Planting for the future: State Tree Nursery’s annual sale draws dozens

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Dozens of Big Island residents made the trip to the State Tree Nursery in Waimea Friday to get their hands on a variety of native plants and trees ahead of Arbor Day Hawaii, which is today. The event was canceled last year due to the ongoing pandemic, but was held this year with COVID precautions in place. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
An array of native plants were offered, including ohia, during the sale at the State Tree Nursery on Friday. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
Dozens of Big Island residents made the trip to the State Tree Nursery in Waimea Friday to get their hands on a variety of native plants and trees ahead of Arbor Day Hawaii, which is today. The event was canceled last year due to the ongoing pandemic, but was held this year with COVID precautions in place. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
A woman checks out the maile plants available for purchase at the State Tree Nursery in Waimea on Friday. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
An array of native plants were offered, including maile, during the sale at the State Tree Nursery on Friday. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
Dozens of Big Island residents made the trip to the State Tree Nursery in Waimea Friday to get their hands on a variety of native plants and trees ahead of Arbor Day Hawaii, which is today. The event was canceled last year due to the ongoing pandemic, but was held this year with COVID precautions in place. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
Waimea residents Sandy and Everett check out koa trees Friday at the State Tree Nursery in Waimea. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
Jim and Angela Savage review the various plants they planned to buy Friday at the State Tree Nursery in Waimea for their property in Paauilo. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
Jim and Angela Savage leave with their hands full of various native plants from the State Tree Nursery in Waimea that they plan to plant on their property in Paauilo. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
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Dozens of Big Island residents made the trip to the State Tree Nursery in Waimea Friday to get their hands on a variety of native plants and trees ahead of Arbor Day Hawaii, which is today.

November marks the beginning of the rainy season for most of Hawaii, which is the perfect time to plant a tree, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

The Arbor Day Hawaii has been celebrated in November in Hawaii for 115 years. Individuals can make a tangible impact on their family and community well-being by planting and maintaining trees in their neighborhoods, donating to forestry organizations, and volunteering in restoration projects, according to the state.

The State Tree Nursery provides high-quality native, endangered, and windbreak trees and plants for both the public and DLNR-state sponsored out-plantings and reforestation projects.

The nursery propagates many different species of native plants, some endangered species, and numerous trees for windbreak purposes.

For more information on the State Tree Nursery Program in Waimea, including ways to purchase plants and trees, visit https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/info/nurseries/.