Flowering trees add warmth

The Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival may be pau but the trees are still creating a great show. Check them out soon before they disappear for another year.

As they begin to fade, blue jacaranda, silver oak and ohia will begin to brighten the landscape. Later in the spring, royal poinciana and rainbow shower trees will brighten streets and gardens. The often maligned African tulip trees will also be making a spectacular display as the weather warms.

There was a time when forests covered much of the lands that are now grassland and desert in Hawaii. However, with the introduction of grazing animals, our forests began to shrink. The vast koa forests of the Kohala mountains, mauka Kona and East Hawaii are now mere remnants of their past glory.

Loss of forests affects the climate making it hotter, drier and windier. Even areas like Hilo experience extremes of flood and drought when forests are removed.

Lucky for us, some folks know the value of forests and windbreaks. Our progressive ranchers are planting some koa and eucalyptus at higher elevations.

Then there are groups like the Outdoor Circle, 4-H, Scouts and Lions clubs that are doing what they can to reforest. Unfortunately, the Kona Outdoor Circle that did so much to make Kona clean, green and beautiful is no longer active. However all it would take to revive this important organization would be to have a few energetic community leaders get the ball rolling.

Back in the 1980s there were almost 1,000 members who worked with the landscape industry and developers to encourage tree planting, underground utilities, and reduce the number of ugly signs and billboards. These amazing citizens were also involved in the overall planning and development of West Hawaii. Now, well planned areas like Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, and Mauna Kea Resorts are literally being transformed into tropical oasis. But all this is just not enough.

So how can we as individuals help beautify and make our environments more enjoyable? One example is people in areas like Kaloko Mauka, Kona who are getting involved in the Forestry Divisions Forest Stewardship program and Hawaii Island Land Trust.

Even small lots add up. By planting trees in your yard, you can actually change the microclimate and make your yard several degrees cooler in the summer. If you place your trees just right, you can even create a garden climate that is milder during cool, windy periods.

It’s really interesting when you expand these basic principles. What happens when everyone in your neighborhood or community plants shade trees? Well, you can actually change the climate over fairly large areas. Foresters have research data that supports the theory that reforestation may increase local rainfall and modify temperature extremes. By the way, urban reforestation is what is happening when lots of folks in a neighborhood or town plant trees.

Now let’s look at the tree planting from another angle. Visitors bring millions of dollars to Hawaii each year. Our sunny winter skies are a big attraction. It used to be that our beaches and tropical woodlands were part of that appeal. Now with urban sprawl on some of our best beaches, our main salvation from endless asphalt alleys is abundant landscaping.

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

In tree planting activities, remember, proper planting is important, as well as a knowledge of the tree’s requirements. Maintenance is the limiting factor as to whether or not street planting is practical. Be sure to choose trees that fit the space in which they must grow. In some new developments, underground utilities are installed. This allows freedom from wires and poles. In such well-planned areas, street side shade trees may be planted to minimize the negative impact of asphalt and concrete.

In Hawaii, we have a wide variety of plants, both native and non-native. Those plants that arrived in Hawaii before the first human contact are considered natives. Those plants that arrived with the aid of Polynesians, Europeans, Chinese, Japanese or other groups of people settling here are considered introduced. Therefore, we have a wide variety for beauty and as a food source for both humans and our wildlife. By keeping abundant vegetation as an integral part of our human communities, we actually find a constant connection with our natural world.

For assistance in the selection and care of trees, call the UH Master Gardener Helpline at 322-4893 in Kona or 981-5199 in Hilo.