Dead pines cut down
near historic home

Two dead hoop pines that threatened to fall on a historic home in Maunawili Valley have been cut down by the landowners.

HRT Ltd., the for-profit arm of the Jeanette and Harry Weinberg Foundation, apparently heeded the pleas of the Kailua Historical Society to do something about the risk of trees falling on an 1860s-era house, said Chuck "Doc" Burrows, a member of the society.

The house was part of the estate of Maria Adams Boyd, who bought Maunawili Ranch in 1869, and was near the place where Queen Liliuokalani composed the song "Aloha 'Oe."

Because the queen and other alii used to visit the area, and because it is rich in archeological sites, a number of Hawaiian and historical groups have urged that some 10 acres of HRT's holdings be preserved.

Burrows said he was told that HRT employees removed the trees Tuesday.

"We appreciate their taking care of our concern and cutting the hoop pine tree as the first step towards protecting and restoring this very historic site," Burrows said, adding that he hoped HRT would consider implementing the state historic restoration plan for the site.

"There are many stories associated with that area. You can get a sense it was stately and the grounds very well kept," said archeologist Paul Brennan, a Maunawili resident and Kailua Historical Society member. Some archeological features date to 1400, and there is a temple site nearby.