New Initiative to Plant and Preserve Trees: Trees For Honolulu’s Future

Trees For Honolulu’s Future (TFHF) is a nonprofit organization founded by Tom Dinell, emeritus professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (and  member of Historic Hawai‘i Foundation).  TFHF’s vision is “A tree-filled island that preserves and enhances our quality of life, especially in the face of climate change”–a mission which aligns with many of  HHF’s goals.

Tom’s son, Dan Dinell, has stepped into the role of president and together they have launched several exciting community-based  initiatives. Here Dan tell us more about the organization and its plans in his own words:

Dan Dinell: “The vision of Trees For Honolulu’s Future is to have Honolulu achieve a 35% tree canopy coverage by 2035. To give you a sense of perspective, Washington D.C. today is about 35% and Honolulu, the last time it was measured was around 20 or 22%, so we got a ways to go. Our full strategic plan is on our website.

Currently we are honed in on our ongoing Trees for Kaimukī initiative, which is a community-based partnership focused in a single neighborhood (obvious in the project name that it’s Kaimukī, of course!) with the idea that it will become a replicable model for other neighborhoods in urban Honolulu. This initiative is focused on the public realm–street trees and trees in parks. We also believe there is an opportunity to address environmental/social inequities by planting on private property in lower income areas that also have a dearth of trees. It’s interesting, and disheartening, to look at heat maps of Honolulu–where it’s hot, and getting hotter. We’re currently working on securing funding support.

Recently I was inspired by a 12 year old student from Hawai‘i Technology Academy (HTA) who is so motivated about trees that he is creating a company to design and sell t-shirts with trees and sayings about trees. He reached out to let us know that he intends to donate proceeds from his sales to Trees for Honolulu’s Future so we can continue our work. It gives me a lot of faith when pre-teens are coming up with business plans and are motivated in making a difference for their community.

My favorite historic place in Hawai‘i is Iolani Palace–not just the building, but the beautiful grounds and the trees.  There’s nothing better in my mind (in pre-Covid days) than eating a bento under the trees and listening to the Royal Hawaiian Band play; it just transports you to a different time. It’s not “just” the place, but the stories that about the place–the people, the environment, the history–and those trees have seen so much of it as silent sentries.”

Mahalo to Dan for responding to our questions.  HHF appreciate efforts like TFHF’s that help preserve historic landscapes, while helping to protect the environment and our quality of life.

To learn more about Trees For Honolulu’s Future, please click on the flyer to enlarge it for reading. Visit the organization’s website at https://www.treesforhonolulu.org for information and resources.

Help plant trees! 2020 Tree Planting at Gunstock Ranch (56-250 Kamehameha Hwy). Hawaiian Legacy Hardwood, Legacy Forest Initiative on Saturdays starting November 28, 2020 thru February 20, 2021 (subject to change due to Covid-19) with 2 hour shifts. Details here: https://www.treesforhonolulu.org/news.