Kona Cloud Forest

The Story...
Today our foundation headquarters are located in the beautiful Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary located in Kona, Hawaii. The sanctuary is home to the most exotic and unique trees from around the world. We offer guided tours through the most exotic array of trees from around the world. The project was begun by University of Hawaii professor, Norman Bezona. He is one the world's foremost experts on exotic trees and plants. Professor Bezona gives lectures and tours at the sanctuary. He travels the world giving lectures to Mr. Kelly Dunn began his Hawaiian adventure back in 1989. During his initial four week visit he fell in love with Hawaiian and the treasures it offered. Mr. Dunn was drawn to the multi-colored Eucalyptus Deglupta trees that appeared sporadically around the islands. He returned time and again to the Big Island of Hawaii, camera in hand, preserving in time the unique painted trees of Hawaii. The Eucalyptus deglupta trees, particular to the Aloha State, reveal a stunning palette, as they naturally shed their bark. No two trees share the same vibrant color pattern, and a stand of these island eucalyptus create a living rainbow.
While the iconic images will live forever, thanks to the creative eye of Mr. Dunn, a surprisingly deep appreciation of the beauty he witnessed transpired, calling upon Kelly to preserve the very trees themselves. Moved into action, Kelly has joined the promotion of the Painted Trees of Hawaii Foundation.
In the past few decades, a good many of the trees have been cut down. For a variety of reason, property development among them, the ever-decreasing population of the painted trees has raised some concern. Mr. Dunn felt something needed to be done to increase awareness and preserve these beautiful symbols of mother nature’s grandeur, or risk losing them altogether. Enter the foundation.
An Eye and A Heart for Natural Beauty
The Painted Trees of Hawaii Foundation was started as an effort to promote recognition and an appreciation of these natural beauties. Kelly Dunn plans a lecture tour, as well as a series of gallery shows of his collection of images, and many fundraisers. As the self-appointed steward of the painted trees of Hawaii, Kelly is leading the charge to increase the population of Painted Eucalyptus by setting aside an acre of his island property for the sole purpose of propagation of the species. 
Kelly’s personal property is located in the ideal environment for these seedlings to thrive. At the southern tip of the Hawaiian Islands, Kelly’s property will serve as a forest one day, as well as a nursery for tree seedlings which will be donated to landowners on the Big Island. Confident in the growing conditions and location of his property, Kelly Dunn is hopeful that other landowners will be encouraged to do likewise, and preserve the painted trees of Hawaii.
Our Shared Responsibility
For those who have experienced first-hand the natural beauty of the pink-sand beaches, hiked to Diamond Head, or simply sat in the stillness Pikake-scented breezes enchant, Hawaii is a part of your soul. These treasures, as well as the painted trees of Hawaii, are deeply rooted in the heritage of the islands. Like Kelly, you probably feel a sense of duty to preserve these treasures for millennia. 
For those who've yet to visit the Aloha state firsthand, you realize the intrinsic connection the painted trees of Hawaii have to every living thing. We are all stewards, called upon to safeguard the natural mosaic of our world, so that generations from now, our descendants will look back and say “well done”, as they, too, experience the beauty and wonder of nature at her finest. 
For, as noted conservationist, and founder of the Sierra Club once stated,
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
What Can You Do?
In order that future generations may come to admire-and cherish-the impressive natural beauty of Hawaii’s painted eucalyptus, Kelly Dunn is encouraging others to get involved. The need to “get the word out” is great. Through education and continued proliferation of the seedlings, saving the painted trees of Hawaii is possible. 
For those who are interested in becoming involved, contact Kelly at PaintedTreesHawaii.org (877) 888-6111. If you would like to make a donation and plant a seedling in your name, there are details on the website. No act is too small, and your generosity will come back to you for generations to come. As Kelly Dunn reminds us, “The seeds we plant today will provide shade and beauty for many future generations.”.
Painted Trees of Hawaii is a registered with the IRS and the state of Hawaii. We are a tax exempt 509 (a)(2) foundation to help educate and create awareness to help save these beautiful trees. Our board of directors are active in the community to bring attention to these trees in Hawaii. The board of directors meetings are held on the second (2nd) Saturday of each month. 
Based on our efforts Google has granted us use of their entire collection of software. These tools give us the ability to reach out and stay connected within the organization and the community. 
Our organization began through the photography of Kelly Dunn. His prints of the eucalyptus trees in Hawaii garnered worldwide attention through magazine articles, news outlets and social media. Over the years Mr. Dunn began to see the trees slowly disappearing in Hawaii. It was at this point that his passion was ignited and began laying the ground work to save these trees.
Painted Trees of Hawaii was registered in Michigan then moved our headquarters to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 2015.


Painted Trees of Hawaii is a registered with the IRS and the state of Hawaii. We are a tax exempt 509 (a)(2) is a foundation to help educate and create awareness to help save these beautiful trees.
We are classified as a 501(c)(3) charity classified as a public charity under Section 509 (a)(2).
Section 501(c)(3) is the section of the Tax Code that describes religious, scientific, literary, educational and other charitable organizations exempt from federal income tax. All charities are further subdivided, however, between public charities, which receive broad public support from gifts or fees, and private foundations, which receive almost all of their income (other than investment income) from a very narrow group of persons, such as a single individual, family or corporation. The Code provides more restrictions on the activities of private foundations than on public charities.
Every charity is deemed to be a private foundation unless it satisfies the IRS that it meets one of the definitions of a public charity under Section 509(a). Section 509 (a)(1) primarily includes churches, schools, hospitals, and other organizations that receive their public support primarily from gifts, grants and contributions from a broad group of people. Section 509 (a)(2) covers organizations that receive their support from a combination of gifts, grants and contributions and fees for their exempt services.
Our board of directors are active in the community to bring attention to these trees in Hawaii. The board of directors meetings are held on the second (2nd) Saturday of each month. 
Based on our efforts Google has granted us use of their entire collection of software. These software applications give us the ability to track our timelines, board meetings, online donations, reach out and stay connected within the organization and the community. 
Our organization began through the photography of Kelly Dunn. His prints of the eucalyptus trees garnered worldwide attention through magazines, articles and social media. Over the years Mr. Dunn began to see the trees slowly disappearing in Hawaii. It was at this point that his passion was ignited and began laying the ground work to save these trees.
Painted Trees of Hawaii was registered in the state of Michigan then we moved our headquarters to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 2015. As of July 1st, 2017 Painted Trees of Hawaii is located at 1865 Hao Street in Kailua-Kona Hawaii 96740. This is a privately-owned seventy acre nature preserve created by Professor Norman Bezona. Painted Trees of Hawaii now provides guided tours throughout the forest of the world's rarest trees to be found on Earth, The highlight of the tour are the beautiful The highlight of the guided tours are the Eucalyptus Deglupta trees located in the center of the forest. This tree is a favorite with the many visitors to the Kona Cloud Forest - Guided Walking Tours. We are conducting and arranging guided walking tours through the Kona Cloud Forest - Rain or Shine Reserve Your Tour Today! (808) 640-3888