After the devastating Lahaina wildfires, the iconic 151-year-old Maui Banyan Tree has become increasingly symbolic for many. Once towering over nearly an acre, the tree now appears noticeably smaller, but there are encouraging signs of recovery. Local arborists report that the tree is still growing and showing new signs of life, with fresh branches and leaves appearing despite the fire damage.
Efforts to nurture the tree back to health are underway, and a long-term restoration plan is in place. Arborists regularly prune and care for the tree, and new plantings from its cuttings have been put into the ground to help restore the areas lost to the fire.
Mixed sentiments surround the Maui banyan tree.
While the banyan tree’s survival has been celebrated as a symbol of Maui’s resilience, it has sparked some controversy. Community members had pointed to its historical roots when it was planted in 1873 by William Owen Smith to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Christian missionaries to Maui. Smith was later tied to overthrowing the Hawaiian monarchy, bringing up still painful memories with Native Hawaiians.
Maui’s community response.
One comment reflecting hope came from Darcy, who said, “This is the best symbol of hope for rebuilding. Maui’s amazing, majestic, and beautiful Banyan tree looks so small in this photo, but all of us who have enjoyed its beauty are happy to see it continue to survive.”
On the other hand, Nanci Saurdiff expressed concerns beyond the tree, asking, “It appears no rebuilding is happening to Lahaina town. What’s going on? Where are the plans for Lahaina Town? People need jobs and places to live.”
The dichotomy of the banyan tree as a sign of hope and a reminder of both recent and historical trauma reveals the complexity of healing on Maui. While the tree stands, efforts to rebuild Lahaina continue at varying stages, with the community focused on preserving its past and determining a future. See Maui Tourism at a Crossroads: Palpably Different A Year After Lahaina Fire.
Maui County announced in August that all 1,390 residential properties in the Lahaina burn zone had been cleared of debris. Initially, Maui County estimated it would take up to three years before rebuilding would start in Lahaina. However, 20 properties have already started rebuilding.
Efforts to nurture the Maui banyan tree continue.
It has become clear that the tree’s survival represents more than nature’s resilience. What is for many a sign of hope amid devastation is, for others, just a reminder of painful memories of loss. No matter how you view it, the tree’s recovery remains one of the focal points in the ongoing story of Lahaina’s recovery efforts.
You can revisit our previous Maui Banyan Tree update for more details on the tree’s status immediately following the fires.
We welcome your thoughts about the Lahaina banyan tree.
Photo credit: Facebook.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Lahaina as a town will recover, but Lahaina as a quaint historic seaside village that attracted world travelers for decades and hosted seasonal visitors for gift shopping & evening outs will never be the same. The whaling village character of Old Lahaina is lost to the next generations and beyond replication. The Banyan Tree will be the stoic reminder of what was, and will be, the heart of a refashioned Lahaina by the sea.
We traveled to Mauii 5 years consecutively from 2004 thru 2008. We knew Mauii was beautiful but we never expected how at home we felt. We stayed in Lahaina town every time. Front St. was a perfect place to walk around and pick up our many whale viewing excursions on those hard rubber rafts that we loved. The banyan tree was a beautiful sight and that area was where quite a few craft fairs were held. This is where I bought a beautiful anklet made by ( obviously) a wonderful native Hawaiian Woman. ❤️. We have many great memories of our time on Mauii and we can’t wait to go back. Perhaps in the way of helping to rebuild Lahaina. Stay strong, Mauii. Mahalo
Lahaina was a special part of my 20 or so near annual visits-sometimes with children and grandchildren. The Banyan tree was always a special place in a special town. But the people made it easy to keep coming back. Those burned out are the essence of “Aloha” and of the islands. Getting them back in their homes gives hope for their recovery — but also for the rest of us.
To be honest, it just makes me sick that people care about a tree. Dozens of people, including entire families and their homes, were lost – horrifically – in a senseless, preventable tragedy. Continually looking to a tree’s survival as some silver lining feels so disrespectful to the deceased. This “feel good” story gets all the clicks as the utility company, ideologically-motivsated bureaucrats, and local leadership escape scrutiny. It’s not right.
There are so many people at fault for this terrible, life altering event. I would like to think that this article is to be able to just have a moment to appreciate that not all was lost. I fear that Maui county will never resolve the “who is at fault” and that is cause to be angry. No corporation or government official will ever admit to contributing to the preemptive measures and actions that placed Lahaina in danger.
Aloha. Love and greetings to all my Maui friends. My husband and I were blessed to live on island for many years, from 1989-2013. For me it is still home. However after my husband passed, I returned to mainland to be closer to children and grands. Still in my heart I am and always be heart held within Maui lands. We opened our own business, owned a few homes, and truly loved the Maui heart. But being alone I returned to mainland to be closer to family. Still I love and support the community. Joy to you all. Aloha, Nancy
I’ve never been to Hawaii but I watch the fires on tv for days. Please keep the Banyan tree. It does matter why it was planted or by whom. This is part of your history. It may not be politically correct today just as things from the Civil war are part of our history. Let’s learn from our history.
Happy to see humans helping nature work to heal this beautiful tree.
The Banyan Tree to me is spiritual. It renews my faith in in human kindness to the environment and to the peoples of the world. Please do not think of this tree in negative political ways. It is a positive tree for people to partake of its shade.
My family visited Lahaina in May 2023. We were so happy to visit Hawaii. This was a once in a life time visit for us. Lahaina was an amazing place!! We have wanted to go back ever since we were there. I hope that the forces to be realize there is no other place like this and finding solutions to make everything work together is more important than anything else.
I am so glad and thankful that the lovely Banyan Tree is surviving!! I live in CA, but have been to Lahaina on 8 trips (flying and cruises). I have such great memories of exploring that sweet little town, and have enjoyed eating shave ice in the welcome shade of that Banyan tree on every visit.
people get too wrapped up in this. no need to make it cover the whole area right away. let it do its thing, it will reclaim the space in time, and until it does its a reminder of what happened
And a symbol of rebirth and a fresh start. It’s regrettable what has been lost in Lahaina, but everyone needs to to focus on a bright future
Aloha ,mahalo for the story .l lived lahina for many yrs and work on the peir and on front st.. the banyan tree was a local stop as willie would make hats birds etc,and sing .i been back twice to maui ..since and i feel a since of lost of front st …and holloween .. please rebuild and do it now .and keep politcs out and local in…. its hawaii land not .california second relocation …
The tree isn’t to blame for whoever put it there. It became a beloved symbol that transcends the fundamental failings of humanity and should be twice a reminder that life finds a way. I get that some people are frustrated about the time it takes to rebuild, but – there again – it’s not the tree’s fault that it takes time to rebuild human settlements. In a world where everyone is used to the speed of the internet and Amazon delivery, it’s no surprise that people have unrealistic expectations for what it takes to work through a disaster of those proportions. But those who learn to accept that humans aren’t gods and to see beauty in the resilience of the Banyan tree will be better off in the long run than those who don’t.
When I moved to Maui in 1985, I knew 1 person there. It did not take long to meet the most wonderful people. I was 23 and decided to take a leap of faith and explore a new path. I lived, worked, and played on Maui for 8 years. I worked at the Pioneer Inn and The Wharf Center, both right next door to the Banyan Tree. To me, it was the epicenter of Lahaina. The old courthouse was rich with the history of Lahaina and the Hawaiian culture. I soaked it all in and my love for the islands grew. I had a daughter in 1983 and moved back to NY a year later. I missed it every damn day.
I have friends that lost everything that horrible day, each with their own new struggles that were left by the fire. With tragedy comes hope. A hope that only love can fuel. A love that can only be attained with true Aloha. iykyk
*I had my daughter in 1993, not 1983.
Hawaiian souvniers. Good article. Mail a postcard or two to yourself. Visit the local 2nd hand shops for antique and good Hawaiian items for cheap! Calendars always make great gifts
A Big Aloha and Amen to all the comments so far. The old Banyan tree is a powerful symbol of the power of life, perseverance, and resilience of all things natural.
Aloha ke akua!
The Banyan tree doesn’t care about what it symbolized in the past. It wants to survive and thrive. It’s a living being. Dont keep it chained to its past symbology. Let it take on its new symbology and a new role of hope and renewal. Everything changes. Let it change too!
In my mind just as an innocent child shouldn’t be blamed for the sins of the parent, neither should this gloriously resilient tree be blamed for the seeds of its past. May hope and healing prevail in Lahaina.
May the people of Lahaina be as resilient as this magnificent tree.
Nice to hear there is some rebuilding in Lahaina. I would hope there is under-grounding of all utilities and that the county has a master plan, so that all homeowners are treated equally and fairly! You don’t want one home being approved that could affect not only the neighbors but an entire neighborhood!
Yes. In the 10 plus visits to Lahaina, I had looked at the thin poles on the hill above town and wondered why they looked so scrawny. I happen to be an EE who worked on large industrial sites — some in third world countries— and had never seen something that looked so frail.
The NY Times photo showed the burn line started high on the hill along a long line directly under the power line and was then driven by a fierce wind downslope into the town.
Until the line is massively upgraded and/or put underground, Lahaina will remain at risk.
We have been going to Maui once or twice yearly for >20 and walking by the Banyan tree every visit on a trip into Lahaina was always a delightful and relaxing wonderful diversion from the surrounding commercial area. Happy to see it survived, albeit temporarily somewhat diminished. We will certainly miss the “old” Lahaina though I appreciate that our loss comes nowhere close to that of Lahaina residents and workers who suffered this devastating fire.