Native trees were recently added to the greenery at Washington Place during an Earth Day planting ceremony. Governor Josh Green M.D., First Lady Jaime Kanani Green, and DLNR Chair Dawn Chang, along with students from St. Andrew’s School, participated in planting ʻōhiʻa ʻāhihi and koaiʻa trees. These species were chosen for their historical significance to the area, with records from the time of Queen Liliuʻokalani, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Governor Green spoke about the benefits of planting native trees, stating, "These trees gather our water, support our wildlife and make life in Hawaiʻi possible." The initiative, which aligns with Earth Day and the designation of 2025 as the Year of Our Community Forests, aims to raise awareness of Hawaiʻi's natural resources. The Grow Aloha plant adoption campaign, supported by groups like the National Tropical Botanical Garden and Bishop Museum, will distribute thousands of native plants across Hawaiʻi. This effort is also connected to the upcoming ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Day on Friday, which focuses on protecting native species from threats like Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death disease, as reported by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The Earth Day event recognized legislative support for co-stewardship of community forests in Hawai‘i. Governor Green said, "I want to thank the legislature for passing a resolution this year supporting co-stewardship of community forests in Hawai‘i by pairing community knowledge and expertise with our public land stewards at the DLNR." The initiative involves combining community knowledge with public land management. First Lady Jaime Kanani Green discussed the benefits of planting native trees, and Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair Dawn Chang spoke about their role in human health and climate resilience. Urban forestry in Honolulu contributes to carbon capture and energy savings.
