With so much of California on fire lately, it’s easy to forget our own blaze on Maui’s Kahana Ridge. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn’t forget: On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz relayed approval from FEMA of federal support in that firefighting effort.

Not unrelated, Schatz added, was a meeting held with international bank officials on the financial risks of climate change. Yes, there are other causes of brushfires, but with the tinder-dry brush all around, climate is one of them.

On Arbor Day, to tree or not to tree

Hawaii’s Arbor Day, celebrated on the first Friday in November, will get underway with a city planting of three monkeypod trees in Kapiolani Park. Tree giveaways and festivities will follow, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at Foster Botanical Garden, Pearl City Urban Garden Center, Wahiawa Botanical Garden, Waimea Valley Center and Kailua United Methodist Church.

Plenty of tree-planting enthusiasm is needed to make good on Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s commitment to plant 100,000 saplings across Oahu by 2025. Also, he pledged, with City Council backing in a resolution, to up Oahu’s urban canopy coverage to 35% by 2035.