This past weekend, I celebrated Earth Day (the official day this year is Tuesday, April 22) by making my little corner of the Earth cleaner, greener, and more beautiful.

On Saturday, April 19, Noelani Elementary held its annual Beautification Day. Noelani students, faculty and staff, parents, and community groups worked from 8 to 11 am weeding and painting areas throughout the campus. The difference we made in just a few hours was amazing! What was even more beautiful than the campus itself was seeing our combined hands, energy, and hearts working together.

Announcing Beautification Day

Here are my friends (fellow Noelani teachers) painting!

I worked on cleaning this bed of all the dead leaves

Doesn’t it look tidier?

On Sunday, April 20, I checked out Malama O Manoa’s Great Tree Giveaway at Manoa Valley Pavilian Park. Malama O Manoa had prepared to give away over 1,000 trees to loving families promising to plant the trees. By the time I arrived at 11:30am, there were only about 30 trees left! I talked with a volunteer arborist who told me all about the remaining trees- the Kukui Nut, Monkey Pod, and Milo. He also told me about the wonderful chaos that took place when the line of people waiting for the giveaway began swarming the front of the pavilian and grabbing the trees that were placed in alphabetical order. I am looking forward to an even greener Manoa as those trees begin to flourish.

Just a few of the trees were left from the 1,000 tree giveaway!