May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii but we celebrate flowers of all kinds all year long. Traditionally, everyone should consider wearing flowers more often. Fellows, let’s get back to wearing aloha shirts and ladies, what about revisiting mu‘umu‘u. These unique expressions of our culture are coming back in style as part of the Hawaiian renaissance movement.
Fragrant plumeria, pikake, tuberose, and orchid leis are appropriate gifts since Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Gals and even guys may wear flowers in their hair here. Of course in islands to the south like Tahiti, Samoa and Tonga, you will see islanders adorned with flowers all year long. Tropical Polynesia is well known for using flowers instead of expensive jewels for adornment. That is why folks fill their gardens with flowering shrubs and trees so that they will have an abundant supply at any time.
The recent celebration of Earth Day emphasized how much we are connected to nature. By incorporating nature into our everyday attire, we celebrate that connection. We then can become more aware of our living environment, like vegetation, birds and such. 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 in the late 18th century, 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 hot even hotter, dry, dryer and windy areas windier. Even places like Hilo experience extremes of flood and drought when forests in the area are removed.
Lucky for us, some folks know the value of forests and windbreaks. Our progressive ranchers are planting koa and other hardwoods at higher elevations.
Then there are groups like the Outdoor Circles, 4-H, Scouts, Rotary Club, Path and Lions clubs that are doing what they can to reforest our roadsides and communities. Of course, native plants are important like hibiscus species, wiliwili, ohia, maile and palapalai fern. However many of the more spectacular flowers have been introduced in the last 200 years. These include royal poinciana, jacaranda, the cassias or shower trees, many species of tabebuia, and fragrant trees like the ylang ylang and plumeria. The list is so long that it covers over a hundred species.
Well planned areas like Kukio, Hualalai, Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, and Mauna Kea Resorts are literally being transformed into tropical oasis. Another street that is showing signs of urban beautification is Ka‘imi‘nani in Kona Palisades now that the road construction is completed. Residents are doing a great job of landscaping their road frontage and the overall effect is impressive. Kudos to all!
These are examples showing how individuals can help to beautify and make our environment more enjoyable. Folks can also get involved in the Hawaii Forestry Divisions Forest Stewardship program, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust and Hawaii County’s agriculture/forest dedication programs. The latter gives local landowners certain tax savings and benefits to our island residents by protecting these lands from urban development.
So we see that even small lots add up. By planting flowering trees in your garden, you can actually change the microclimate and make your surroundings 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. Another advantage is that by using flowering trees that are fragrant like plumeria or angel trumpets, it actually sweetens the air. Shrubs like pikake and other jasmines further add that pleasant ambiance.
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. A visit to some shopping centers and certain communities is a pleasure because of the efforts to landscape. 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 allows freedom from wires and poles. In such well planned tracts, street side shade trees may be planted to minimize the negative impact of asphalt and concrete. Where utility lines are overhead, it is important to plant trees that stay small, no more than 15 to 20 feet in most cases. This will minimize the problem of maintaining utility services.
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 especially birds. By keeping abundant vegetation as an integral part of our human communities, we actually find a constant connection with our natural world. That connection is exemplified by our use of flowers in the way we dress.
Norman Bezona is professor emeritus, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.