Frequently Asked Questions

For almost a century, Hawaii’s lands were being used to cultivate sugar and pineapple. These crops were high profit and rapid growing, but labor intensive. As other countries developed cheaper labor forces, sugar and pineapple migrated to third world countries. Since Hawaii’s population was expanding so rapidly during this time, agricultural land was tied up by investors who anticipated higher prices associated with residential and resort development. Recent global economic uncertainty has caused many of these investors to rethink their plans. This coupled with the continuing increase in hardwood prices has made growing these fine hardwoods on U.S. soil an economic possibility for the first time.

No, there are no hidden costs of any kind.

One of the reasons for the minimum order is the very nature of the forestry management process. Trees must be pruned and thinned with only the best trees growing to full maturity. With a small number of trees this process can create statistical anomalies in yields. Our Projections section will show you how a smaller number would create uncertainties as to how your trees will be managed.

Just simply indicate on the Tree Owner Agreement that you want joint ownership by listing both names and add the letters “JTWROS” beneath your names.

When your paid order is accepted, your trees will be scheduled with the nursery. The first 3-4 months of their life will be under the care of the nursery staff. When they are mature enough for field planting they will be planted as field and weather conditions dictate. When your trees are planted you will receive Registry Documentation showing the exact location of your trees, the quantity, species and the year of planting.

With growing restrictions on the harvesting and importation of tropical hardwoods from their countries of origin, it may well be very difficult for U.S. markets obtain sufficient lumber to meet their needs. With our farms on U.S. soil (yes, Hawaii is actually part of the United States) importation restrictions and tariffs will never be a problem. This may well make Hawaiian Branded Hardwoods the first choice for domestic markets.

First of all, others are doing it. Over the past several decades, millions of trees have been planted for investors throughout Central America where land is cheap and the climate is conducive to growing. Unfortunately, all of the tree farms in the world meet less than 1-2% of the annual global demand for tropical hardwood. Hawaii and very southern portions of Florida are the only possible climate zones in the United States where these rare tropical trees can be grown.

A great deal of knowledge about tree farm management comes from the last hundred years of tree farm operation. One of the things discovered was that trees given too much space will tend to branch early and develop short trunks. The trunk below the first limb is the most valuable lumber in the tree. By crowding the trees in their early growth, long straight trunks can be encouraged.

As the tree grows its canopy spreads. When the tree canopies start to touch one another the trees start competing for sunlight and growth slows. By timely thinning, the best trees are “released” to maximize the lumber yield of the total original stand.

Forest fires are generally a problem in regions with significant dry seasons. The windward side of the Big Island receives over 100 inches of rain a year and a bigger problem for the tree farmer is that the land can be too wet for farm equipment to operate during portions of the year. Additionally an aggressive campaign of weed control prevents the accumulation of fuel for a fire to get started in the first place.

Hurricanes are infrequent in the Hawaiian Islands and if you look at the map in the Environmental Risk section you will see that none have hit the Big Island of Hawaii since accurate records started being kept in the 1940s.

All farm sites used for the tree owner program will be in lava hazard zone 8 as classified by the United States Geological Survey or in areas where there are no identifiable flows in recorded history. Zone 8 is one of the lowest risk areas with no area being affected since 1800 and less than 1% affected in the last 10,000 years.

The risk of diseases and insects are constantly monitored by our forestry professionals. Hawaii’s geographic isolation reduces the threat of many pests that are common in other parts of the world. By continually monitoring the tree farm, Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods works to minimize any pest threats through early detection and treatment.

Since we are a tree farm and we are planting pastureland, we have no impact on our native forests. We are sustainable by design. Our planting is an ongoing program and will always exceed our harvesting.

Wildlife site surveys are conducted and filed along with the forestry management plan before the first tree goes into the ground. Our obligation under the safe harbor “Right to Harvest” laws is to not degrade the habitat from the condition present at the time of the initial survey. In short the tree owner has the right to harvest their trees even if the trees have become a new habitat. Continual planting assures that there will always be new habitat available.

Until you sell the lumber from your trees you have no obligation to report the gain or pay tax on the gain. Once your trees are harvested and the lumber is sold you must report the gain and pay taxes at that time.

There are asset management companies set up to handle IRA, 401K and other types of trust and retirement accounts that hold hard assets. If you have trouble locating a firm that can handle this we can direct you to companies who specialize in this field.

As a tree owner you have the right to sell the trees to anyone at any time during the life of the trees. If you choose to do this we will help you prepare the documentation to transfer ownership in our tree registry. Any replacement owner will be bound by the same terms and conditions of your tree owner’s agreement. Because we are in constant contact with tree owners we may be able to help you find a buyer. Some in the wood products industry may be looking to plan for their lumber needs on shorter time horizons.

The exact timing of thinning harvests and final harvest will be determined by our forestry team. If you look at the tables in the projections section, you will see harvest years based on the results from tree farms as diverse as Hawaii, Indonesia and Central America. The first harvest producing marketable timber is projected as occurring in year 8 with periodic harvests every 3-4 years leading to a final harvest at year 25. Teak is well documented, but the exact schedules for other species are not as well known.

We are constantly working with our forestry people to insure we meet all FSC guidelines. In addition, because each tree is uniquely identified through the RFID system, we meet all chain of custody issues automatically.

You should contact your tax advisor regarding your particular situation. If the inspection of your trees is the principal reason for your trip, it is likely that a significant portion of your travel and lodging expenses will be deductible. Your tax advisor can tell you what documentation and records you would need to retain.

The World Resource Institute has calculated the current rate of tropical rainforest destruction at 50 million acres a year. They also estimate that less that 700 million acres remain with growing global pressure to protect much of that resource. The confluence of these forces will create a global shortage within 14 years. Currently, tree farms and plantations supply only 1% of the tropical hardwood market. Even given the most optimistic projections, it is highly unlikely tropical hardwood farms will fill more than a few percent of the current worldwide demand.

The carbon credit market is in its infancy, but make no mistake it is coming. It is not clear how carbon credits for managed forest resources will be treated, but our climatology advisors are following this market with great interest. By making the personal choice to plant trees, you create an offset to your carbon footprint. Hardwoods, even when harvested are used for products with lasting value and are unlikely to reenter the planet’s carbon cycle any time soon. Any and all carbon credits associated with your trees are yours to keep or sell.

When your trees are planted you will receive Registry Documentation showing the exact location of your trees, the quantity, species and the year of planting. You will be entered into the email list for our Entreepreneur™ Newsletter with ongoing updates on lumber markets, HLH progress and other developments affecting tree ownership.

After each thinning and harvest, you will be emailed a detailed account of the number of your trees harvested and all associated costs such as milling, drying, care and management. If you choose to have us sell your hardwood we will also include the amount of the net proceeds from your harvest.