Celebrate Hawai‘i’s Trees During the Year of Our Community Forests
Learn about trees, pick up free native plants and stickers, volunteer with conservation organizations and more ways to get involved.
When it comes to tree conservation, images of Hawai‘i forests in their wildest forms, rising from our mountains and blanketing our valleys, can come to mind. But our community forests, made up of the trees along our streets, in our yards and parks and on our school campuses, need just as much care and attention.
With that in mind, Gov. Josh Green teamed up with the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources to proclaim 2025 as the Year of Our Community Forests. Here are ways to celebrate and get involved:
Image: Art by Kelsie Dayna, Courtesy of Department of Land and Natural Resources
Image: Art by Kelsie Dayna, Courtesy of Department of Land and Natural Resources
Image: Art by Kelsie Dayna, Courtesy of Department of Land and Natural Resources
Image: Art by Kelsie Dayna, Courtesy of Department of Land and Natural Resources
Image: Art by Kelsie Dayna, Courtesy of Department of Land and Natural Resources
Volunteer: Visit DLNR’s website for a calendar of 2025 volunteer opportunities with local conservation organizations at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/trees.
Expand your knowledge: The website also includes educational resources, from tree maps and plant profiles to guides for landscaping with native plants.
Get planting: To help restore urban forests, Grow Aloha, a hui of plant adoption partners, offers free native Hawaiian plants to Hawai‘i residents at Bishop Museum’s monthly Kaiwi‘ula Night Market event. Reserve plants online at bishopmuseum.org.
Play a game: Developed by nonprofit Trees for Honolulu’s Future, the Kūmula‘au card game ($15) offers fun facts about Hawai‘i’s trees, including their benefits and needs for survival.
Snag some swag: Hawai‘i residents can receive up to three complimentary tree-themed stickers designed by local artist Kelsie Dayna. Just email your request and address to dlnr.fw.outreach@hawaii.gov with the subject line “Tree stickers.”
Bedeck your tech: Dayna has also created free virtual backgrounds and device wallpapers, available for download at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/education.
