The Importance of Planting a Tree
Plant a legacy. Restore the future.
Planting a tree is more than an act of giving—it’s a commitment to life, growth, and future generations. Every tree you plant helps rebuild ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and leave a lasting impact on the world.
Building a Forest From the Ground Up
Everyone has a reason to plant a tree.
Some plant to restore what was lost. Others plant to remember, celebrate, or give back.
No matter your reason, your tree becomes part of something bigger—a living forest that grows with purpose.
We’re here to help you turn that intention into a lasting legacy.
Sponsor Your Tree Today!
Your $125 sponsorship supports the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative's nonprofit mission to restore and protect Hawaiʻi's native forests. Your sponsorship helps fund planting, monitoring and long-term stewardship of the Legacy Forest.
A Legacy Tree sponsorship does not convey ownership of the tree, timber, carbon credits or any other property interest. As recognition of your sponsorship, you may name or dedicate your Legacy Tree and receive a personalized Certificate of Sponsorship identifying its unique tree RFID and GPS location.
What does a Legacy Tree Sponsorship mean?
You are sponsoring the restoration of Hawaiʻi's native forests—not purchasing a tree. Your sponsorship helps support planting and long-term forest stewardship. As recognition of your contribution, you may name or dedicate a Legacy Tree and receive a personalized Certificate of Sponsorship with its unique identification and location.
King Koa
125
King Koa is one of Hawaiʻi's most treasured native trees, admired for its striking beauty and rich golden wood. Once covering the islands, it now symbolizes strength, resilience, and restoration. Sponsoring a Koa helps protect this remarkable species for generations to come.
.webp)
Royal Sandalwood
125
Royal Sandalwood was once prized worldwide for its rare fragrance, leading to severe overharvesting. Today, conservation efforts are helping restore this iconic Hawaiian tree. Your sponsorship supports reforestation and ensures this treasured species continues thriving for future generations.
‘Ohi‘a Lehua
125
ʻŌhiʻa Lehua is deeply woven into Hawaiian culture and plays a vital role in supporting native forests and wildlife. Its vibrant blossoms and legendary history make it one of Hawaiʻi's most meaningful trees. Your sponsorship helps protect this endangered natural treasure.
‘A'ali'i
ʻAʻaliʻi is celebrated for its remarkable ability to thrive through Hawaiʻi's strongest winds, making it a symbol of resilience and perseverance. Used for generations in traditional practices, it remains an important native species that deserves lasting protection.
125
Monarch Milo
Monarch Milo is a beautiful Hawaiian tree known for its vibrant blooms and cultural significance. Historically valued for carving, bowls, and musical instruments, it remains a cherished native species. Sponsoring Milo helps preserve both Hawaiʻi's forests and its rich traditions.
125
Lei Kou
Lei Kou is treasured for its fragrant flowers, beautiful wood, and deep cultural heritage. Once planted near sacred places, it symbolizes celebration, family, and lasting memories. Your sponsorship helps preserve this rare native tree while supporting Hawaiʻi's future forests.
125
Certificate Selection
Add a Title
Add a Title
*Please select a certificate template before submitting
previewDate
previewDate
Each Legacy Tree you plant comes with an Electronic Certificate of Sponsorship sent via email detailing the tree's ID number and GPS location. Embossed paper certificates are available for an additional $5.
Since the arrival of man in the Hawaiian Islands, over half of the native forests have been lost. Since its inception in 2014, The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) has been working hard to reverse this trend and return these forests to the native landscape. Working together with community minded businesses, non-profits and individual Legacy Tree sponsors, more than 609,654 endemic trees now cover nearly 1200 acres in the state’s first Hawaiian Legacy Forest.
When you select to plant a Legacy Tree, your real contribution is that this simple act repeated by so many will create a forest. The world is losing forest cover at an alarming rate that shows no sign of letting up. Reversing this trend has proven a very difficult challenge.
A forest is much more than just an area filled with trees. It is a dynamic and living entity all its own. As a living entity, it grows and evolves over time. Like any society of individuals, its members grow and contribute and all will eventually die, making way for new members. This cycle of evolution molds the individual plantings into a forest.
Our commitment to the Legacy Tree sponsor is to monitor and nurture this development from a collection of individual trees into an endemic Hawaiian ecosystem supporting a diverse population of plant and animal life. You are providing the raw materials to make this possible.
Of the many trees planted to initiate this process, some will become the stars of the forest while others will be supporting actors. Some of the trees will die along the way and some will have to be removed for the overall health of the forest. Our TimberTracker allows you to check on the trees you have sponsored through the years. If at any time you find that a tree you sponsored has died, let us know. We will check on your tree and if it has died we will plant a new one on your behalf at our cost. This will allow the forest to expand and evolve with you as an ongoing part of this evolution.
For at least the next 50 years of our lease, we will shepherd the Legacy Trees into a vibrant and evolving ecosystem. Thank you for being part of this adventure.
.webp)
See the Impact of Your Contribution
From Barren Land to Thriving Forest
HAMAKUA KOA CASE STUDY / COURTESY OF HLH,LLC