US EditionMaui’s Famed Banyan Tree Still ‘in the ICU’
Arborists will conduct detailed tests to assess fire and fungal damage to Lahaina’s 150-year-old banyan tree, with 40% of it already removed due to safety concerns.
- On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Maui County Arborist Committee authorized an invasive health assessment, with arborists from Maui and Oʻahu organizing the inspection, Sparkman said.
- After the August 2023 wildfire, a fallen branch revealed fungus and superheated sections near Front and Hotel Streets, prompting invasive testing.
- Treecovery Hawai‘i and volunteer arborists have watered the banyan, injected hundreds of gallons of compost tea, pruned dead roots and branches, and treated beetles with no current infestation signs.
- Before reopening, authorities say the park could reopen before the end of the year if the tree proves healthy, with a fence and warning signs currently blocking access near Lahaina Small Boat Harbor.
- The 150-year-old banyan has long provided shade and hosted events, while restoration planners note recovery will span decades using pruning and propagated cuttings.
26 Articles
26 Articles
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Maui’s famed banyan tree still ‘in the ICU’
By ERIN NOLAN/Honolulu Civil Beat Lahaina’s iconic Indian banyan tree has been off limits to visitors since the August 2023 wildfire tore through the historic community, but some Maui County officials are hopeful that they might soon be able to restore public access. Arborists from all over Maui — as well as a few from Oʻahu — will be organizing an extensive assessment of the tree’s health, the results of which will help determine when Lahaina B…
Famed banyan tree still ‘in the ICU’ - WXXV News 25
By ERIN NOLAN/Honolulu Civil Beat Lahaina’s iconic Indian banyan tree has been off limits to visitors since the August 2023 wildfire tore through the historic community, but some Maui County officials are hopeful that they might soon be able to restore public access. Arborists from all over Maui — as well as a few from Oʻahu — will be organizing an extensive assessment of the tree’s health, the results of which will help determine when Lahaina…
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