East Hawaii Branch

Wailoa State Park Beautification Project

The East Hawaii Branch held a planting event on March 6, 2021, Wailoa State Park in Hilo, to replant an area that had two beautiful healthy monkey pods cut down by the state because of complaints from the community.
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We partnered with the JROTC from Hilo High School and were able to put in 2 golden trumpet trees, 10 brunfelsia, and 36 mock orange. Once they become established, there will be beautiful purple, yellow and white blossoms for everyone to enjoy.

The 22 high school students and their Sergeant Ryan Taniguchi, who was quite enthusiastic because it was a good educational event for the students, are interested in doing another event, perhaps with students from the athletic department.

We gained 3 new members that day and a mention in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. And the ducks supervised!

Joan Gossett, Secretary, East Hawaii Branch
​For more information on the East Hawaii Outdoor Circle, visit their website at East Hawaii Outdoor Circle​.

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East Hawaii Outdoor Circle Tree Giveaway

On October 24, 2020, the East Hawaii Outdoor Circle conducted a follow-up tree giveaway with funds procured by The Outdoor Circle Statewide organization. The event provided trees to residents of the East Hawai‘i community as a direct response to the natural disasters 2018, while also beginning to address the widespread food insecurity caused by COVID. By giving away over 655 trees consisting of 14 desirable fruit and native species, the community will now be able to help replant following the volcanic eruption, hurricanes and flooding that took place three years ago, which has produced negative impacts that continue to linger to this day and have been exacerbated by COVID. These trees will be able to help mitigate future natural disaster impacts, especially when flooding occurs and begin to provide food security for residents of Hawai‘i Island who received these trees.
 
This event also allowed us to reach-out to numerous demographics in the community to let them know about the wonderful work The Outdoor Circle is currently undertaking, as well as that of the Arbor Day Foundation and International Paper who sponsored the event. A third iteration of the event is scheduled for November 2021, and will once again be supported by the two aforementioned entities.

Myles Ritchie, Programs Director, The Outdoor Circle