photography by Karen DB Photography
John Henshaw of the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and Mike Wilson of Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods check on the young koa trees in Maunawili Valley.
John Henshaw of the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and Mike Wilson of Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods check on the young koa trees in Maunawili Valley.
Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods has given new meaning to the term, “family tree.” The local company is creating opportunities for you to literally have your own family tree, a real wood tree, and not just any tree, but the revered native Hawaiian koa tree. Koa, considered by some to be the “mother tree” of Hawaii, as well as one of the world's most valuable tropical hardwoods, has been severely depleted over the past 100 years by feral cattle, land clearing, invasive pests and unsustainable harvesting.
Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods has partnered with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Four Seasons Hualalai, Martin and MacArthur, Hagadone Printing and others to reverse the trend—one tree at a time.
“Over time, the loss and removal of this monarch tree, with no replanting, has diminished our koa forests and the quality of other native forests,” said Suzanne Case, executive director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. “This partnership seeks to address both these concerns.”
Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods recently launched the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative™, an aggressive, koa-replanting program that raises funds for organizations while helping to return the once majestic koa forests to their former glory. Located on the slopes of Mauna Kea, this historic site was once a pristine koa forest and the private property of King Kamehameha I, the first King of Hawaii. Through the efforts of many, these magnificent trees are making a comeback.
“It's important to restore the koa forest for many reasons,” says Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods CEO Jeff Dunster. “These trees are found nowhere else on Earth and provide native habitat for some of Hawaii's rarest birds. A vibrant koa tree adds to the biodiversity of the Islands and sequesters carbon from the global atmosphere year-round. Beyond the planting of trees, however, we believe the key to lasting change lies in educating the next generation on the importance of respecting and maintaining our forests, and that this will help to ensure a healthy, more sustainable world for our future.”
Cover Kids Treighton and Tyler have fun getting down and dirty in Maunawili Valley.
Cover Kids Treighton and Tyler have fun getting down and dirty in Maunawili Valley.
The partnership with the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai will result in the planting of up to 500,000 “legacy” koa trees in the native Hawaiian forest. “This important initiative shows our continued commitment to doing the right thing,” says Robert Whitfield, general manager of Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. “Our partnership will allow our employees, our guests and clients to be a part of this effort in bettering our environment and Hawaii Island in particular, whether by planting one tree, or a forest of trees.”
People can sponsor a Legacy Tree to honor an individual, commemorate a special event, or to memorialize a loved one. Their tree becomes a living legacy; a gift that grows grander every year. Each recipient of a Legacy Tree will receive a certificate of planting that contains a GPS/GIS (Global Positioning System/Geographic Information System) mapped with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tagging that helps track each Legacy Tree.
This process allows recipients to track their trees' growth via GPS maps and, over time, see their trees from space using satellite imagery such as Google Earth. The giver can even inscribe a personal message on the certificate.
Beautiful by-products of the revered Hawaiian koa tree.
Beautiful by-products of the revered Hawaiian koa tree.
A tree sponsorship is $60, with $20 per tree going to the organization of the giver's choice (or to the fundraising organization), $1 to The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and the remainder toward the planting and care of the koa seedling. These legacy trees are part of a 1,000-acre, managed-forest ecosystem that will provide permanent native habitat for Hawaii's rarest birds, such as the endangered akepa and akiapolaau.
“This is an incredibly unique fundraiser,” said Mike Wilson, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods director of sales. “We will supply your organization with all fundraising materials, training and expertise needed to make the project a success. Best of all, there is no cost for this program. Everything is provided by Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods free of charge.”
For more information about our Legacy Tree Reforestation Program and how
Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods can help your organization achieve its fundraising goals, please visit legacytrees.org or call 595-8847 for more information.
