The Banyan Tree of Lahaina. Baldwin Home Museum * Wo Hing Museum * Hale Pa‘i Printing * Old Lahaina Courthouse * Lahaina Heritage Museum * Plantation Museum * Hale Pa‘ahao Prison * Pioneer Mill Banyan Tree * Apuakehau Park * Non-public Historic Sites * Lahaina Historic Trail. How did this giant come to lay its roots in this tiny port of Lahaina? The banyan tree is located close to the port in the historical Lahaina town, which was the former capital of Hawaii. It is the oldest banyan tree in Hawaii. In Gujarati (one of the languages of India), the word “banyan” actually means “merchant” because it’s enormous canopy was used as a shelter from the sun and rain. The Lahaina Banyan Tree, is the oldest Banyan tree in the Hawaiian Islands. Please let our professional team know what you are looking for in your scuba dive, and let us plan your dive tour accordingly. It is the largest banyan tree in the entire United States. [5] The park is managed by the County of Maui and the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. The park also has lots of benches where you can sit and eat and relax for a while. A sacred tree in both India and Pakistan, it has earned the reverence of the people. The Aloha Festivals Week has been held under this tree. [2] Its extensive trunk and aerial root system now covers 0.66 acres (0.27 ha), located in the Courthouse Square, which is renamed as the Banyan Tree Park covering 1.94 acres. You will also find the old Lahaina Courthouse which now houses the Lahaina Arts Council and the Lahaina Historic Society. Decked out for the holidays, the Launiupoko and fellow locomotive, Lahaina, are on display next to the Pioneer Mill smokestack on Lahainaluna Road. It was planted by William Owen Smith in Lahaina’s Courthouse square. Many people look as this huge tree and think it is many trees joined together with limbs that have grown together. The tree is over 150 years old. Sheriff William Owen Smith planted the historic banyan tree of Lahaina on April 24, 1873. See up-to-date pricelists and view recent announcements for this location. Stop by to relax on the benches and marvel at the expanse of roots and branches that crisscross the park." One quarter of a mile in circumference, its octopus-like limbs stretch outward, spreading a vast network of branches, leaves and aerial roots towards the streets and buildings surrounding it. The trees are tall and “grow into mazes of additional trunks” and in Lahiana the tree covers an area of over half an acre. On April 24, 1873, while serving as Sheriff on Maui, WO Smith planted Lāhainā’s Indian Banyan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lāhainā. Located right on Front Street in Lahaina on Maui is this amazing banyan tree. [1], The banyan tree, received as a gift by the Smith family in the 1870s, was planted on April 24, 1873, at Lahaina by William Owen Smith, the then sheriff of Lahaina. As a result, restrictions have been imposed on plying vehicles under the tree. The Lahaina Banyan Tree’s limbs stretch over two thirds of an acre, and it stands over 60 feet tall. It’is a true landmark and a sight not to miss. As Front Street is a major tourist destination itself, the banyan tree is seen by hundreds of thousands of people every year. Many events in Lahaina take place under its canopy. Visit Lahaina Harbor to take whale watching (in season) and snorkel tours, surf lessons, or fishing charters. The Banyan Tree In Lahaina. Visit historic stops like the U.S. Seamen’s Hospital, Hale Paahao (Lahaina Prison), the Pioneer Inn, Maui’s oldest living banyan tree and other sites on the Lahaina Historic Trail. [3], The tree has been subject to severe stress due to drought conditions, soil compaction from foot and vehicle traffic in the park, and also due to developmental activities in the vicinity. In recent times, the courthouse square was renamed “Banyan Tree Park” in its honor. Maui County Arborist Committee carefully maintains the health and shape of this majestic tree. The banyan tree in Lahaina, in Maui, Hawaii, United States, was planted on April 24, 1873, in Lahaina to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of first American Protestant mission. Why the banyan tree was planted in Lahaina Top-Quality Rental Equipment Included in Pricing; There used to be a canal of water down one side of the tree and even though the canal is now a street it is thought to be a source of water for the tree roots. Here’s the story: On April 24, 1873, to honor the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina, which was started at the request of Queen Keōpūolani, the sacred wife and widow of King Kamehameha the Great, Sheriff William Owen Smith planted the exotic Indian Banyan. Organizers of the annual tree lighting were finally able to … It is not only the largest in Hawaii[4] but also in the United States. The banyan tree or Ficus benghalensis is from India, and it is known for unusual growth of its roots. Today, the tree stands sixty feet high, with 16 major trunks rooted in the ground and stretching over 200 feet. The annual Festivals of Aloha, Maui Nui Style honors our Hawaiian heritage with royal pageantry, parades, street parties, concerts and family activities hosted on each of the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Hana. Imported from India and planted in front of the Lahaina Courthouse and Lahaina Harbor on 1873, this sprawling tree along Front Street is the size of … After settling in, the tree slowly sent branches outward from its trunk. It’s a favorite for taking photos. After settling in, the tree slowly sent branches outward from its trunk. A mere 8 feet (2.4 m) when planted, it has grown to a height of about 60 feet (18 m) and has rooted into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk, with the canopy spread over an area of about 0.66 acres (0.27 ha). Lahaina Banyan Court Park is a public park located at the corner of Front Street and Canal Street in the town of Lahaina, Hawaii, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845. The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) known in Hawaiian as paniana, located in the Courthouse Square, which was renamed Banyan Tree Park covering 1.94 acres, is not only the largest in the statebut also in the United States. … Old Lahaina Courthouse; Home of the Lahaina Arts Council and the Lahaina Historic Society. Extraordinary, almost surreal, it seems more like a fantastic prop from a Tim Burton film than a organism in real life. The park occupies the site of the Old Lahaina Fort, originally built i The 137-year-old banyan tree that towers over almost an acre of downtown Lahaina is said to be the largest such tree in the United States, so it’s … From the branches, a series of aerial roots descended towards the earth. He did this to commemorate the 50 th anniversary the missionary establishment on Lahaina. Some of them touched the ground and dug in, growing larger until eventually turning into trunks themselves. It now stands over 60 feet high, has 46 major trunks in addition to the massive original and shades nearly two-thirds of an acre. The shade of the tree is used to shade vendors who hold events approximately 36 weekends per year. Banyan Tree Park is ranked #13 out of 14 things to do in Maui. From the branches, a series of aerial roots descended towards the earth. We are a non-profit organization that promotes, preserves, and encourages the historical, cultural, social, commercial and environmental vitality and significance of Lahaina. The seedling was approximately eight feet tall when it was planted in 1873. It is, in fact, one tree that stands 50 feet tall, is nearly a quarter of a mile around and has over than 10 trunks that anchor it into the ground. Over the years, Lahaina residents lovingly encouraged the symmetrical growth of the tree by hanging large glass jars filled with water on the aerial roots that they wanted to grow into a trunk. It was cool to learn about these trees and how they grow based on aerial roots that extend from the branches to the ground. Dominating the courthouse square in downtown Lahaina is one of the most remarkable aboreal specimens. [6], The main trunk of the banyan tree at Lahaina, The banyan tree in Lahaina spread over one acre of land, Full view of the banyan tree with 16 major trunks apart from the main trunk, "The Lahaina Banyan Tree How It Came To Be", "There's life yet in the old banyan tree", "Lahaina Historic Trail, The Banyan Tree", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Banyan_tree_in_Lahaina&oldid=986708097, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 November 2020, at 14:48. The banyan tree, the anchor of Banyan Tree Park on Front Street in Lahaina, might be the most iconic place on Maui. Lahaina Banyan Tree Ho’olaule’a – featuring Hawaiian music, food, crafters, free keiki activities and exhibits and hula! One quarter of a mile in circumference, its octopus-like limbs stretch outward, spreading a vast network of branches, leaves and aerial roots towards the streets and buildings surrounding it. Cool down in the shade under one of the largest banyan trees in the United States. See pictures and our review of Banyan Tree Park. Enormous is no understatement here: Spanning 1.94 acres —over the length of a city block—and rising more than 60 feet in the air, Lahaina’s famed banyan tree is a quarter of a mile in circumference and possesses 16 trunks, making it the largest banyan tree not only in Hawaii but also in the United States (and one of the most massive in the world). At sunset there is a riot of noise as the birds fly back into the tree to find the best branch to sleep on. Offical Homepage of LahainaTown Action Committee, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. THE LAHAINA BANYAN TREE: HOW IT CAME TO BE Dominating the courthouse square in downtown Lahaina is one of the most remarkable aboreal specimens. First of all, it’s a great place to relax. BanyanTreats is now open daily from noon to 9pm (Closing early at 5pm on Christmas Day) If you are in Lahaina you have to go to Lahaina Banyan Court Park to see the Banyan tree there which is the largest in the United States. The Banyan Tree, Restaurants business in Lahaina. The 1.94 acres park, also known as Lahaina Courthouse Square and commonly called Banyan Tree Park, contains multiple heritage sites on the Lahaina Historic Trail, and a self-guided walking tour through the Lahaina Historic Districts. Aerial roots help support the tree's huge limbs. The Banyan Tree features farm-to-fork concepts highlighting locally sourced ingredients, including those from the hotel’s abundant organic garden. The Lahaina Banyan tree is an Indian species, brought to Hawaii by Sheriff William Owen Smith. The roots wanted the water and it was thought that they did grow faster. Lahaina; Banyan Tree Park Current page Banyan Tree Park; Anyone traveling to Hawaii is required to have a government Safe Travels account and self-quarantine for 14 days. Over the years, the Lahaina Banyan Tree has come to serve many functions. It is prohibited to walk in the. Banyan Tree. The tree was a gift from missionaries in India. [9] The name "banyan" is derived from the Hindu word traders (banyans) who traded their products under the canopy of these trees. [6] It is one of the sixty fig tree species in Hawaii and is said to be the largest tree both in Hawaii and in the United States. “The places in the garden where I find myself lingering and staring with unsoundable pleasure are those where it looks to me as though, with the shafts of light reaching and dividing through the trees, it might be deep in the forest.”–W.S. [6][7] The banyan, native to India, is one of 60 types (out of reported 1,000 species in the world) of fig trees found throughout Hawaii. Many activities take place at this historical site throughout the year. The Lahaina Banyan Tree is the largest banyan tree in Hawaii, and one of America’s largest as well, with its trunk and aerial root system covering 0.66 acres. Early on, the Hindu merchants realized it was the perfect spot to set up their tables and sell their wares. Located in the Lahaina Banyan Court Park, this Banyan Tree is the largest in Hawaii, and one of the largest in all of America. Lahaina's Massive Banyan Tree. [8] The banyan tree in Lahaina, when planted, was a sapling of 8 feet (2.4 m) height. [2][3] The tree was planted to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Protestant mission in Maui; the mission had been invited to Maui by Queen Keōpūolani, wife of late King Kamehameha. The long, undulating branches and stringy roots make for interesting backdrops. Located in the center of Lahaina Banyan Court Park, it can be visited and admired at any time. The Maui banyan tree is located at Banyan Tree Park (the former Lahaina Courthouse Square) in the heart of Lahaina, the historic whaling village in West-Maui, close to the Ka’anapali beach resorts. The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) known in Hawaiian as paniana, located in the Courthouse Square, which was renamed Banyan Tree Park covering 1.94 acres, is not only the largest in the state but also in the United States. Banyan Tree Divers Maui is a small Lahaina dive shop, and your comfort means everything to us. The tree was planted on April 24th, in … Over the years it has grown to a height of over 60 feet (18 m) and spread into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk forming a large canopy of providing shade to the people from the blazing sun of Lahaina; it was intended as a part of a park. Smith was a descendant of American missionaries who was born and raised on the island of Kauai. Lahaina Restoration Foundation takes care of the park grounds. At the time it was only eight feet tall. The most popular attraction of this park is the sharp mountain peak - Iao Needle.Many years ago, the Iao Valley was as a place of bloody battles, as well as a sacred place, because of royal nobility burials on its territory. [1][2], According to reports a royal ball was held under the tree in 1886 for King Kamehameha III on his birthday.[6]. OK, the summit of Haleakala probably wins the prize, but the banyan tree rates a close second. [6] A sight to watch at dusk time is the congregation of birds such as common myna birds (Acridotheres tristis) which roost in the branches of the tree for the night causing a cacophony of bird cries. Lahaina Banyan Court Park is home of the oldest living Banyan Tree on Maui. Smith planted the tree to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the Protestant mission in Lahaina, which occurred on April 24, 1873. Hawaiian Cookies, Ice Cream, Shave Ice & Mo'o. The tree was a gift from missionaries in India. Colorful lights shine from the branches of Lahaina’s famed Banyan Tree on Thursday evening. Approximately 55 acres of old Lahaina have been set aside as historic districts. Banyan Tree in Lahaina, Maui is the oldest and largest banyan tree in Hawaii, and one of the oldest and largest banyans in the United States. The banyan tree in Lahaina, in Maui, Hawaii, United States, was planted on April 24, 1873, in Lahaina to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of first American Protestant mission. Restaurants near Banyan Tree Divers Maui, Lahaina on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near Banyan Tree Divers Maui in Lahaina, Hawaii. [2] It has a circumference of about one fourth of a mile, and about a thousand people could congregate under it. Banyan trees grow in many places in Hawaii, but the largest tree is in Lahaina, Maui. Today, it is over 60 feet (18 m) high and looks like a mini forest with several tree trunks. Lahaina Banyan Tree Park, Maui. On the weekends, local artist and crafters set up tables and booths to display and sell their works from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Often, you can enjoy live music, hula and other cultural dances on stage in the park. Innovative Hawaiian coastal cuisine, world-class cocktails and stunning ocean views await at the newly remodeled Banyan Tree restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui. The roots descend or sprout from the branches into aerial roots towards the ground where they form new trunks. In the heart of Lahaina – on 2/3 of an acre – stands the Banyan tree, though at first glance many think it’s a small forest. [2][9] The growth of the roots was facilitated by the local Japanese gardening community, by hanging lanterns filled with water at suitable aerial roots. 188 reviews of Lahaina Banyan Court Park "The banyan tree that shades this park is the largest in all of Hawaii; it even has its own birthday party! Banyan Tree Rest of Hawaii; Banyan Tree, Lahaina; Get Menu, Reviews, Contact, Location, Phone Number, Maps and more for Banyan Tree Restaurant on Zomato Imported from India, it was planted in April 1873 and measured just 8 feet (2.5 m) in height back then. Several benches are scattered under the large canopy to rest tired feet after a long day of sightseeing and shopping. This results in growth of many trunks around the main trunk. Behind it, you’ll see the Lahaina Courthouse, adjacent to Lahaina Harbor. Some travelers may be exempt from quarantine with proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure. In time, what was once a small sapling matured into a monumental behemoth. A mere 8 feet (2.4 m) when planted, it has grown to a height o… Though it may look like multiple trees it's actually one big tree. In the Lahaina Banyan Tree Park there is an amazing old banyan tree - one of the biggest in the world! 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