Wednesday, April 30, 1997
What ever happened to the tree Franklin Roosevelt is supposed to have planted in Hawaii? FDR planted tree
at Iolani PalacePresident Franklin Roosevelt, the first president to visit Hawaii while in office, came here twice — in 1934 and 1944. A tree he planted on his first visit 63 years ago this July graces the grounds of Iolani Palace, just ewa of the building, adding silvery pale-green accents to the grounds. That "lucky kukui tree" was credited by some with Roosevelt's good fortunes in the 1936, 1940 and 1944 elections.
Honolulu tree columnist Alice Conlon Lake once wrote that plans were for Roosevelt to plant a kamani tree. A kamani sapling was ordered from the nursery despite protests by some Democratic women officials who said the kamani was nothing more than a rank malihini. They felt that a tree with a good kamaaina background and strong Hawaiian significance would be more appropriate for such a state occasion.
The sapling was delivered just before the ceremony began, and somehow it turned out to be a kukui. The Territorial governor noticed the substitution but could do nothing about it then.
Roosevelt's tree is identified by a plaque, placed in 1959, which reads: "President Franklin D. Roosevelt planted this kukui tree July 28, 1934."