What did people in Hawai'i use as Christmas trees before the days of container-load shipments from the Mainland? The Norfolk Island pine, which is generally accepted as the official Christmas tree of Hawai'i. Just check out the majestic Norfolk pine that is raised annually for the Honolulu City Lights.

The pine has long been recognized as a tropical Christmas tree of choice. In the 1955 book, "The Modern Tropical Garden," authors Lorraine Kuck and Richard Tongg wrote: "Norfolk Island Pine: 'Christmas Tree,' Araucaria excelsa. ... often used in the tropics for a yule tree. In its young stage, is extremely symmetrical in growth, its branches radiating in regular tiers."

The Norfolk Island pine, reclassified as A. heterophylla, is endemic to its namesake, about 930 miles east of Australia. The island's imposing cliff-lined coast is fringed with the trees. The pine also is the lone symbol on the island state's national flag. Captain Cook named the tree (and island) after the Duke of Norfolk on Oct. 10, 1774, during his second Pacific voyage, when he saw pines up to 200 feet tall.

The first Norfolk pine seedlings were brought to Hawai'i from the Sydney Botanic Garden in 1852 in a cargo addressed to the "King of the Sandwich Islands."

In 1911, naturalist George Munro arrived from New Zealand to become the manager of Lana'i Ranch. He had paniolo plant Norfolks to restore the watershed and improve the groundwater supply. On Lana'i, the Koloiki Ridge trail passes through the Cathedral of Pines. In upcountry Maui, at Tedeschi Vineyards in 'Ulupalakua, is a towering Norfolk pine that's more than 170 feet tall. On O'ahu, there are small pine forests at Wa'ahila Ridge State Park, at the base of Judd Memorial trail, in Kalihi Valley, in Waiahole and along the Hau'ula Loop trail.

Also on O'ahu, we can pick our own Norfolk pine Christmas trees growing at Helemano Farms, at the end of Whitmore Avenue outside of Wahiawa.

Last week, manager Aaron O'Brien hosted me. He explained how he continues the legacy and dream of his late father, Mike O'Brien, who started Helemano Farms.

The farm is home to 14,000 trees. Aaron's eyes twinkled as he commented on how his dad would be "rolling over" with the scale of the farm today.

Helemano Farms is a labor of love, reflected by Aaron O'Brien's easygoing attitude and gracious character. He donated 250 coupons, each redeemable for a tree, to the Salvation Army and KHON's Lokahi program for distribution to needy O'ahu residents. During this holiday period, Helemano also offers a free 6- to 7-foot Norfolk pine to nonprofit organizations, which can simply show up at the farm with a 501(c)(3) exemption.

Stroll through the farm's mesmerizing forest of Norfolk pines, and when you spot the tree of your dreams, the staff will cut, carry, net-wrap and load it onto your car, with holiday cheer. O'Brien detailed how the pines can last three months or more with minimal attention, do not shed their needles, are nonallergenic to most everyone, and are very difficult to set on fire.

While at Helemano, I met Army Sgt. Edward Martinez and his wife, Annette, who were looking for a Christmas tree. As we meandered through the trees, I discovered everyone proclaims that their final selection is the "perfect tree."

Helemano Farms is the ultimate family yuletide adventure. Children will be the proverbial kids in a candy store as they gleefully search wide-eyed through a forest of pines for the perfect tree to adopt for the hale.

So jingle your way to Helemano Farms, and be rewarded with a jolly, family experience that perpetuates the Christmas aloha spirit in true Hawaiian tradition.

Mele Kalikimaka!