Beautification Awards

LKOC Beautification Awards

Since 1954, LKOC has been presenting Beautification Awards to home owners, businesses and organizations in the Kailua Community, as a way to encourage civic pride as well as acknowledge those who have made a significant impact on
“Keeping Kailua Clean, Green and Beautiful”
Mahalo to all of them over the years!
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The 2019 LKOC Beautification Awards
Acknowledged at the 2019 "I Love Kailua" Town Party

1. Central Union Windward

We are impressed and grateful for Central Union Windward’s care of the large kamani trees on their campus. They are a delight to see, especially because as Kailua develops, there is little room for big trees. The trees are always beautiful, but especially when the leaves mysteriously turn red. The ones with beautiful buttress roots are even more impressive. Thank you for caring for these big trees, and the others on your campus, which provide shade, beauty, and oxygen, and important environmental protections through the filtering of water and chemicals that leach into the soil.

2. Alexander & Baldwin

It is wonderful to enter Kailua, cross the bridge, and be treated to the bright landscaping at the Davis Building. We enjoy the varied foundation plantings and the colorful flowers that are periodically renewed. Together with the mature trees and taller plantings, this landscaped entrance to our community sets the tone for a town that enjoys the gracious trees and plants that make Kailua our home. Thank you, Alexander and Baldwin for planting and maintaining the lovely landscaping at the Davis Building that enhance the Kailua experience for all.

3. Kailua United Methodist Church

Kailua United Methodist Church takes advantage of their site overlooking Kawainui Marsh and the beautiful boulders that were on the site when the church acquired the property in the 1950’s. The extensive lawn and trees filter water from Pali Highway before it enters the marsh. The Meditation Garden offers a peaceful view of the marsh and Koolaus, and the lawn provides a shaded site for church events and community events such as World Wetlands Day 2019 celebration and the Arbor Day tree giveaway. Thank you for maintaining this beautiful and serene place that fosters an appreciation for this historic Kawainui wetland in our midst.

The 2018 LKOC Beautification Awards
Acknowledged at the 2018 "I Love Kailua" Town Party

We are proud to honor these inspiring groups who are are helping our community to be a special, clean, green, and beautiful place. The owners of these properties have not only provided green space and beautiful plantings, but have maintained them for a long period of time, sharing their beauty and environmental benefits until they become well-established and mature.

1. Adventist Health Castle

Isn’t their parking lot the most beautiful in Kailua? Those monkey pods are providing beauty to the buildings and to Pali Highway, while sequestering carbon non-stop. And the walkway covered with a lattice and hau is a wonderful example of the traditional use of the beautification and protection from sun and rain provided by this beautiful native tree. Thank you to Adventist Health Castle for providing this example of traditional and modern landscaping we all can enjoy!

2. Kailua Racquet Club

Remember when you looked down on Kailua and saw an area covered with coconut trees? There was a reason it was named “Coconut Grove”. But nothing lasts forever, even trees. When many of those coconuts grew to be so big that they were dangerous and difficult to trim, many property owners had them removed. But Kailua Racquet Club is planning for the future with companion planting. With far-sighted consideration for the community, they have planted young coconuts beside each tall palm. When the mature trees become difficult to maintain and must be removed, the next generation will be ready to take over the job of keeping Kailua clean, green, and beautiful. LKOC encourages you to consider companion planting for the future.

3. Ka Malanai

Many of us will remember the barren parking lot that was once across from Kailua District Park. Now the area has been beautifully landscaped with a series of gardens, all easily visible from the street. The open areas are surrounded by vibrant plantings that brighten the area and provide filtering of the water and chemical pollution. Notice the trees that are appropriate to the area that will become more beautiful as they mature. Thank you to D.R. Horton for implementing an environmentally responsible and beautiful green space for all of us to enjoy!

The 2017 LKOC Beautification Awards
Acknowledged at the 2017 "I Love Kailua" Town Party

1. Hui O Koolaupoko

Hui O Koolaupoko has re-planted the area next to Ka’elepulu Stream near the bridge next to Buzz’s parking lot. The Popoi’a Street Storm Water Project filters the water flowing into the stream, and then the ocean, with pervious pavers, rain gardens and native plants.

With the support from government and private organizations, including Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, the area looks beautiful, and it is keeping the stream alive and clean.

2. Smart Trees Pacific

Also being recognized for creating a rain garden is Smart Trees Pacific, at the corner of Hahani Street and Hamakua Drive.

The Smart Trees’ rain garden isn't just a pretty face. It filters the water running off of all the pavement in that area, cleaning the rainwater before it flows into our marsh. It’s another beautiful project that is improving our environment.

Check their web site for the science involved. (Anybody need a science fair project?)

3. Hardware Hawaii

Another beautification award was presented to Hardware Hawaii. When you go to Hardware Hawaii, don’t you love to park under their trees? The spaces under those shower trees are always the ones everyone wants. They have some of the best parking lot trees in town.

They also maintain the planting pockets for street trees in the sidewalk in front of their store, AND they keep the gutter swept. The City and County can’t keep up with the leaves and seed pods the trees drop, but Hardware Hawaii cleans it up, even though they don’t own the property. (Other businesses, hint, hint.) Thank you, Hardware Hawaii!

4. Pali Lions Club

Progress is being made at our Boettcher Estate, in large part because of the Pali Lions Club. In three work days, they have helped us remove invasive species (some of them pretty poky), cut back wild vegetation blocking the house, paths, and driveway, and help cart off truckloads of yard waste. They weren't called "work days" casually. Those Lions are hard workers, even on sweltering days. We’re not planning anything fancy, just clean, green, and beautiful. Look for further improvement in the grounds, and more work days coming up. Join us for this rewarding work.