Tropical gardening: May 1st is Lei Day

May 1st is Lei Day but in Hawaii nei we celebrate flowers of all kinds throughout the year. Traditionally, everyone should wear flowers. Fragrant plumeria, pikake, tuberose, puakenikeni, and orchid necklaces are appropriate gifts today since it’s Mother’s Day weekend. Girls and even guys can wear flowers in their hair here. Of course in the southern islands like Tahiti, Samoa and Tonga you will see islanders adorned with flowers all year round. Tropical Polynesia is well known for using flowers instead of expensive jewelry for adornment. This is why people fill their gardens with flowering shrubs and trees so that they have an abundant supply at all times.

There was a time when forests covered much of the land that is now grassland and desert in Hawaii. However, with the introduction of grazing animals in the 19th century, our forests began to shrink. The vast koa forests of the Kohala, Mauka Kona, and East Hawaii Mountains are but remnants of their former glory.

The loss of forests affects the climate, making hot areas even hotter, drier and windier. Even places like Hilo experience extreme floods and droughts when the area’s forests are cleared.

Of course native plants are important such as endemic species of hibiscus, wiliwili, ohia and greenery like maile and palapalai fern. However, many of the most spectacular flowers have been introduced within the past 200 years. These include royal poinciana, jacaranda, cassias or shower trees, many species of tabebuia, and fragrant trees like ylang ylang and plumeria. The list is so long that it includes a hundred species.

Well-planned areas like Kukio, Hualalai, Mauna Lani, Waiakoloa and Mauna Kea Resorts are literally transformed into tropical oases. A project to create safe walking and biking trails is underway in North Kona. Hundreds of trees are planned all along the Ane Keohokalole highway. Over 100 trees have been planted through the efforts of Hawaii County, PATH, HELCO, Kaiser, Ironman, and Rotary Clubs of West Hawaii.

Another street showing signs of urban beautification is Ka’imi’nani in Kona Palisades now that road construction is complete. Residents do a great job of landscaping their road frontage and the overall effect is impressive. Congratulations to all !

These are examples of how individuals can help beautify and make our environment more pleasant. People can also get involved with the Hawaii Forestry Divisions Forest Stewardship Program, the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, and Hawaii County Agriculture/Forestry Dedication Programs. The latter provides local landowners with certain tax savings and benefits for our island residents by protecting these lands from urban development.

So we see that even small batches add up. By planting flowering trees in your garden, you can actually change the climate and make your surroundings several degrees cooler in the summer. If you place your trees in the right place, you can even create a milder garden climate during cool, windy periods. It’s really interesting when you develop these basic principles. What happens when everyone in your neighborhood or community plants shade trees? Well, you can actually change the weather over quite large areas. Foresters have research data that supports the theory that reforestation can increase local rainfall in dry areas and alter temperature extremes.

Planting trees to provide shade and beautify our communities is not the complete answer, but it can help. Shopping is miserable when the streets are deserted and the parking lots are hot and uncomfortable. Hotels, restaurants, and gas stations that are nicely landscaped with shade trees, shrubs, and grass attract customers. Even grocery stores and department stores are finding that landscaping pays off.

In tree planting activities, remember that proper planting is important, as well as knowledge of the requirements of the tree. Maintenance is the limiting factor as to whether street planting is practical or not. Be sure to choose trees that match the space they need to grow in. Visiting certain malls and communities is a pleasure due to landscape efforts. Of course, we need to improve even our best examples of landscaping as we become more sensitive to the greening of our island.

In some new developments, underground utilities are installed. This frees up wires and poles. In these well-planned plots, street-side shade trees can be planted to minimize the negative impact of asphalt and concrete. Where power lines are overhead, it is important to plant trees that remain small, no taller than 15 to 20 feet in most cases. This will minimize the problem of maintaining utilities.

In Hawaii we have a wide variety of plants, both native and non-native. Plants that arrived in Hawaii before first human contact are considered native. Plants that arrived with the help of Polynesians, Europeans, Asians, Africans, South Americans, or other groups of people who settled here are considered introduced. Therefore, we have a great variety for beauty and as a food source for humans and our wildlife like birds. By keeping abundant vegetation as an integral part of our human communities, we actually find a constant connection to our natural world.