Lahaina's Recovery Efforts
Dominating the courthouse square in downtown Lahaina is one of the most remarkable aboreal specimens. One quarter of a mile in circumference, its octopus-like limbs stretch outward, spreading a vast network of branches, leaves and aerial roots towards the streets and buildings surrounding it. Extraordinary, almost surreal, it seems more like a fantastic prop from a Tim Burton film than a organism in real life. How did this giant come to lay its roots in this tiny port of Lahaina? Here’s the story:
On April 24, 1873, to honor the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina, which was started at the request of Queen Keōpūolani, the sacred wife and widow of King Kamehameha the Great, Sheriff William Owen Smith planted the exotic Indian Banyan. At the time it was only eight feet tall.
After settling in, the tree slowly sent branches outward from its trunk. From the branches, a series of aerial roots descended towards the earth. Some of them touched the ground and dug in, growing larger until eventually turning into trunks themselves. Over the years, Lahaina residents lovingly encouraged the symmetrical growth of the tree by hanging large glass jars filled with water on the aerial roots that they wanted to grow into a trunk. In time, what was once a small sapling matured into a monumental behemoth.
Banyan Tree Update:
* the following excerpt is from the press release prepared by the State DLNR:
(Lāhainā, Maui) – The 150-year-old Banyan Tree, which shades nearly a full block between Front Street and Wharf Street in downtown Lāhainā, continues to show positive signs of recovery following the August 8 wildfire.
It is not the only tree, however, receiving attention from a group of volunteer arborists and landscapers who have banded together as the Lāhainā Treescape Restoration Project. The title was coined by arborist Steve Nimz who initiated care and watering for the historic Banyan tree.
Last Thursday, the hui of professionals met under the banyan to see how it was doing and to discuss plans for replanting native and endemic trees across the devastated community.
First, the banyan tree. “After not being here for two weeks and looking at the new sprouts, especially on the makai side of the tree it is enlightening and exciting to see all the new growth, but also how high up in the canopy it is,” Nimz said.
He estimates one-third of the tree is showing really strong recovery, another third only slightly so, and the final third is not showing anything yet. Nimz added, “In my opinion the tree is still in a coma. I relate it to people. They’re in a coma and all of a sudden they blink an eye or move a finger. This tree needs to put out enough foliage and green to be able to feed itself.”
To read the rest of this press release and see video of the Banyan Tree's recovery, please click below
Below, you will find some images of Lahaina's famous Banyan Tree that were taken in June and July, 2023:
This video shows the condition of the famous Banyan tree next to the Lahaina Courthouse. This footage was obtained on 7/28/2023, less than 2 weeks before the fire.
Artifact Recovery
Learn what's happening with the current efforts to recover some of the artifacts that were damaged in the fire. There's a chance that some can be saved and refurbished to maintain a part of our history. Here's some information
Architectural analysis
Please check back here soon, for more in-depth information as we gather it for the recovery effort.
Collections Care
Please check back here soon, for more in-depth information as we gather it for the recovery effort.
