Positive signs of recovery have emerged from the 150-year-old banyan tree that endured severe damage during the devastating Maui wildfire.
Green clusters of leaves have started sprouting on the once-charred branches and even beneath the tree, instilling hope for its revival.
After the wildfire swept through Lahaina on August 8, the historic tree appeared almost beyond recognition. However, a dedicated effort to save it began immediately.
A team consisting of Maui arborists, landscapers, and volunteers took action, aerating the soil, implementing a watering program with water tankers, and nourishing the tree with “compost tea.”
Despite round-the-clock care, signs of life had been elusive until now. Timothy Griffith, the county arborist, spotted new shoots on the aerial root props and main limbs of the tree.
Steve Nimz of Tree Solutions Hawaii conducted a thorough examination and found no evidence of damage or charring on the main trunk. He also discovered live tissue beneath the bark layer, and the soil beneath the tree remained unscorched.
The survival of this historic banyan tree has become a symbol of hope for the residents of Lahaina, a testament to nature’s resilience.
