Oh Christmas Tree!

Posted On: Nov 30, 09

For those people whose holiday celebrations include a Christmas tree, there is often no substitute for the real thing. Entering the room and seeing your tree can evoke happy memories from childhood and the excitement of the season. Having a real tree also links us with people throughout history who brought boughs inside to celebrate religious or celestial events. Thousands of years ago Egyptians brought palms and hollies indoors to enliven their homes during winter. Keeping this custom alive with our Christmas trees connects us through cultures and time.

Unfortunately, for those of us living in Hawai’i, imported trees can bring invasive species, and take a toll on the environment with emissions from shipping and trucking. Each year, 50 million Christmas trees are purchased in the U.S. Of those, about 30 million go to the landfill. Fortunately, we have alternatives!

Buy a live potted Christmas tree that you can keep. On Maui? Check out Plant a Wish’s “Planting Christmas” project where you can buy a potted native tree, decorate it for the holidays and plant it afterwards. They even offer planting assistance and a place to plant your tree if you can’t do it at home. Visit them online at Planting Christmas or call to reserve a tree at (808) 250-1469.

If you do get a cut tree, Simplify the Holidays consider buying a local tree from Helemano Farms. Locally grown Norfolk pine trees stay green longer, don’t shed needles, are specially cut to grow back, and avoid invasive species. Helemano Farmsis a family farm in Central O’ahu that offers locally grown Christmas trees that you pick and they cut! They also have wreaths available. They will be open for tree sales starting the day after Thanksgiving.

Want to support Kokua Hawai’i Foundation? Purchase advanced-sale Helemano Farms Christmas Tree Tickets for $40 from us! $10 of that sale will be donated to Kokua Hawai’i Foundation to support environmental education in Hawai’i schools and communities. Visit us at any of the below outreach events for tickets or more email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)