HONOLULU – Real Kamani trees removed from Dillingham Boulevard in 2023 to make way for utility relocations were repurposed and crafted into commemorative ‘umeke (bowls) that were distributed at the 13th Pacific Arts and Culture Festival on Sunday, according to the Authority from Honolulu for Rapid Transportation.
What you need to know
- The ʻumeke were presented to 28 delegates from various Pacific island nations participating in FestPAC.
- HART worked with contractors, community stakeholders, and local nonprofit Re-Use Hawaii to mill the wood which was then delivered to the Pa’i Foundation, which sent the repurposed wood to neighboring island organizations for will be made in ‘umeke.
- HART is committed to providing repurposed wood to nonprofit organizations that focus on Hawaiian culture and art.
- The first option is to keep the trees in place, but the real Kamani trees were in the path of new underground power lines that will replace overhead lines on the mauka side of Dillingham Boulevard.
- The ʻumeke were presented to 28 delegates from various Pacific island nations participating in FestPAC.
- HART worked with contractors, community stakeholders, and local nonprofit Re-Use Hawaii to mill the wood which was then delivered to the Pa’i Foundation, which sent the repurposed wood to neighboring island organizations for will be made in ‘umeke.
- HART is committed to providing repurposed wood to nonprofit organizations that focus on Hawaiian culture and art.
- The first option is to keep the trees in place, but the real Kamani trees were in the path of new underground power lines that will replace overhead lines on the mauka side of Dillingham Boulevard.
The true Kamani tree, Calophyllum inophyllum, is a tree not native to Polynesia. There is also the false Kamani tree, Terminalia Catappa, a naturalized non-native tree. Both types are found throughout the state.
The ‘umeke were presented to 28 delegates from various Pacific island nations who participated in the FestPAC held from June 6 to 16 in different locations.
“Displacing community-loved trees was not HART’s first choice. “That’s why we’re grateful to work with arborists, Outdoor Circle, and community groups to reuse this wood in a meaningful way, while also sharing a part of Hawaii’s rich history and culture with the world at FestPAC,” said HART CEO and Executive Director Lori Kahikina, PE, in a press release.
HART worked with contractors, community stakeholders and local nonprofit Re-Use Hawaii to mill the wood and provided the repurposed wood to the Pa’i Foundation, an organization that preserves and perpetuates the arts and cultural traditions of the native hawaiians. The wood was then sent to neighboring island organizations to be crafted into ʻumeke which were returned to Oahu for FestPAC.
The ground wood from the real Kamani trees was given to the Pa’i Foundation, which then sent it to various organizations to be made into ‘umeke. (Photo courtesy of HART)
HART is committed to providing repurposed wood to nonprofit organizations that focus on Hawaiian culture and arts and in 2018 selected the Pa’i Foundation, Honolulu Community College, Polynesian Voyaging Society, Kalihi Pālama Culture and Arts Society and the Kalihi-Pālama Hawaiian Civic Club.
In an effort to limit the negative impact on trees along the construction corridor, HART evaluated utility relocation designs as well as the guideway and stations. The first option is to keep the trees in place, but the real Kamani trees were in the path of new underground power lines that will replace overhead lines on the mauka side of Dillingham Boulevard. According to HART, placing lines underground and upgrading critical utility lines will help reduce incidents related to severe weather.
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