Lahaina Banyan Tree

prints of the original oil painting by Ken Dahl

The Lahaina Banyan Tree (known in Hawaiian as paniana). It was a gift from missionaries in India, on April 24, 1873. It was a mere 8 feet tall when planted, but now covers 1.94 acres. It is considered the largest banyan tree in the country. In April 2023, Lahaina held a birthday party to celebrate the Banyan Tree’s planting 150 years ago.

The 2023 Hawaii wildfires destroyed the town of Lahaina and severely damaged the tree. Disaster recovery efforts took place to determine the scope of the damage and determine if the tree could be restored. After fully examining the tree, arborists believe it has a reasonable chance of regeneration. To improve its chances, they have implemented a regimen of irrigation, compost, and soil aeration, with results expected in three to six months.

I believe…