Aloha *|FNAME|*,

I am so proud of our interns! Help us show them how much we appreciate them with a donation. 

While I was attending a conference in San Francisco, their Mayor Edwin Lee said: "When you have the opportunity to invest in our kids, you're going to see talent in years to come."

We agree. That's why I helped launch a youth-intern program at The Outdoor Circle to provide an opportunity for young people to develop the skills necessary to help keep Hawai‘i clean, green, and beautiful. This Fall, four talented students helped us to: 

• Create and expand a digital map of all Exceptional Trees in Hawai‘i
• Engage with HART on the implementation of the rail project
• Partner with another non-profit to plant trees at a school on the Leeward coast
• Plan and implement a tree-give away in Kapolei in partnership with a neighborhood association
• Support "pocket parks" at a local Complete Streets demonstration 
• Create and distribute fundraising materials for our year-end appeal

Thanks to their desire to give-back, future students will have a canopy of trees, where there was once only dry open space.  Exceptional trees statewide are being mapped and the data is publicly available in ONE on-line database.  TOC is partnered with fellow organizations working in complementary ways to improve the quality of life for everyone here.

Thank you Gracie Thacker, Myles Ritchie, Dominique Cupa, and Gloria Taafe -- TOC's Fall 2014 interns.  I am truly grateful for all your hard work and dedication this semester. I look forward to working with you more in the future.

It is for them and future interns like them that I humbly ask you to make a donation to The Outdoor Circle.  Make the investment NOW, so that the next generation can protect Hawai‘i's environment. General donations made on  #GIVINGTUESDAY will help our interns further our programs.  Your investment on December 2nd will help kickstart more innovative techniques for fulfilling our mission. 

You can follow the interns' work and share it with your networks by following @OutdoorCircleHI on Twitter. We are using the hashtag #HItrees. 

With Warmest Aloha,
Noelani Sugata
Director of Operations

The Outdoor Circle is teaming up with the Kaupe‘a Homestead Association in Kapolei to host a free tree and plant give-away on Monday December 1st, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm. 

“I am so excited to help out with this tree giveaway in my neighborhood,” said Kanani Wong.

Over 250 trees and plants -- native and non-invasive -- will be given away to area residents, along with information about how to plant and care for the trees. Members of the Neighborhood Board, the Kaupe‘a Homeowners Association, and other organizations serving the area will also be on-hand to talk story with residents.

“We are excited to partner with area residents and organizations to help distribute plants and trees in the communities that need it most,” said Marti Townsend, Executive Director of The Outdoor Circle. 

The Outdoor Circle celebrated Arbor Day 2014 at Kuhio Elementary School with the planting of two crepe myrtle trees at the playground.  

In step with the school's theme this year, "Malama Honua = Malama Kuhio," this event honored the memory of their "secret gardener," Errol Aczon. Errol, the school principal's brother, regularly volunteered his time in the evenings to work with students in planting trees and tending the landscape. His work is now literally bearing fruit for the students, as they enjoy fresh figs and leafy vegetables grown on their campus. 

Volunteers, staff, faculty, students, and dignitaries highlighted the importance of trees to the health of our global environment and the connection between generations that is shared in the act of planting a tree. 

Kuhio Elementary has demonstrated a real commitment to keeping their campus clean, green, and beautiful. They have a vertical vegetable wall, fruit trees, and beautifully designed landscaping throughout the school. This is the third Outdoor Circle planting at the school -- 1978, 2007, and 2014.

This event was successful because of the extra efforts of:
Steve Nimz, Arborist
Wayne Ogasawara, Mililani Agricultural Park
Stan Oka and Terri Koike, Division of Urban Forestry
Lloyd Shimazu and Lem Keomaka, Department of Education
Principal Evelyn Hao and the faculty, staff and student at Kuhio Elementary 
Tommy Tokumoro
Cindie Ogata
Lovelyline Kwock
Ruth Pukahi
Ululani Lima
Lilla Cefra
Oscar Johnson