A group of Tiki’s staff members, managers, and partner went to Haleiwa to plant 200 trees with Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative, a beneficiary for Tiki’s 20th Anniversary for a team outing service day planting dedicated legacy trees and Maui Hope trees for those who lost their lives in the fires on Maui.
In the introduction by Executive Director, Susanne Kurisu, she explained, “The forest doesn’t only provide a home for our native and endemic birds, at one point Hawaii used to be the most biodiverse place on the planet. Today, it is known as having the world’s highest extinction list with the highest number of endangered species.”
A planting demonstration was given by Field Manager, Tellus Fix, for the best way to plant the Ma’o trees including massaging the pot to help get the tree out so it’s not stuck. Trying not to bust the top when you pop it out. If the hole isn’t deep enough, fluffing the bottom of excess dirt helps stimulate the roots in the growth process. Not getting the tree too low below the surface, so as you’re filling up with dirt bringing it up a little. If it gets too low, it will end up rotting the stem and the tree won’t survive. Packing the dirt around the tree to get the air pockets out, and using a small stick with velcro tie to keep it upright. After planting the first one, he commented, “I know she doesn’t look too happy right now, but she’s been whipped around for the last couple of days in the truck, and she will come back in a couple more days back to looking just as perfect as she was the day we took her in here.”
Mulch is also used to help keep the moisture in the ground, and helps with nutrients for the plant. They don’t want to give them too much because it is a forest and they will have to struggle at some point, so they don’t like to give them a ton of fertilizer and don’t like to give them a ton of water. At some point, they’re going to have to make it on their own.
Tiki’s Grill & Bar is proud to make The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative one of its beneficiaries with ticket sales and donations, along with the Hawaii Food Bank for Tiki’s 20th Anniversary. $8,346.18 was donated to The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative in October 2022. The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation matched our donation bringing the total to $16,692.00. This includes 185 Legacy Trees planted and .46 acres of habitat restored.
Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI, Legacytrees.org) is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 that works to preserve economically viable and sustainable endemic/native Hawaiian forests, protect Hawaii’s endangered species, sequester carbon, and recharge watersheds. We are witnessing the rebirth of the endemic/native Hawaiian forests seeing the real-time number of native trees planted including koa, iliahi, naio, a‘ali‘i, ohia, milo, kou, wiliwili, and hala. The forests provide critical habitat for some of Hawaii’s rarest birds and protects Hawaii’s reef and ocean life. Currently, their forests are located on the Big Island of Hawaii and Oahu.
Mahalo to Tiki’s staff and patrons who contribute to make this happen!
