Foundation Gives Away Free Trees

The scent of fragrant white hibiscus will soon fill the air in ‘Ewa Beach thanks to the 300 Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o trees given away by the Hoakalei Cultural Foundation on Saturday Nov. 7, 2009.

The 3rd annual tree giveaway took place from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Keone‘ula Elementary School in honor of Arbor Day in Hawai‘i.

Each tree came with a handout containing a description of the plant, botanical and educational information about how Hawaiians used the Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o traditionally, and horticultural/landscape use information.

Arborist Roxanne Adams of Native Pathfinders Inc. and her staff briefed residents about the trees and answered numerous questions about the Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o, such as how to properly plant it and how to care for and nurture the tree.

Volunteers from the Pu‘uloa Outrigger Canoe Club, Boys & Girls Club Hale Pono ‘Ewa Beach Clubhouse, Keone‘ula Elementary School and Haseko helped the Foundation give away the trees.

This year's event was funded in part by Kaulunani, an Urban Forestry Program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service.

Koki‘o ke‘oke‘o Handout