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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2026-10 Tree City Hawaiʻi County PresentationTree City County of Hawai ʻi Leʻa Kaʻahaʻaina, Education & Outreach Coordinator Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Program (DLNR-DOFAW) June 9, 2026 Selecting a tree at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden Arbor Day 2024 MISSION To support all of Hawaiʻi’s communities with a focus on equity to cultivate well-being and resilience through restorative & environmental justice, planting, caring for, and growing relationships with the trees and forests where we live, work, learn and play. WHO WE ARE 2 Trees and forests where we live, work, learn, and play Wao Kanaka TREES HELP IMPROVE 5 WATER & AIR QUALITY CLIMATE RESILIENCE ECONOMY HUMAN HEALTH COMMUNITY SAFETY EQUITY EDUCATION FOOD SECURITY WHAT WE DO 6 Community Coconut Program Shade Trees for Schools Program TREE CITY USA Started in 1976. For communities to manage and expand their public trees. 7 TREE CAMPUS HIGHER EDUCATION Started in 2008. For colleges and universities to establish and sustain healthy community forests. TREE CAMPUS K-12 Started in 2022. For K-12 campuses to inspire the next generation of tree stewards through experiences that bring the benefits of trees to life both inside and outside the classroom. WHAT IS TREE CITY USA? 8 Tree City USA is an annual national recognition program designed to: ●raise awareness of the value of community trees ●set foundational standards for communities of all sizes ●celebrate community improvement WHY BE A TREE CITY? 9 Tree City USA provides a framework for… 1.Management 2.Policy 3.Investment 4.Celebration How to become a TREE CITY 10 To qualify as a Tree City USA community, you must meet four standards established by the ●Arbor Day Foundation ●National Association of State Foresters 1.Tree board or department 2.Public tree care ordinance 3.Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry ○Tree planting, care, maintenance, etc. 4.Arbor Day Observance ○Signed Arbor Day proclamation 11 TREE CITY USA Program Standards APPLICATION 12 ●Applications recognize work done in the past year ●Create an account at: ○recognition.arborday.org ●Follow the prompts for each standard ○Fill-in boxes, upload documents ●Deadline to Submit: Dec 31 (each year) 13 Second Tues. in Sept. Application Opens Dec 31 Deadline to Submit Mar - Apr Application Review -State Coordinator (Kaulunani) -Arbor Day Foundation Apr 30 Final deadline to submit revisions May Award Announcement TIMELINE 14 TREE CITY IN HAWAI ʻI Counties are a great fit! ●County of Maui (1976) ●City & County of Honolulu (1980) ●County of Hawaiʻi (2005-2007, 2025!!!) & 6 Military communities on Oʻahu Map 2023 Arbor Day celebration at Fort Shafter. MAHALO, Charla! 15 Thank you to Charla Thompson, a dedicated community volunteer, for applying on behalf of Hawaiʻi County in 2025! With the support and encouragement of the Action Committee members, Long Term Planning Department members, Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program, The Outdoor Circle, County Council members and Mayor Alameda 1.Tree board or department ○Mayor’s Arborist Advisory Committee (AAC) 2.Public tree care ordinance ○Exceptional Tree Ordinance 3.Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry ○Dept. of Parks & Rec. budget 4.Arbor Day Observance ○OSCER plant giveaways ○Signed Arbor Day proclamation - Mayor Alameda in 2025, can also be county council 16 TREE CITY USA Program Standards 17 OPPORTUNITIES ●Designated role for applying annually. Who will compile and submit the application? ●Updating Ordinances (Exceptional Tree, AAC role) ●Support from Mayor & County Council ●New Ordinances (use Maui County example & ADF tool) ●County Arborist position ●Tree City Growth Award 18 RESOURCES Arbor Day Foundation Tree City Website ADF Tree Care Ordinance Assistant Kauluanani Tree City Website 2023 Arbor Day celebration at Fort Shafter. MAHALO! CONTACT LEʻA KA ʻAHA ʻAINA Education & Outreach Coordinator, Kaulunani lea.a.kaahaaina.researcher@hawaii.gov w. www.kaulunani.org e. info@kaulunani.org ig. @kaulunani 20 Questions?