To promote and carry out programs that protect Hawaii’s natural beauty, to preserve and enhance landscapes and streetscapes, protect historical and cultural resources, promote and protect scenic views, protect Hawaii’s shoreline. improve community appearances, and foster the establishment and preservation of scenic road systems.

To promote education of the public about the economic, social, and cultural benefits of protecting and enhancing scenic resources and community appearances.

To cooperate with local, county, and state efforts while providing information to garden clubs, historic preservation groups, environmental organizations, civic groups, govenmental agencies, and other individuals and organizations interested in preserving and enhancing our visual assets.

To monitor, study, and analyze federal, state, and local policies affecting visual assets; to encourage and foster any other such activity that has the purpose of promoting the appreciation and preservation of our scenic resources.

Landscape contest for Hawaii gardens

By Heidi Bornhorst

A recent study on the value of trees in Honolulu showed that healthy trees and plants are a bonus to business. People will actually shop longer and spend more if there are trees and gardens associated with the business and its parking lot, or street access. For example King Street has lots of colorful rainbow showers and other shady street trees. Beretania, in some stretches, has fewer trees, empty pukas where street trees should be, and is a less popular destination for walkers and shoppers.

Did you know that for every $1 spent in tree planting and maintenance, we get back $2.98 in benefits? Trees give us almost a 3:1 return on our investment in caring professionally for them.

Many of us caring for loved ones and spending time in hospitals will note studies that show people with views of trees and plants, with living plants in waiting rooms, heal faster than barren view rooms and spaces. For example the award winning gardens and large exceptional trees at Queens Medical Center are lush for a reason grown and maintained by expert landscaper Mark Gwinner and his dedicated grounds keeping staff bring joy for visitors and studies show that people get well and out of the hospital quicker.

Trees in home gardens save energy and keep us cool. They can also be epic and edible like mangoes, lychee and avocado. Btw the cold winter is great for lychee. I’ve seen them on trees around town that haven’t fruited in years! Yay! The benefits of trees far outweigh the extra work needed to water rake and trim. (And raking is great exercise

You can help us recognize and celebrate gardens all over Hawaii, by nominating one or more, in four categories for the Betty Crocker landscape awards sponsored by Scenic Hawaii, as well as other community groups like the Friends of the Halawa Xeriscape garden (they sponsor the less thirsty gardens award category).

The deadline for entry forms is May 22, 2009. Please write briefly about the garden and who maintains it, give contact info like a phone number or email, fill out the form, send PICTURES of the garden and give some brief background information if you know it. You can email it or support the U.S. postal service and send it by real mail.

Mail entries to: Scenic Hawaii Betty Crocker Landscape Awards, P.O. Box 10501, Honolulu Hawaii 96816

You can go to the website http://scenichawaii.org/bcawards.html and download an entry form:

There is a fun filled award ceremony at sunset, on June 29, 2009, near the ocean for all the nominees and for those who submit a nomination. What a deal! You can meet like minded people who think green trees are an asset for our islands, not a liability to be hacked at whit chainsaws and bolo knives cuz the “make rubbish”. You can learn more about plants and trees from various expert volunteers and Scenic Hawaii members.