HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In the year since the Maui wildfires, Lahaina’s famous banyan tree has been portrayed as a symbol of the town’s resilience and strength. But during that time, there has also been growing opposition to the tree being a symbol of Lahaina.
The 151-year-old banyan tree, once 18 metres tall and covering almost a hectare, is now noticeably smaller. Much of the northwest corner was too badly damaged by flames last year to be saved, but what remains is thriving.
“Some of the shoots you see here are almost seven feet long,” said Maui County Arborist Tim Griffith. “Some of the new shoots have even started to bear fruit. They are bearing small berries, but that takes a lot of energy, so that’s a positive indication that the tree has the energy to bear fruit.”
Trees grow at their own pace and restoration work could take decades.
“We’ve taken a lot of cuttings, so we have a lot of keiki in pots. And we’re hoping to plant them in the area where we removed that section and let them grow there. So it’s a plan for at least 20 years, just pruning every year or every couple of years, depending on how fast the tree grows,” Griffith said.
But there is a growing public opinion that the tree should not receive so much attention. Some see it as a symbol of colonialism and the loss of rights of the native Hawaiians. William Owen Smith planted the banyan in 1873 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant missionaries in Lahaina. Two years later, it played a role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.
“This is a constant reminder of what happened to us and how we lost our nation and our land. And so, no, there’s a pretty good chance in Lahaina that we don’t mind if this tree is cut down or disappears,” said Kekai Keahi, a Native American activist who lives on Maui.
He said that for many, the sight of the banyan tree on posters, T-shirts and stickers after the fires was a trigger.
“What should have been on the shirts were the ulu trees,” Keahi told Hawaii News Now. “If Lahaina is Ka Malu ‘Ulu o Lele, then the ulu tree should have been on the shirt. And that would have changed the whole way people think about the resilience of Lahaina. And what is the ulu? I mean, it’s a plant that was brought here and it’s fed people for thousands of years. You can’t eat anything off the banyan tree. In fact, it’s an invasive species.”
The county arborist said that while native plants will always take priority, the banyan tree will remain.
“It’s an iconic part of Lahaina. Every tree in Lahaina that survived is now getting water and being cared for. If it survived, we want it to continue to survive, and we certainly want that tree to continue to be a part of it,” Griffith said.
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