Tree Giveaways To Honor Arbor Day

Arbor Day Hawaii 2014 has assembled 2,700 trees and shrubs to give away, one per family, beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, accompanied by advice from certified arborists and volunteers on proper care and the best place to plant them.

For Windward Oahu residents, the closest location is HECO’s Ko’olau base yard at 1387 Ulupi’i St. in Kailua. Early arrival is recommended to assure the best choice. New varieties this year are Brazilian cherry, bridal bouquet plumeria, brown turkey fig, dwarf tiare, Lebronnecia, Thai chili pepper and violet tree.

Sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co. on Oahu, the annual Arbor Day observance began April 10, 1872, in Nebraska, where pioneering folks missed the shelter and shade of their trees at home, as well as their use as fuel and building materials on the prairie. An estimated 1 million trees were planted that day in Nebraska.

Other tree giveaway sites are at McKinley High School, Kahe Power Plant near Kapolei, Wahiawa Botanical Garden, Pearl City Urban Garden Center and Waimea Valley. Waimea and the garden center also will have plant sales. For more information, visit arbordayhawaii.org.