Our Impact
Educate
The “Climate Champions” initiative, in cooperation with the City Office of Resilience, resulted in the production of a fun, and educational, card game called Kumulāʻau, which means “tree” in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. The project is continuing with work on heat islands (built areas that retain more heat than neighboring land) and planting trees to cool campuses at Wai’anae and Kaimukī high schools.
8th Annual Keiki Art Contest, not simply about the art, rather it’s about the conversation on the many ways trees provide benefits for humans and the environment.
Facilitate
Based on the success of the Trees for Kaimukī initiative as documented by U.S. National Park Service started “Trees for Pālolo… Planting Trees, Building Community” a community-led effort to:
- Increase the tree canopy to capture myriad benefits;
- Improve the food and community resilience of Pālolo neighborhoods; and
- Leverage expertise to foster sustainable stewardship within the community.
The late Sharon Schneider, EnVision Kaimukī founder, who saw the macro picture through our Trees for Kaimukī initiative and the micro possibilities in a dusty, forlorn, barren piece of land now graced with two trees and native groundcover along with reclaimed ironwood stools for sitting. Community forestry at its best!
During spring break, students in ‘Aiea planted 4 milo trees to provide shade along the basketball courts at Makalapa Neighborhood Park. Volunteers will water the trees during the first two years as part of the City’s adopt-a-park program. The Mayor also unveiled the City’s Climate Ready plan here in February 2024.
Advocate
Outside Hawai’i — this longest running Spectrum OC16 show produced by Mālama Learning Center went on a fascinating deep dive into the importance and contributions of our urban forests. See it here.
The Heat Is Rising in Honolulu. More Trees Will Help Cool It Off. Cover story in the April 2024 issue of Hawaii Business magazine includes quotes/insights by Heather McMillen on the TFHF Panel of Advisers along with TFHF Directors Roxanne Adams, Matt Gonser, and Daniel Dinell plus mention of partner organizations The Outdoor Circle and Smart Trees Pacific.
Trees speak in this Proof Positive MidWeek feature that highlights the many benefits of trees as well as ways to make a difference.
Looking Forward to 2025
Pursuing a change analysis, which last occurred over a decade ago, so we can understand empirically whether Honolulu’s urban tree canopy is increasing, decreasing, or staying the same.
Governor Josh Green will declare 2025 The Year of our Community Forest. This is in recognition of the many ways our urban trees benefit people and the environment. Indeed, trees add value everywhere the right one is planted in the right place and receiving the right care, but especially in places where we live, work, play, and go to school.
Our Heat Islands Investigators project will be featured nationally when Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) puts out their next heat hazard mitigation guidelines.