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Eucalyptus Deglupta - YouTube
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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
#KonaCloudForest #Hawaii #Kona #ThingsToDo #Nature #Hiking #EucalyptusDeglupta #PaintedTreesHawaii #KellyDunn
