Lahaina Banyan Tree
The Lahaina Banyan Tree is a banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis; known in Hawaiian as paniana) in Maui, Hawaii, United States. A gift from missionaries in India, the tree was planted in Lahaina on April 24, 1873, to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of first American Protestant mission. Covering 1.94 acres, the tree resides in Lahaina Banyan Court Park. A mere 8 feet (2.4 m) when planted, it grew to a height of about 60 feet (18 m) and rooted into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk, with the canopy spread over an area of about 0.66 acres (0.27 ha). It is considered the largest banyan tree in the state and the country. In April 2023, Lahaina held a birthday party to celebrate the Banyan Tree’s planting 150 years ago.
| Lahaina Banyan Tree | |
|---|---|
Full view of the banyan tree with 16 major trunks apart from the main trunk | |
Lahaina Banyan Tree | |
| Species | Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) |
| Coordinates | 20.886111°N 156.674722°W |
| Date seeded | April 24, 1873 |
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 to determine if the tree could be salvaged and 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.