The Outdoor Circle has been in the news lately, regarding its stance on several issues related to proposed legislation regarding private sponsorships of city parks and facilities, and the potential signage associated with that sponsorship. This might lead one to ask, “Who is the Outdoor Circle?”, “What do they do?” or “Why should we listen to them?”

For the past 105 years, The Outdoor Circle (TOC), a Hawaii member-based nonprofit organization, has been working to keep Hawaii clean, green and beautiful for future generations, by preserving, protecting and enhancing our environment. We do this through community-improvement projects, public interest advocacy and educational outreach. Members of TOC have helped push back on the unrelenting pressure to urbanize the natural beauty of the Hawaiian islands, and work to prevent the proliferation of signage that would mar our scenic vistas, urban business districts and neighborhoods.

Thanks to our community-based network of 10 branches across the state, TOC remains a truly grassroots organization of people from all walks of life, sharing a common bond, to protect and enhance our natural environment through planting projects, educational outreach, and advocacy, to meet the unique needs of communities throughout the islands.

Throughout our history, TOC has been dedicated to ensuring that trees are a central feature of our communities across the islands for generations to come. Much of our work in this area may go unnoticed, but by working with federal, state, and county officials, as well as the private sector, we seek to prevent the unnecessary removal of mature trees and plant new trees, having planted well over a million trees to date. Our members have established and maintain numerous public parks and botanical gardens across the state, and continue to install and maintain specific landscaping features in our communities.

Perhaps more visible are our advocacy efforts that have resulted in Hawaii having one of the finest national examples of state statutes and county ordinances to control outdoor advertising along our highways, on vehicles, and in our skies. Since our founders’ first victory of banning billboards in Honolulu in 1927, to the present, we have always promoted visionary public policies and continue to shape public opinion about the importance of protecting Hawaii’s natural environment.

It is interesting to note that TOC’s own mission statement: “To Keep Hawaii Clean, Green, and Beautiful” is reflected in the Hawaii State Constitution, which provides that “for the benefit of present and future generations, the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii’s natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals and energy sources, and shall promote the development and utilization of these resources in a manner consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self-sufficiency of the State.”

All of Hawaii has been the beneficiary of the work of The Outdoor Circle. Our vision for Hawaii has always been that parks, greenways, and bikeways are plentiful, our streets are lined with appropriate and well-maintained tree plantings, and signage is at a minimum. We envision a future where our residents and visitors fully appreciate our unique scenic environment and act accordingly, and where the state of Hawaii is used as a model to demonstrate effective sustainability. Hawaii is our home, and it is our duty to protect it for future generations.

Steve Mechler is president of The Outdoor Circle board of directors.