KOLOA — There is nothing special planned for today in Koloa. Dickie Chang of Walaau Productions said this was how it was in 1985, when Hawaii celebrated its 25th anniversary of statehood. “There was little fanfare,” Chang said. “George Ariyoshi
KOLOA — There is nothing special planned for today in Koloa.
Dickie Chang of Walaau Productions said this was how it was in 1985, when Hawaii celebrated its 25th anniversary of statehood.
“There was little fanfare,” Chang said. “George Ariyoshi was the governor, and his wife, Jean Ariyoshi, embarked on a state beautification campaign, pledging to plant 1 million trees.”
A tree located in the triangular parcel honoring sugar plantations in Koloa Town was one of those trees, Chang said.
“During the Koloa Plantation Days celebration, the tree is in full bloom, stopping many people with its display of yellow flowers,” Chang said. “This is the tree Jean Ariyoshi planted. It is the 1 millionth tree she pledged to plant as part of the beautification program she started on the 25th anniversary of Hawaii statehood.”
Chang said not only was that tree the 1 millionth she planted, she was doing it to symbolize planting a tree for each person in the state because in 1985, the state population was 1.04 million.
“Kauai received 104 trees during the beautification campaign,” Chang said. “Some of the trees were used to replace aging trees in the Tree Tunnel on Maluhia Road, others were planted in other areas. Records weren’t kept on where the trees went, but the 1 millionth tree happened to end up in Koloa across from Sueoka Store.”
Chang said there are archival photos in The Garden Island showing then-mayor Tony Kunimura, Jean Ariyoshi and Doc Buyers, the head of C. Brewer and Co., turning the soil for the tree in Koloa Town. These are filed with the Historical Society of Kauai.
This month, the golden shower tree offers its boughs as protection to a nativity scene placed by Koloa townspeople in celebration of the season.
Chang will continue to spread the legacy of the millionth tree, as one local television newscast offered to air the story.
