What Is the Lāhainā Banyan Tree?
This is one of the oldest and largest banyan trees (Ficus benghalensis) in the whole United States!
What Makes It Historical?
This remarkable tree was brought here from India and planted by Sheriff William Owen Smith on April 24, 1873 to commemorate the arrival of the first Protestant mission on Maui! That mission had been invited here by Queen Keōpūolani in 1823, and since then, this banyan tree has shaded events from King Kamehameha III’s royal ball in 1886 to the 4th of July festivities when I visited!
Amazingly, it seems the Lāhainā Banyan Tree has survived the devastating wildfires of August 2023, having spread out over 0.66 acres with the help of air roots that grew into 16 additional trunks! Local Japanese gardeners had helped encourage these roots to grow by hanging mayonnaise jars full of water from them as they descended toward the ground!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation!
- Donate to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
671 Front St
Lahaina, HI 96761
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
At time of writing, the park is closed for wildfire damage, but when it reopens, visit whenever the mood strikes you!
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