Grove of lei trees planted as part of Mayor’s Arbor Day Ceremony

18 trees (plumeria, wiliwili, pua kenikeni) planted at Kapolei Regional Park with local keiki

In celebration of the annual Mayor’s Arbor Day, arborists with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) joined haumana (students) from Kapolei High School to plant 18 lei trees at Kapolei Regional Park today, November 6, 2026! Recognized as one of the largest Mayor’s Arbor Day plantings, the ceremony established new homes for 14 plumeria, three wiliwili, and a pua kenikeni tree near the Kama‘aha Avenue-side of the Leeward O‘ahu park.

“When we plant a tree, we are making an investment in the future of our island and the generations who will call it home,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Trees are one of the few investments we can make today that actually grow in value over time. They provide shade, cool our neighborhoods, improve our environment and make our communities healthier, more beautiful places to live. After the series of powerful storms we experienced this year, we have seen firsthand just how important it is to restore and strengthen our urban forests. But this effort is about more than planting trees. It is about preserving our connection to the land, honoring the traditions of our kūpuna and protecting what makes Hawaiʻi so special. I am especially pleased that we are planting more flowering trees that will support our cherished traditions of lei-making and gathering. This is about taking care of our island home today while leaving something meaningful and lasting for generations to come.”

Each of the trees today were selected because of their connection to flower-growing, lei-making, and Hawaiian culture. Wiliwili trees (Erythrina sandwicensis) are endemic to Hawai‘i, typically found in low elevations as a keystone species essential to our endangered dryland forests. Once considered a common tree, there are now only remnant kūpuna groves that are threatened by wildfires, development, and a gall wasp that infected all Erythrina species. The light, buoyant wood of this gorgeous legume was used traditionally for wa‘a (canoe) building, specifically the ‘iako and ‘ama (boom and floats), with bright red seeds and stunning yellow, orange, and red pea flowers.

Brought to Hawai‘i in the 1800s, pua kenikeni (Fagraea berteroana) and plumeria (Plumeria rubra) are easily identified by their sweet-smelling pua (flowers), perennial blooms, ease of care, and contributions to local pollinators. Pua kenikeni flower range from white, yellow, and orange as the day progresses, while a plethora of plumeria species offer flowers in  a variety of fragrance, durability, colors, and shapes.

“When we invest in our parks, we invest in our people and the future of our communities,” said Honolulu City Councilmember Andria Tupola, who represents the area. “It’s great to see our Kapolei High School students getting involved and learning the importance of caring for our ʻāina. These trees will be here for generations to enjoy, and that’s what this is all about leaving our community better than we found it. Mahalo to our Parks Department and all our partners for making this possible.”

Mahalo to the other partners who joined us for this planting & education event, and for their continued support of our community forests. They include: the State’s Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program; the City’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency; Mālama Learning Center, Ulu A‘e Learning Center, and Wai‘anae Mountains Watershed Partnership.

While Arbor Day Hawaiʻi is in November, the ideal time to plant during the beginning of the rainy season, we give appreciation to trees year-round. From July 2025 through June 2026, DPR’s arborists planted 1,492 trees around O‘ahu, in addition to giving away 445 trees to the public free of charge during community forestry events. For more information on the many benefits of trees, and all of the efforts of the dedicated arborists within DPR’s Division of Urban Forestry and Community Forestry, please visit: bit.ly/oahutrees

If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.

—PAU—

Follow the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation online and on social media:

YouTube: bit.ly/DPRyoutube    Twitter: @honolulu_parks   Instagram: @honolulu_parks 

Facebook: facebook.com/honolulu.parks    Nextdoor: bit.ly/DPRnextdoor    

Website: honolulu.gov/parks

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