HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has found a way to repurpose the trees that came down during construction for the Skyline.
According to HART, the true kamani trees removed from Dillingham Boulevard in 2023 were used to make commemorative ‘umeke, or bowls, for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture.
HART worked with Re-Use Hawaii, its contractors and community stakeholders to mill the wood from the trees.
The wood was then gifted to the Pa‘i Foundation where they sent it to other neighboring island organizations to be turned into ‘umekes.
Once they were returned back to Oahu, the ‘umeke were gifted to the 28 delegates visiting from various Pacific Island nations.
Displacing trees that are beloved by the community was not HART’s first choice. This is why we are grateful to work with arborists, the Outdoor Circle, and community groups to repurpose this wood in a meaningful way, while also sharing a part of Hawaii’s rich history and culture with the world at FestPAC.
Lori Kahikina, P.E., HART Executive Director and CEO
HART said they are committed to gifting the repurposed wood to nonprofit organizations to focus on Hawaiian culture and art.
Some of the nonprofits HART has chosen include the Pa‘i Foundation, Honolulu Community College, Polynesian Voyaging Society, Kalihi Pālama Culture and Arts Society, and Kalihi-Pālama Hawaiian Civic Club.
