151-Year-Old Banyan Tree Scorched by Maui Wildfires Is Healing Well — See the Remarkable Photos

Abigail Adams
·2-min read

About 40% of the Lahaina landmark reportedly died after the fires tore through the area in August 2023 — but experts say the tree's recovery has been incredible

<p>AP Photo/Rick Bowmer; AP Photo/Mengshin Lin</p> Lahaina banyan tree hawaii in August 2023, and July 2024

AP Photo/Rick Bowmer; AP Photo/Mengshin Lin

Lahaina banyan tree hawaii in August 2023, and July 2024

The historic, 151-year-old banyan tree that was burned during the Maui wildfires in August 2023 is still healing.

The Lahaina landmark was charred one year ago when the fires tore through the area and killed more than 100 people, per ABC News and The Washington Post.

Duane Sparkman, chair of the Maui County Arborist Committee, said about half of the tree’s branches died due to loss of moisture, according to the Associated Press.

But with some help, other parts of the banyan tree grew back — and some places are even growing fruit.

“You see a lot of long, long branches with hundreds of leaves back on the tree,” Sparkman said, adding, “It’s pretty amazing to see that much of the tree come back.”

<p>Mario Tama/Getty</p> The bayan tree in Lahaina in July 2024, nearly a year after the deadly Maui wildfires

Mario Tama/Getty

The bayan tree in Lahaina in July 2024, nearly a year after the deadly Maui wildfires

The banyan tree was gifted to Lahaina by India in 1873 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant missionaries’ arrival in the area, according to the AP.

Since then, the tree has become a popular tourist attraction. Now, thanks to arborists, it is seeing new life after surviving the 2023 fatal fire, though it was heavily damaged in the blaze.

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About 40% of the tree was lost, said Timothy Griffin, the County of Maui arborist, per ABC News. But the tree also made remarkable strides as it healed.

In just three weeks, experts saw the banyan tree make the kind of progress they expected in three months, according to Griffin.

<p>Smith Collection/Gado/Getty</p> The banyan tree in Lahaina that was charred during the Maui wildfires

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

The banyan tree in Lahaina that was charred during the Maui wildfires

To track the tree’s progress, experts use 14 sensors that are screwed into the plant to monitor its health and progress, according to the AP.

There are also plans to implement an irrigation system that would provide water and nutrients to the tree through its vertical roots, Sparkman said.

Related: Lahaina’s Beloved 150-Year-Old Banyan Tree Sprouts New Life Following Deadly Maui Wildfires

The banyan tree still has much more healing to do. Griffin told ABC News the tree will likely need some sort of “reconstructive surgery” within the next 10 to 20 years to address what was damaged and dead from the fire. Nonetheless, they maintain that the progress it has made is still incredible.

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