Lā Ho‘oulu Pae Moku /
ReTree Hawaii
History and Mission
Lā Ho‘oulu Pae Moku / ReTree Hawaii was founded in late 2019 to address climate change through education and by engaging residents and visitors in increasing Hawaii’s tree coverage. Initially formed to organize a state-wide tree planting day on October 30, 2020, ReTree Hawaii has grown into an ongoing community effort, inspired by the success of its first event. Driven by volunteers and partnerships, ReTree Hawaii’s mission is to enhance Hawaii’s climate resilience through widespread planting initiatives.
ReTree Hawaii empowers local communities by promoting self-service planting. Each site chooses its own plants, volunteers, and schedules, while ReTree Hawaii offers year-round resources and coordination support, particularly to schools, community groups, and conservation organizations. The organization’s primary campaign focus is in November with the goal to plant 100,000 trees each November, with plans to expand these efforts and increase the number of plantings each year towards reaching the goal.
Core Program and Services
ReTree Hawaii facilitates community-led planting events, offering tools and resources through its website to help hosts organize and promote their activities. The website also serves as a hub for volunteers to find and join planting efforts across all major Hawaiian islands. Additionally, ReTree Hawaii provides free plants to sites lacking financial resources, focusing on native species to promote local biodiversity.
The organization actively educates the public on the importance of tree planting to mitigate climate change. Educational initiatives include small group forums, school workshops, and media campaigns. Through partnerships with schools, businesses, and conservation groups, ReTree Hawaii fosters community participation and environmental awareness.
ReTree Hawaii also prioritizes ongoing data collection and communication with planting participants. After each event, ReTree Hawaii follows up with planting hosts to gather information on plant survival rates and any challenges faced. This data is essential for tracking the long-term success of planting efforts and informing future projects. Regular updates are shared with participants through email and social media, fostering continued engagement and support.
Impact and Results
Since its inception, ReTree Hawaii has facilitated over 400 planting events, engaging well over 5,000 volunteers and planting well over 68,000 trees and other plants across all populated Hawaiian islands except Ni‘ihau and also on Kaho‘olawe. Maui County has seen especially high involvement, with well over 350 events and over 60,000 plants in the ground. The ecological benefits of planting trees extend beyond carbon sequestration. Trees enhance soil stability, reduce runoff and erosion, and improve water quality by filtering pollutants. Native trees, in particular, support Hawaii’s unique ecosystems by providing habitats for endemic wildlife and restoring natural watershed functions. In areas affected by wildfires or habitat degradation, increased tree coverage aids in ecological recovery and helps mitigate the impact of future environmental changes.The initiative has significantly contributed to local climate resilience, biodiversity preservation, and community engagement.
Mahalo to Our Supporters
ReTree Hawaii would not be possible without the generous support of organizations and individuals dedicated to a greener future. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Maui Mayor's Office, Maui County Council, Nuestro Futuro, Kaulunani, Atherton Foundation, Sierra Club, Coconut Traveler, and all private donors. Your support is invaluable in making our vision a reality.
