Treecovery Hawaii offers opportunities for people to volunteer to plant and grow trees. Photo courtesy of Treecovery

Sparkman, the chief engineer at Royal Lahaina Resort, said he still has flashbacks of feeling helpless and being unable to leave Lahaina for three days after the wildfire and the tragic loss of lives.

But he also remembers how the community came together to help each other, including the Royal Lahaina Resort, which canceled future visitor reservations to accommodate displaced residents in its hotel units.

As the county Arborist Committee chair, he’s worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and property owners to determine which trees could be saved and which needed to be cut and removed from properties.

A goal is more fruit trees

Sparkman said a goal of Treecovery is to eventually have enough fruit trees in Lahaina to yield about $4 million in fruit per year to be harvested and consumed by local homeowners.

“We’re trying to make sure people have access to food,” he said.

“We’re trying to get more fruit trees in the ground.”

The trees in the nurseries offer a wide variety, including avocados, pomegranates, apples, cherries, tangerines, lemons, coconuts, mangos, palms, oranges, limes, guavas, durians, plumerias, breadfruits, soursaps, calamansi, and bananas.

He said a special effort has been made to grow native plants in public areas to provide a Hawaiian atmosphere.

In December, Treecovery, three Rotary Clubs, Maui County, and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation helped with a native-planting at Keawaiki Park near Lahaina Harbor.

The work involved planting 10 trees such as loulu palms, four Hawaiian fan palms from Molokai, and sandalwood trees.

Sparkman said the presence of the Hawaiian sandalwood, now a rare plant, provides an opportunity to discuss island history regarding the sandalwood trade.

The trees, with their fragrant smell, were harvested to near extinction, but efforts have been made to grow them again.

“People get to see actual sandalwood trees,” he said.

Kaanapali Resort volunteers and Royal Pacific Landscape also helped to plant the trees.

“It’s a reminder of how much can be done when the community works together,” Parkman said.

Other Hawaiian plants being grown in nurseries include wiliwili and breadfruit trees, the shrub alahe’e, and white hibiscus puu keokeo.

Sparkman said Treecovery has been receiving great donations from Maui artists, including sculptor Dale Zarella who has created sculptures out of burned logs.

He said one of Zarella’s sculptures sold for $14,000, and Zarella donated half of the proceeds to Treecovery.

Luthier and musician Steve Grimes has made musical instruments that he’s donated to Treecovery.

Some residents also call to donate their trees. One of the largest donations came from Maui mental health official John Oliver who gave hundreds of pomegranate, fig, and avocado trees from his Haiku land.

Sparkman said more than 1,000 people, including visitors and students, have volunteered to help with various tasks, including pulling weeds and planting trees.

He said he’s been amazed at the generosity of people and their interest in volunteering.

“I honestly pinch myself every day,” Sparkman said.

To volunteer or make donations of money or plants, go to treecoveryhawaii.org