June 2015 -Native Trees at the D.T. Fleming Arboretum Nominated Exceptional

Exceptional-Trees-2015--Published-MN-July-5-2015Ulupalakua- The Board of Directors of the D.T.Fleming Arboretum at Pu‘u Mahoe are pleased to announce that eight trees from the Arboretum have been accepted as exceptional trees by the Arborist Committee of Maui County. This is the beginning of a process that recognizes trees as exceptional for their historic or cultural value and represents a community resource. A tree may be deemed exceptional for its age, rarity, location, size, or beauty. The Arborist Committee is a citizen advisory committee that looks out for the welfare of trees in our community. The committee recommends new nominations to the Mayor and Council who make the final decision for the exceptional tree designation.
The eight trees represent four species which are native to the Hawaiian Islands: 2 Loulu Palms- Pritchardia arecina and Pritchardia forbesiana, 2 Halapepe- Chrysodracon auwahiensi, and 4 Koki’o- Kokia cookei, 4 of the only 5 individuals of Kokia cookei in existence.
The nominations join the five native trees that were previously recognized as exceptional growing at the D.T.Fleming Arboretum within the cinder cone of Pu‘u Mahoe.

This Halapepe- Chrysodracon auwahiensi is one of the 8 trees in the D.T. Fleming Arboretum nominated as a Maui County Exceptional Tree. It is an original planting by David Thomas Fleming in 1952, 21 feet tall with a 3 feet diameter trunk. Halapepe seed from the Fleming Arboretum are distributed annually for propagation to private and public conservation groups, including Maui Nui Botanical Garden for Arbor Day.
This Halapepe- Chrysodracon auwahiensi is one of the 8 trees in the D.T. Fleming Arboretum nominated as a Maui County Exceptional Tree. It is an original planting by David Thomas Fleming in 1952, 21 feet tall with a 3 feet diameter trunk. Halapepe seed from the Fleming Arboretum are distributed annually for propagation to private and public conservation groups, including Maui Nui Botanical Garden for Arbor Day.

Before the arrival of the Hawaiians and their farming, this Loulu Palm species - Pritchardia arecina, populated the isthmus of Maui. The isthmus was cleared to grow Pili grass for roofing material and sweet potato. The Loulu Palms in the D.T. Fleming Arboretum, nominated as exceptional trees, were planted in 1952 by the Arboretum's founder David Thomas Fleming.
Before the arrival of the Hawaiians and their farming, Loulu Palms populated the isthmus of Maui. The isthmus was cleared to grow Pili grass for roofing material and sweet potato. The Loulu Palms in the D.T. Fleming Arboretum, nominated as exceptional trees, were planted in 1952 by the Arboretum’s founder David Thomas Fleming.

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