbor Day, we renew our commitment to not only planting more trees, but moving toward a more sustainable community,” said Councilmember Cordero. “I look forward to working with community partners and neighbors, my colleagues on the City Council, and the City Administration to continue this spirit of resiliency and sustainability.”

Trees are vitally important to our quality of life, providing a plethora of benefits including:

• Reducing ground temperatures by up to 9-degrees
• Minimizing energy costs up to 25 percent by shading buildings
• Absorbing traffic sounds by 40 percent
• Sequestering carbon dioxide/producing oxygen/off-setting impacts of climate change
• Improving the mental and physical well-being of area residents

The City and County of Honolulu has celebrated Arbor Day for 116 years, and has been certified by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City U.S.A. for 40 years. While Arbor Day is now celebrated in all 50 of the United States, other states tend to celebrate their trees and forests in April, the spring season, or when their particular climate is conducive for tree planting (as is the case here in the islands).

Additional celebrations of Arbor Day and tree planting/giveaway efforts by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Kaulunani Program) and environmental non-profits have the same aim of increasing our tree inventory and expanding our community forests.