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New trees get blessed

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos

First photo: Four-time Grammy Award winner and Hawaiian Renaissance man George Kahumoku Jr. gives a blessing Saturday while helping launch the La’au Ha’awi Maui tree planting project at Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center in Wailuku. The nine Rotary Clubs of Maui, in conjunction with Ohana Gardens/Food Security Hawaii and Kahumoku, plan to plant 500 food-bearing trees on the island before the end of January. They are seeking donations of trees, money and locations to plant trees to facilitate the project. For information log on to https://mauiohanagardens.org/treeplanting/. Contact is Mariko Higashi at marikoinmaui@gmail.com.

Second photo: George Kahumoku Jr. and project manager Jenny Pell of Ohana Gardens demonstrate the steps of how to properly plant a tree while putting the first ulu in the ground Saturday at Ka Hale A Ke Ola. They also planted a variety of bananas, a dwarf mango, dwarf coconut, lemon grass and other food-bearing plants. Pell said the project is inspired by the Victory Gardens of the past and designed to help people grow their own food. Ka Hale A Ke Ola Executive Director Monique Ibarra said the planting would benefit future generations. The Rotary Clubs of Maui and Ohana Gardens also plan to set up “tree gifting locations” on Dec. 12. St. Theresa Church in Kihei will have free fruit-bearing tree saplings available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Napili Farmers Market also will have free tree saplings available. An Upcountry site will be announced. Recipients will also get a simple planting and “caring for your tree” manual. Donations are welcome but not required to receive a tree.

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