Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods February Newsletter

February 2013

Volume:5 Issue: 2

In Commemoration of 50 Years of Service in Hawaii JTB Begins Koa Tree Planting Promotion on the Island of Hawaii

courtesy of JTB Hawaii, Inc.

JTB

Pictured from left to right: James Suzuki, George Applegate, Jeff Dunster, Keiichi Tsujino, Naoko Komiya, David Asanuma

JTB Hawaii, Inc. (Honolulu, Hawaii; President: Keiichi Tsujino) of the JTB Group (Japan Travel Bureau) and Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods (Honolulu, Hawaii; CEO: Jeffrey Dunster) will collaborate to produce an all-new promotion planting Hawaii's indigenous Koa trees on the island of Hawaii.

JTB will begin this campaign by planting 100 Koa trees within the year of 2013 and then begin marketing the service to JTB customers whose numbers exceed 400,000 annually. The program will be marketed as an optional tour package that gives back to the Hawaiian community and encourages visitors to form a lasting connection with Hawaii.

JTB Hawaii will be planting Acacia Koa saplings, more commonly referred to simply as Koa, on the island of Hawaii. In Hawaiian, the word "Koa" expresses meanings such as "Brave", "Warrior", and "Strong". In addition to being the favorite tree of King Kamehameha, It was treated by the Hawaiian people as a tree in which gods resided. In ancient Hawaii, Koa was used to make canoes and Surfboards (Surfing was a pastime restricted to the royal Ali'i). Today Koa is still utilized as a material in Ukulele and other instruments, in high-end furniture manufacturing and other traditional handicrafts.

In the last century, Koa forests have been deforested to create arable land for the pineapple and sugar cane industries. JTB Hawaii is joining recent efforts to restore Koa populations to safe levels and considers this mission as a way to protect the legacy of Koa for future generations.

Characteristics of this Project

This project is different from similar packages that have come before. The following 3 points are the unique characteristics of this project:

This project contributes to the preservation of Hawaiian Culture.
This project has been developed as a model focusing on continuous sustainability.
This project uses tree planting to create a personal connection to Hawaii that remains long after the customer returns home.

Looking to the Future

While the JTB Group recognized 2012 as its 100th Anniversary, JTB Hawaii was established in 1964 giving us more than half a century of experience bringing tourists from Japan to Hawaii and providing them with incomparable levels of service. JTB Hawaii has become an active member in the community of Hawaii over the years through participation in organizations such as the JTB Goodwill Foundation and the Honolulu Festival Foundation. The objective of these activities has been in part as a contribution to the tourism industry essential to Hawaii and also in part as a commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). From here, JTB Hawaii will continue to develop Hawaii economically and preserve Hawaii culturally.

More Information

The opening date of this program as a package tour or an optional tour option for individual travels in currently being decided. For corporate groups traveling to Hawaii, this package can currently be arranged through consultation with JTB Hawaii.

In the case that one is unable to go to the Big Island to attend the tree planting, services such as a live camera can be arranged. Also each tree is implanted with an identification chip so that any individual tree's location can be accessed using online map services.

For inquiries concerning the JTB Legacy Forest, contact:

Naoko: 808-921-1799

James: 808-921-1717

Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods Together with Legacy Partner First Insurance "Think Before You Print" Campaign

first insurance

Pictured from left to right Betsy Maler, Derek Kanehira,

Allen Uyeda and Mike Wilson

First Insurance Company of Hawaii launched their "Think before you Print Campaign" Their goal was to use 475 or fewer cases of copy and printer paper between July and December 2012. In the end they used 388. They spent $3,300 less on paper in the second half of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. First Insurance voted to see which non-profit organization was to receive the $1,000 donation in honor of their successful campaign. Receiving 50% of all votes, the winning charity was Kokua Hawaii Foundation's AINA In Schools Program. Representatives from the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative presented First Insurance with the $1,000 check as well as a certificate identifying the 50 Koa trees that have been planted in First Insurance's name. Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods congratulates First Insurance of Hawaii in achieving their goal as they keep up the momentum and cultivate more green habits in 2013.

Fighting Global Warming

Hawaiian Style

Honolulu Civil Beat

by Lewis Rothstein

February 2013

fighting global warming

Sunset photo of natures fire in the sky. Curtesy of Richard Lindberg

The verdict is in. Our planet is in a sustained warming trend. The undeniable scientific evidence points to various human activities as the main cause.

Although this is a worldwide dilemma, Hawaii is uniquely positioned to offer the world community a blueprint for how best to structure public-private partnerships for addressing global warming. With this approach we can sequester greenhouse-enhancing carbon dioxide (CO2), re-establish native biodiversity and preserve our most precious resource - water - while enhancing both our economic and societal well-being.

The foundation for this blueprint is Hawaii's tropical forests.

Before we examine how Hawaii's forests might serve as a test bed for the simultaneous stewardship of our environment and our economy let's take a closer look at the problem of global warming.

There are two broad categories that determine the evolution of earth's climate: natural climate variability and climate change. While humankind has no control over natural climate cycles (for example the changing of the seasons and the El Niño cycle) we do have much to say about climate change.

We can mitigate global warming in two broad categories: reducing the injection of earth-warming 'greenhouse gases' (e.g. CO2); and/or removing existing CO2 from our atmosphere. Reducing CO2 levels alone will not bring us to where we need to be with respect to atmospheric CO2 levels called for by the scientific community. We must also actively encourage CO2 removal techniques.

Arguably the most natural way to actively remove CO2 from present-day atmospheric levels is afforestation (planting trees). Management of our tropical forests with the goal of CO2 reduction, sustainable biodiversity and water resource preservation is the category that Hawai'i can take global leadership.

This leadership takes shape through the support of public-private partnerships that apply creative forestry business models on State of Hawaii lands. Most of the pieces are in place. There is a convergence of public policy and entrepreneurship in Hawaii that is globally unique and franchisable.

On the policy side, the State has programs for preserving water resources and a stated goal to regulate greenhouse gases. This can be accomplished by designating State lands for carbon sequestration through sustainable forestry and afforestation.

On the entrepreneurial side, a local company, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods (HLH), has implemented a business model that combines forestry stewardship with a fully vetted carbon sequestration program that is moving towards becoming the first Hawaiian koa forestry program formally registered in one of the premiere US carbon markets.

The HLH business model has been proven to work on relatively small-sized private lands however it was specifically designed to scale significantly upward as well as to work in regions outside of Hawaii. The result is not only carbon sequestration. A well-managed forest protects water resources, restores native biodiversity, provides sustainable timber harvests and provides tourist venues.

The impact on the State economy would be substantial, both for revenue generation and job creation. Millions of dollars per year could be generated by reforesting Hawaii with fast growing native hardwoods such as koa while simultaneously preserving our indigenous ecosystems and preserving our water resource. With climate change a clear and present threat to the future of the planet, carbon sequestration is not only the right thing to do but could be lucrative and beneficial for the citizens of Hawaii.

From The Field Darrell Fox A1

Darrell Fox, COO

before

Before

after

20 Minutes After

dancing koa

34 Months After

This is a small grove of young koa's which sit just above the HLH weather station. These trees are 34 months old and some are already reaching heights of 35-40 feet and 4-5 inches dbh.

Several are already flowering and generating seeds.

I had an interesting experience this month when I was asked to give the opening talk for the 12th Annual Symposium of the Hawaii Thoracic Society. It was sponsored by the American Thoracic Society and one of our Legacy Partners, the American Lung Association in Hawaii. As I looked through the four day schedule of talks I realized that I was the only non-medical talk on the schedule. I resisted the temptation to use James Stockdale's opening line from the 1992 Vice Presidential debates, "Who am I? What am I doing here?" Instead I opened with another reference. The Amazon Rainforest is often referred to as the "Lungs of Our Planet". Approximately 20% of all the planet's oxygen comes from the recycling on Carbon Dioxide in the Amazon. On a more distributed level this is occurring in all of the forests of our planet. This is of very direct importance to every attendant at the Thoracic Society Symposium. The very air we breathe is provided by the vegetation of the planet. When we cut down forests for agriculture, housing, lumber, and biofuels we are diminishing the planets capacity to provide life giving oxygen and to remove the excess Carbon Dioxide that threatens our climate. I then knew who I was and what I was doing there. Our Legacy Partners are expanding our ability to plant more trees and are helping us build a model that can be used anywhere that trees can grow on our planet.

This renewed focus brings perspective to the field activities of HLH. In February we have been stocking our main nursery to capacity. We are now spreading into our expansion nursery. The final run of fencing is being completed to close up the area for the spring planting. Our field clearing and site preparation are almost complete and well ahead of the planting schedule. At that point it is just a marathon to get the trees planted as fast as possible. We anticipate 6-8 weeks of intense work before we can all take our annual breath (courtesy of the trees). Come May we start rotating vacations and well deserved rest for our hard working field crew.

We are also reaping some of the benefits of our upgraded RFID and database system. Some of the nice to have features are being added and the GIS (Geographical Information System) layering is being utilized to more completely visualize our reforestation efforts. By looking a fence layers on maps we can optimize our fence inspection timing. By looking at the field road layer we can improve access and limit unnecessary travel through already planted fields. By looking at the Legacy Tree layer we can highlight areas that are still available to plant and optimize the species' mix. By looking at the Investment Tree layer we can plan management timelines and improve efficiency. Where this became a real asset this month is in laying out the spring planting. We have been able to prioritize the areas to be planted both with Investment Trees and with Legacy Trees. By adding additional RFID data collection capability we should be able to greatly reduce the length of time between planting and inclusion in our database system.

I would also like to thank all of our Legacy Partners for their timely rain dancing activities. We have been getting steady rain accumulation and all of the catchment systems are at capacity. Also, the soil profiles through the four foot layer are at full saturation. I could ask for nothing better as planting begins.

dfox@hawaiianlegacyhardwoods.com

The Entreepreneur's Corner Jeff Dunster A

Jeffrey Dunster, CEO

money hole

What Boom?

Imagine your financial expert loses half of your money in an investment in 2008 and then (over the next six years) manages to rebuild it back to its previous value (in essence getting you back to where you started) wouldn't it be disingenuous for your advisor to then boast to everyone how they just made you a 100% return on your money in six short years?

Well, if you read any of the financial tabloids this month, everyone is celebrating and doing a victory dance over the fact that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has gained 113% since 2009. This might make someone think "Wow, it looks like the good times are back! Let's get back in the game..." But in reality, the statement is totally misleading and is taken out of context. They fail to mention the 4000 point plummet in 2008 (largest in history) which preceded this upturn. For most investors, these last six years have not produced real gains. At best they are "re-gains". Getting back to break-even.

Are We Back?

So, are we really back to breakeven? Nope, not even close. The buying power of the dollar has dropped so significantly over the past 6 years due to inflation that it would take and additional rise of between 14% -22% to get back to 2007 levels. So, depending on which statistics you rely on, the true breakeven for us to get back to 2007 levels by 2013 is somewhere between 16,000 and 17,000 on the Dow. Due to continuing inflation, that number is an ever increasing target. You will need to add 500 to 2200 points to your breakeven number each year to account for inflation (again, depending on which inflation rate you subscribe to. Historical Inflation Rate

Fraud?

standard & poors standard & poors 2

If that isn't sobering enough, let's add a new wrinkle... the U.S. Attorney General is charging S&P with fraud and looking for $5 billion in damages (potentially the largest fine in history).

4 Reasons Why the S&P Fraud Lawsuit May Be a Game-Changer

The Department of Justice is claiming that the ratings agency "S&P" actively defrauded investors, falsified reports and downplayed the risks of companies that they were reporting on, while they were being paid cash by these very same companies. So if S&P (one of the last bastions of unbiased investment analysis) is selling their ratings for money what integrity is left in the system? Investors all over the world rely on these reports when assessing the financial strength and weakness of a company before making an investment. If the data is rigged, what chance does any broker or investor have to make an educated investment decision?

I have heard it said that Wall Street is the world's second oldest profession. It seems to me that it bears a striking resemblance to the first....

jdunser@hawaiianlegacyhardwoods.com

"I Speak For The Trees!"

by Carlie Dunster

Carlie

four seasons maui lorax

Four Seasons Maui representatives Kevin Gavagan &Crissa Hiranaga plant their own Legacy Tree. Donned in Lorax attire

"...they speak for the trees"

It doesn't matter what sport you play or what sport you watch on TV; when it comes to the environment we are all on the same team. Saving the environment isn't a one man show. No quarterback, goalie, or power hitter is going to win the game themselves. It takes each and every player to make it happen. No matter how small the contribution is, it still makes a difference . When everyone can come together, things get done and we will win every time.

This month, teenagers in high school show their support as well. High school can be pretty tough - balancing out school, sports, homework, and your social life can be challenging. This however does not stop them from speaking for something they support as well. Even the little things they do like walking the extra ten steps to the recycle bin has an impact in the long run. Turning off faucets that are dripping or not wasting water in the shower are just other small ways that these athletes try to help our environment. The excuse, "I have no time" or "I'm too busy" just doesn't hold water (no pun intended).

LORAX BASKETBALL

Mahalo (thank you) to everyone who participated in this month's "Lorax Sightings".

We invite everyone to join in this cause. Send in your video clips and pictures of how you "speak for the trees." Email me at ckdunster@hawaiianlegacyhardwoods.com

Please remember to:

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In This Issue

In Commemoration of 50 Years of Service to Hawaii JTB Begins Koa Tree Planting Promotion on the Island of Hawaii

Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods Together with Legacy Partner First Insurance "Think Before You Print" Campaign

Fight Global Warming Hawaiian Style

From the Field

The Entreepreneur's Corner

"I Speak For The Trees!"

MONTHLY

QUOTE:

"Knowledge alters what we seek as well as what we find."

~Freda Adler

______________

"MANA'O CORNER"

The thought, idea, belief, opinion, suggestion

by Earl Regidor

Cultural Center Manager

Four Seasons

Hualalai

"Akä wale o Haleakala." Haleakalä stands in full view. Said of anything that is very obvious or clearly understood.

haleakala 4
"Haleakala"

The "House of the Sun" -- According to ancient legend, Haleakala got its name from a clever trick that the demigod Maui pulled on the sun. Maui's mother, the goddess Hina, complained one day that the sun sped across the sky so quickly that her tapa cloth couldn't dry. Maui, known as a trickster, devised a plan. The next morning he went to the top of the great mountain and waited for the sun to poke its

head above the horizon. Quickly, Maui lassoed the sun, bringing its path across the sky to an abrupt halt. The sun begged Maui to let go, and Maui said he would on one condition: that the sun slow its trip across the sky to give the island more sunlight. The sun assented. In honor of this agreement, the Hawaiians call the mountain Haleakala, or "House of the Sun." To this day, the top of Haleakala has about 15 minutes more sunlight than the communities on the coastline below.

For more information check out the article "House of the Sun: Haleakala National Park" in the New York Times

__________________

Price Increase

Effective April 1, 2013 our 100 tree units will increase to $9,106 per unit due to the increasing cost of fuel and fertilizer.

Sponsor the planting of a Koa Legacy Tree and make a difference. Visit www.LegacyTrees.org to learn how.

HLH LEGACY PARTNERS

Aloha Data Service

American Lung Assoc.

Armed Forces

Bikram Yoga

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Boy Scouts of America

Certified Hawaii

Crime Stoppers

EPIC Foundation

Feathers & Fur Animal Hospital

First Insurance Company

Four Seasons Resort

Gentry Homes

Habitat for Humanity

Hagadone Printing

Hale Kipa

Hawaii Aloha Academy

Hawaii Brain Aneurysm

Hawaiian Civic Club of Wahiawa

Hawaii Funeral Services

Hawaii Healing Hearts

Hawaii Meals on Wheels

Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus

Hawaiian Electric Company

Honolulu Furniture Company

Island Pacific Energy

Joshua Neves Children's Foundation

Kalihi Education Coalition

Kamanu Composites

Ken Po Hawaii

Lamaku Society

Lanakila Pacific

Make-A-Wish

MOA Hawaii

Moku'aina Properties

Nat'l Kidney Foundation

Nature Conservancy

of Hawaii

Nurture Her

O'ahu Resource Conservation &

Development Council

Tau Dance Theater

HLH NEWEST LEGACY PARTNERS

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

JTB Hawaii

HLH PROVIDES LEGACY FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING CHARITIES / ORGANIZATIONS

AccessSurf

AIDS Foundation

Aloha United Way

Alzheimer's Association

American Cancer Society

American Diabetes

American Lung Association

American Red Cross

American Reef Coalition

Amnesty International

Arizona Animal Welfare League

Army Emergency Relief

ASPCA

Assistance League of Hawaii

Augie's Quest

Autistic Foundation

Ballet Hawaii

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network

Blue Planet Foundation

Boys & Girls Club of Ewa Beach

Central Union Church & Preschool

Carolina Farm Stewardship

Association

CASA of Linn County

Catholic Charity of Santa Clara

Commonweal

Compassion International

Crimestoppers

Daughters of Hawaii

Denver Rescue Mission

Disabled Veterans

Doctors Without Borders

Eastside Domestic

Entrepreneurs Foundation

of Hawaii

EPIC Foundation

Episcopal Relief & Development

Executive Women Int'l

Feed The Children

Families of SMA

First Congregational Church

Fisher House Foundation

Friends of Kewalo Basin

Friends of NELHA

Green Wheel Food HUB

Habitat For Humanity

Hale Aloha O Hilo

Hana Canoe Club

Hawaii Adaptive Paddling Association

Hawaii Audubon Society

Hawaii Catholic Charities

Hawaii Childrens Center

Hawaii Conservation Alliance Foundation

Hawaii Eco-Tourism

Hawaii Foodbank

Hawaii Heart Assoc.

Hawaii Humane Society

Hawaii Islands Land Trust

Hawaii Kidney Foundation

Hawaii Law Enforcement

Hawaii Meals On Wheels

Hawaii Mother's Milk Inc.

Hawaii Theater Center Art

Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble

Hawaii Wildlife Fund

Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus

Hawaiian Island Ministries

Hawaiian Islands Land Trust

HCA Foundation

Hearts For Animals

Hina Maakua Charity

Historic Hawaii Foundation

Holy Spirit Hospital

Honolulu Museum of Art

Honua Films

Hospice Hawaii

HPU Green Club

Hugs

Huli Pili Mau

Institute for Humanity

Japanese American Nat'l Museum

Junior Achievement of Hawaii

John Theisman

Ka Pa'alana

Kalihi Palama Culture & Art

Kapiolani Health Foundation

Kaui Humane Society

KeAli'i Pauahi Foundation

Keiki OKa'Aina Family

Learning Center

Ka Pa'alana Partners and Development Foundation

Keola O Ke Kai Canoe

Kiva

Kidney Foundation

Kokee Discovery Center

Kokua Hawaii

Kona Community Hospital Foundation

La Jardin Academy

Livestrong

Lualualei Hawaiian Civic Club

Lucille Packard Cancer Center

Ludwig Von Mises Institute

Lunalilo Home Adult Day Care

Lyon Arboretum

Make A Wish

Malama Kauai

Maria Lanakila Catholic Church

Maui Adult Day Care

Maui Food Bank

Merrie Monarch Festival

Mid Pacific School

Mid Pacific Elementry School

MOA Hawaii

Mokihana Aquatics Kauai

Mo'okini Luakini Heiau Foundation

Na Kalai Wa'a Moiku O Hawai'i

Naoneala'a

Nat'l Down Syndrome

Nat'l Foundation for Cancer

Research

Nat'l MS Society

Nat'l Parkinson Foundation

Nat'l Riffle Association

New Beginnings Adoption

New Hope Hawaii

Noah Russell Dredla Memorial

Nuru International

Oahu RC & D

Olohana Foundation

One Island Sustainable Living

Oregon Humane Society

Our Military Kids

Outdoor Circle

Paauilo Kongoji Mission

Pacific Tsunami Museum

Pacific Whale Foundation

Palisades FCE Club

Paralyzed Veterans of America

Peacebridge Incorp

Planned Parenthood

Playing for Change

Polynesian Voyaging Society

Punahou School Class '86

Rainforest Alliance

Reef Check Hawaii

Rehab of the Pacific

Recycle Hawaii

Ronald McDonald House

Salvation Army

Samaritans Purse

Save The Children

Sea Doc Society

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans

Second Presbyterian Church

Shriners Hospitals for Children

Sierra Club Hawaii

South Seas Christian Ministries

St. Andrews Priory

St. Francis Hospice

St. Jude Children's

Surfpark Outrigger Club

Susan B. Komen

Tau Dance Theater

The Blazeman Foundation for ALS

The Book Trust of Hawaii

The Climate Realty

The Futbol Project

The Hawaiian Nature Center

The Nature Conservancy

Tri-Isle Resource Center

United for Peace and Justice

Unity School

University of Hawaii Foundation

Ukulele Festival of Hawaii

Univ. of Penn Abramson Cancer Center

Waialua United Church of Christ

Waikiki Health Center

Waimanalo Health Center

Wet Hens Sailing

Wilcox Health Foundation

Wild Animal Sanctuary

World Turtle Trust

World Wildlife Foundation

Youth Science Center

You can even find us on Twitter.

Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods
877-707-TREE