In honor of Chinese New Year, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods announces the inclusion of rare, endemic Sandalwood Legacy Trees for sponsorship in the state’s first legacy forest on 1,000 acres of its sustainable forestry project above historic Umikoa Village on the
In honor of Chinese New Year, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods announces the inclusion of rare, endemic Sandalwood Legacy Trees for sponsorship in the state’s first legacy forest on 1,000 acres of its sustainable forestry project above historic Umikoa Village on the slopes of Mauna Kea, about 34 miles north of Hilo.
Company executives said they are using state-of-the-art technology, backed by decades of experience, to help preserve thousands of years of history, culture and natural resources.
“With well over 200,000 young koa trees already planted, the backbone of the forest is beginning to establish itself and the land is beginning to heal,” said chief operating officer Darrell Fox. “In the second phase of this project, HLH will introduce dozens of varieties of other endemic species to round out the native ecosystem. Key among them is iliahi, Hawaiian sandalwood. Found nowhere else on Earth, it was harvested nearly to extinction a century ago. This tree is so valuable that its wood value is no longer determined by the board foot, but rather by the pound.”
“Despite its high value, you won’t find many people planting it,” said chief executive officer Jeff Dunster. “The simple fact is that because it is so slow-growing, if you are planting it for harvest, you better be planting it for your grandkids.
“As for HLH, these trees will never be harvested, so the fact that it is slow-growing is not an issue for us. And yes, in fact we are planting it for our grandkids, and everyone else’s grandkids, too.”
