The survival of the 150-year-old Banyan Tree in Lahaina is a focus now of everyone. Its comeback will be a testament to the strength of the people of Maui for years to come. About 50 years after the tree was planted, a fire in Lahaina on New Year’s Day destroyed thirty buildings. And now, over 104 years after that fire, the tree has seen another one, only this time, its been touched by the blaze and burned severely in the devastation of Lahaina.
The tree was placed there in 1873 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission on Maui. It was gifted by missionaries from India and planted by Sheriff William Owen Smith on April 24 of that year at the request of queen keōpūolani when the monarchy still ruled Hawaii.
It was 8 feet tall with a single trunk when first planted.
From there, it grew to be the 60 foot tall landmark of West Maui with a canopy spread of 1.94 acres and a circumference of a quarter of a mile. It is believed to be the largest banyan tree of its type in the United States. It’s one single trunk has sprouted many more trunks over the years. How this even happened is remarkable. The roots that hung down from its branches could eventually root and become new trunks when they met the ground. It has an amazing 64 major trunks. When it was first planted, residents would hang jars of water on these aerial roots to help it grow. And their efforts worked.
While the tree has seen many changes over the years, it’s always been at the center of the heart of Lahaina, and is the love of Lahaina residents and visitors alike. The fact that it still stands at the Lahaina harbor brings hope to a community starting to heal from its incomprehensible losses.
Efforts are underway to determine if there is life in the tree.
The tree near Front Street in Courthouse Square was under stress well before the fire because of Maui’s drought conditions. And also from environmental issues that came with increased development and more traffic. With the help of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, irrigation for the tree had previously been installed even before the fire.
What’s not known yet by scientists is how resilient banyan Lahaina’s banyan tree will be to the fire. They are thin-bark trees and usually don’t do well in wildfires. The heat and flames can penetrate their bark and reach the trees’ living cells.
In the case of this majestic tree, that didn’t happen. Arborists from the Maui County arborist committee report seeing tissue still alive under the bark, with no significant charring. That gives hope to the people of Maui, including Anthony Steele, who has cared for the tree since 2009.
However, there does not seem to be a good sap flow after the fire. Since it’s not oozing out the sap, the tree is almost in a coma state and is treated as such by arborists.
Current restoration efforts include a daily watering program provided by water trucks and adding a two-inch layer of compost and soil aeration. It will take four to six months to know what the future of the tree will be.
The iconic banyan tree on Front Street is deeply damaged, but still standing.
— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) August 13, 2023
After speaking with the arborist working on the tree, I’m optimistic that it will bloom again – serving as a symbol of hope amid so much devastation. pic.twitter.com/skzgQ6uSPz
Share your memories of the banyan tree in Lahaina.
For us at Beat of Hawaii, memories include standing in its shade while waiting to board the Lanai Ferry or taking a break from the Lahaina sun. Or walking over to it from the now destroyed iconic Pioneer Inn. Also, when iI was lit up during the December holidays, we remember walking around it with the lights glowing. It’s always been a meeting place for locals and visitors and a prominent site for festivals.
It was reported that King Kamehameha III once had a birthday celebration and royal ball under historical landmark tree back in 1886. And recently, the tree was given its birthday celebration in April to mark the 150th. We hope the banyan tree will have many more birthdays and celebrations in the future.
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I am praying for the tree.I visited the tree 7 years ago.Hoping to visit the tree again.Both myself and the tree are both struggling to make it.
Aloha! Can anyone tell me the status of the Lahaina Banyan tree at the present time? Mahalo!
Hi Carol.
Happy to report it has sprouted new leaves!
Aloha.
We have been visiting Maui since 1998. We Always spend time in Lahaina because we love the town, the people, and the businesses there. This fire has saddened us deeply, and our family hopes for a positive recovery that retains the Hawaiian culture. We are so pleased to hear that the banyan tree may be a point of light in the survival of the Lahaina. We will return, just as we expect Lahaina Town and the banyan tree will return. -Just a family in Clovis, California.
My husband was in the Navy in the 60’s. He was stationed there in Hawaii for his duration! Years and years later, we went on a cruise and one of the ports was Lahaina, he had many memories there, we were sitting on a bench and he said I carved my initials in that tree. He went over to look and found them!!! We were both shocked, and elated to find them. I took a picture and we talked about all his memories! He is gone now, but i was so scared the tree was burned down!! Thankfully it didn’t, so my memories are in tact. Thank you, I hope to someday come and visit that tree again in Lahaina.
I was lucky enough to be sitting under the Lahaina Banyan tree talking story with a kamaina and he pointed to some children playing and said these were his grandchildren. That was my most cherished memory of the trip. I’m worried for the tree and the local people.
I saw the banyan tree for the first time in January. While there I walked around, meditated inside one of the trunks, and drew pictures. The potential survival of this amazing tree represents our ability to do enough to stop the “age of fire” in the islands.
I share April 24th birthday with the banyon tree…over the years I have been in Maui to celebrate. My heart is with this beautiful tree and all who are hurting…sending blue light for the speedy recovery from this tragedy.
Forever a part of our history, we will never forget!
We visited Maui in 2015 and loved the sight of the Banyan tree in full bloom. It is so beautiful and I pray it will come out of its coma alive and well. Thank you all for taking care of this magical tree.
Louise & Tony D, Florida residents.
I love the Lahaina banyan tree more than words can express. I last saw it in 2006, and my fondest wish is to walk under its astonishing canopy again.
It’s been about 2 years since I walked under the banyan tree. Every time we went to Maui we visited the most amazing tree I’ve ever seen.
I just visited Ojai Valley in California. The fire 5 years ago burned thousands of acres. Today, one could not believe that there was a fire. Nature is always coming back and so will the Banyan Tree in Lahaina and with it the strenght of the people rebuilding this wonderful town. I am sure, when I am back next June the tree will be full of green leafs.
OMG… The Banyan Tree has always brought back fantastic memories of Hawaii. Beginning with my first visit to Maui in 1962, 1973 honeymoon, and subsequent visits every five years. We last visited The Tree in March of this year. We are planning to visit The Tree and the renewed Lahaina in 2028. Meanwhile we are praying for The Tree and All Hawaiians.
I have been to beautiful Maui and Lahaina 6 times. My first
Time was when they were digging for for artifacts near the banyan tree and the old Pioneer Inn about 94 or 95
I still have a album with pictures.,. Mahalo Duke
My friends here in the South Bay Area still have a home in Kahului. Their uncle who has a cabin in upcountry Kula is still missing. The daughter, Maile, recently recalled how as a child she played on the limbs of the beloved banyan. Everyone is praying for its recovery which stands now as a symbol of recovery for Lahaina town. I shed tears each day for those lost to this tragedy. I remember walking past the tree & the Pioneer Hotel & being impressed by its presence. Much aloha to all,
The birds! The birds! Loved it there at sunset with all the mynas saying “G’nite” to one another! Just believing it will yet survive…
How could I ever forget the mynas and the wonderful International MarketPlace.
I remember the banyan from my last visit to Lāhainā, a magnificent natural fixture despite its commemorative purpose of acknowledging the arrival of the American Congregationalist Missionaries to Maui in 1823. Additionally, King Kamehameha III died in 1854 and the last of the Kamehameha monarchs (Kamehameha V) passed in 1872. The tree was planted in 1873, so the only Hawaiian Kingdom monarch to have possibly celebrated one of his birthdays under the tree was King Kalākaua, who is from a different ali’i dynastic line.
My husband and I spend about 6 weeks every feb. in maui. we adore the people an island but the whales are the best! i love all trees and the banyan tree is so remarkably beautiful. i also love your rainbow eucalyptus trees. i pray for all of you an hop th banyan will heal with all of you. Aloha
The Lahaina Banyon tree is amazing. The first time we saw it we just sat admiring at the many trunks and spread of its canopy. I hope it does recover to show the resilience of Maui and it’s residents. Aloha.
I was born and raised in central Florida and have always loved banyan trees. Whenever we visited St. Petersburg I always begged to go to the park where a relatively large banyan tree was. So when I visited Maui in the 1980’s I had to see the Lahaina Banyan. And it didn’t disappoint. I have fond memories of sitting in the shade of that beautiful tree. May it continue to be a symbol of resiliency for the people of Lahaina.
S Sad,, Prayers for everyone’s recovery..
Lahaina, great memories for me..
Back in the 90’s I took my mom there for her dream trip.. We shopped, ate, in Lahaina and I got my first small butterfly tattoo at a shop there.. Loved the old school feel and look of the town. We walked around, and then,,,, I saw the Banyan tree,,, omg,,, magnificent..
When the news first started coming across about the fire, it was devistating, but I kept looking for news about this awesome tree.. So glad there seems to be hope for it,,, and for the spirit of Lahaina,..
Did It Survive ? ? ?
I noticed CBS Evening News on Sunday the 20th managed to find two Hawai’ians who told Joe Biden to stay away, and that isn’t noteworthy except for my experience over 25 years of visiting the islands. It surely isn’t all aloha among those who’d as soon thumb their noses at haoles & visitors who come with a helpful spirit.. More like the reality “The Descendants” described.
Not that its not rude to tell a sitting president to stay away, but what does this anecdote have to do with the recovery of the epic banyan tree at Lahaina?
Those two “Hawaiians” do not represent all Native Hawaiians or all people living on Maui. Those two may have expressed themselves that way because they’re worn out & tired from the fires &/or from years of frustration stemming from ineffective government & corporate policies that have displaced them in their homeland; or because they realize that the visit by a sitting U.S. President would cause disruptions to the rescue & recovery efforts currently underway on the ground and in the air.
True experience isn’t eligible?
We renewed our wedding vows under the Banyan tree for our 20th anniversary. That was nearly 30 years ago. We had attended a luau at Royal Lahaina with friends. My hubby spontaneously asked our friend who was a pastor if he would do the honors. It was a memorable evening. Our dear friend has since passed away and we grieved for the beloved Banyan tree when we heard it might be lost. So many memories have been made there.
I picked Lahaina as the base for my Maui vacation. I could take the ferry ⛴ to Molokai and Lanai. I definitely wanted to see the Banyan tree and took pictures. I hope it makes a glorious comeback.
We neeeeeeed that tree to survive. After everything else that happened in and with the fire, we need that tree to rally around.
Our fondest memories circa 2001, were on Saturdays when they had art in the park underneath the tree. Met Michael Stark the artist, there and have been a fan his ever since.
Hope the tree recovers.
Mahalo for all your information about Hawaii, and specifically Lahaina as it recovers
Bill
If the tree survivors, it will be a rallying/spiritual point for all those who lost their loved ones, homes and businesses to this devastating tragedy. It will be one of the remaining reminders of old Lahaina and the resilience of the Hawaiian people. I have come to Maui almost every year since 2008 and this tree is one of the places I always come to to eat an ice cream and marvel in its beauty. There is something truly spiritual about Lahaina.
Man, where do you start to describe the banyan tree. The first time I saw it, I was in awe. Always a must visit on every trip to Maui. Watching the people under the tree, taking pictures of cats lounging in the tree, bringing friends and family to see the huge tree. Just sitting under it and enjoying the respite from the sun. It truly is the symbol of Lahaina and hopefully it’s survival begins the healing and the renaissance of the beloved town.
In Feb 2020, right before Covid hit the mainland, my wife and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary with a visit to the islands of Hawaii, with a particularly memorable photo in front of the banyan tree in Lahaina. We had paradise-level experiences on the islands, and so greatly enjoyed getting to know the locals, the culture, and the history with Maui’s famous banyan tree as a centerpoint. We cry for the people of Maui and with all those going through so much as a result of the fire, and hope the locals and the amazing sites and history can be restored for all to wonder at as we did.
Much love and warm aloha to our ohana in the lovely islands of Hawaii.
Isaiah 43:2