For more than two decades, Mālama Mānoa and The Outdoor Circle have been giving away more than a thousand plants and trees to the community, thanks to the dozens of volunteers who participate in propagating the flora and assisting on the day of the event.
I reached out to the organizations to find out more about the history of the 1000+ Plant Giveaway , and below is a Q&A with Whitney Bosel of The Outdoor Circle and Tyler Dang of Mālama Mānoa. Whitney has volunteered with TOC for more a decade and co-chairs logistics and partnerships for the event. Tyler joined MM in 2023, TOC’s board in 2024 and helps with volunteer outreach, communications and event operations.
What first inspired the creation of this event and how it has evolved over the past two decades?
The Mānoa 1,000 Plant Giveaway began in 2004 when Mālama Mānoa and The Outdoor Circle wanted to celebrate Arbor Day by encouraging residents to plant more trees and native species in their yards. The first event was just a few tables of seedlings, and over the years it has grown into one of Mānoa’s favorite community traditions. Each fall, hundreds of residents gather to take home a plant that connects them to the valley’s landscape and to one another.
What are the biggest challenges MOC and MM face in putting on an event of this scale?
The biggest challenge is that nearly all of the plants are propagated, nurtured, transplanted, and grown by hand at volunteer and board member Jerry Lam’s home. This year we’re giving away close to 2,000 plants, and caring for that many requires tremendous physical effort and time. Jerry often spends up to three hours a day watering and tending to the collection. Coordinating logistics on event day is its own feat, but the real work happens months in advance in the backyard nurseries that make it all possible.
How many volunteers are involved in the event this year, aside from the propagation volunteers?
Around 40 to 50 volunteers help on event day, handling set up, parking, check-in, and plant distribution, as well as greeting guests and staffing educational tables.
How many volunteers are involved in propagating the plants and trees? Are they all members of MM and MOC, or do they also come from the community?
About 20 dedicated propagation volunteers care for the plants throughout the year. Many are longtime members of Mālama Mānoa and The Outdoor Circle, but we also welcome neighbors, students, and Girl Scouts who simply love getting their hands dirty. Two local troops are helping this year, and one Scout propagated more than 50 plants herself for her Silver Award project.
What goes into the selection process for the 30+ varieties? Are there specific cultural or ecological reasons for including certain plants?
We choose plants that thrive in Mānoa’s climate and represent the variety of flora that make the valley unique. You’ll see a mix of native and Polynesian-introduced species alongside tropical favorites and fruit trees. There are plants like ti, kukui, monstera, hau, staghorn ferns, mountain apple, orchids, koa, and papaya, as well as fruiting varieties such as Improved Meyer Lemon and Cara Cara Orange. We focus on plants that are hardy, culturally meaningful, and support local biodiversity.
What is your personal favorite moment or tradition from the 21 years of this Giveaway?
Seeing people arrive before sunrise, waiting with coffee in hand, is always special. Many have been coming for years, some even bringing their children who now return as adults. There’s a real sense of continuity and pride in seeing how much of Mānoa’s greenery traces back to this event.
If a new resident of Mānoa receives one of these plants, what is the single most important message you hope they take away about their role in the neighborhood’s green future?
That every yard and every plant makes a difference. By caring for even one tree, they’re contributing to the canopy and spirit that defines Mānoa and continuing a community tradition that began over 20 years ago.