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Maui tree may fall victim to its own success

By Gary Kubota, Star-Bulletin
Tourists marvel at the canopy of the banyan tree in Lahaina.

The famous Lahaina landmark
appears to be suffering
'stress,' may be dying

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

LAHAINA -- As three of his children climbed the base of one of the largest banyan trees in the world, San Francisco visitor Fritz Wong marveled at the 225-foot-wide canopy of branches and leaves shading them.

"It's excellent," Wong said. "I've never seen a banyan before. This is the first time."

Those involved in caring for the banyan tree fear its lure may be contributing to its sickness: thousands of visitors walking underneath it daily, compacting the soil and making it difficult for the roots to receive water and air.

By Gary Kubota, Star-Bulletin
Kyle Wong, 9, and his 6-year-old brother, Marcus, enjoy
a climb up the historic banyan tree in Lahaina, which was
planted in 1873 to mark the 50th anniversary of the
arrival of Protestant missionaries.

The leaves on the young branches appear to be wilting, and there are sections where the canopy is bare.

Experts say that even though June is the month when this banyan sheds its leaves, they are worried about the lack of budding on some branches. It is an indication that portions of it may be dying.

The tree serves as a major landmark and meeting place in Lahaina.

Residents gather on weekends to hold arts and crafts fairs. It also has been a center for entertainment during Kamehameha Day and Halloween.

The tree, encompassing about two-thirds of an acre and standing 50 to 60 feet high, was planted in 1873 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Protestant missionaries arriving in Lahaina.

A Maui County arborist committee plans to evaluate the condition of the tree in late August, once the banyan completes its seasonal shedding of leaves.

By Gary Kubota, Star-Bulletin
The landmark banyan tree in Lahaina may be suffering
from a lack of water, excessive pruning or
overuse, arborists say.

County arborist David Sakoda said a combination of factors could be contributing to the tree's "stress," including the lack of water as a result of a three-year drought.

The average annual rainfall is 13 inches in Lahaina. Rainfall was 1.8 inches in 1998 and 5.7 inches last year, Sakoda said.

He said the tree could also be suffering from extensive pruning that occurred a year and a half ago, during the renovation of the nearby Lahaina Courthouse.

Sakoda said that during the renovation, the irrigation system for the grassy areas surrounding the tree broke and has never been fixed. To water the perimeter, workers have been using hoses with sprinklers.

He said some 18 inches of top soil was put under the tree during the renovation -- soil that was mainly clay and susceptible to compaction.