Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

 

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate Release May 07, 2013

 

SIX HAWAI‘I TREES CROWNED ‘CHAMPIONS’
IN NATIONAL BIG TREE PROGRAM

HONOLULU — The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces that six new Hawaiian trees have been crowned as national champions in the American Forests’ Big Tree Program.

The Big Tree Program is a nationwide competition to find the largest trees in the United States that are recognized as “champions” of their species. According to American Forests, the goal of the Big Tree Program is “to preserve and promote the iconic stature of these living monarchs and to educate people about the key role that these remarkable trees and forests play in sustaining a healthy environment.”

American Forests’ newly released spring 2013 National Register of Big Trees includes about 40 new national champion trees, with a total of 780 national champions.

In 2012, Hawai‘i had six champions, including a koa, two coconuts, an ‘a‘ali‘i, a manele, and a hau. With the six new champions, including a 112 ft coconut that knocked out the two previous coconut co-champions, Hawai‘i is now home to a total of 10 nationally recognized champion trees.

Hawai‘i’s six new champion trees are:

· Coconut (Cocos nucifera) in Hawai‘i Kai, O‘ahu
*De-throned the two previous coconut Champions located in Moloka‘i

· Kôlea (Myrsine lessertiana) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve, Hawai‘i Island

· Wiliwili (Eryrthrina sandwicensis) at Pu‘u Lani Ranch, Hawai‘i Island

· Olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve, Hawai‘i Island

· Pâpalakçpau (Pisonia brunoniana) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve, Hawai‘i Island

· Mâmane (Sophora chrysophylla) at Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve, Hawai‘i Island
“The Big Tree Program has really grown in Hawai‘i over the past few years, and we’re proud that some of our native trees are being recognized on a national level,” said Sheri Mann, forestry program manager at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. “These trees help highlight the beauty and uniqueness of Hawaiian ecosystems, as well as the importance of preserving our native forests.”

New nominations for champion trees will be accepted until a fall deadline that has yet to be determined. All nominations must include the tree’s exact location and three measurements: trunk circumference (inches), height (feet), and average crown spread (feet). These are combined to assign the tree a score.

Please send all nominations and questions relating to the Hawai‘i Big Tree Program to:
Hannah Bergemann
1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325
(808) 587-0164
[email protected]

For more information about the Hawai‘i Big Tree Program, visit: https://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/forestry/big-trees/

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For more information, news media may contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320