Charles H. Kim Tree-Planting

About 100 fifth graders from Charles H. Kim Elementary School hiked to the top of Mt. Hollywood in Griffith Park today to plant a Canary Island Pine tree to honor their school's namesake.
Councilmember LaBonge planned the hike after two members of the fifth grade class won a contest for their essays about Mr. Kim, a Korean immigrant who established farms throughout California's Central Valley, became the first Korean-American millionaire and went on to become an advocate for fair wages and good working conditions for immigrant laborers.
Charles H. Kim is the first public school in Los Angeles to be named for a Korean-American.
Mr. Kim's granddaughter Daisy Kim helped to organize the the 1.5-mile hike and tree-planting. She has been a strong advocate and volunteer at the school since it opened in 2006.
"I know Charles Kim is smiling down on these students and his granddaughter Daisy from heaven right now," Councilmember LaBonge. "Through Mr. Kim's wonderful life story of farming, agricultural development, community-spirit and philanthropy, these students are learning to give back to the world."
The Charles H. Kim tree was planted in Dante's Peak, a garden on the Charlie Turner Trail in Griffith Park.