Lahaina's Recovery Efforts
Dominating the courthouse square in downtown Lahaina is one of the most remarkable aboreal specimens. 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. Extraordinary, almost surreal, it seems more like a fantastic prop from a Tim Burton film than a organism in real life. How did this giant come to lay its roots in this tiny port of Lahaina? 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. At the time it was only eight feet tall.
After settling in, the tree slowly sent branches outward from its trunk. From the branches, a series of aerial roots descended towards the earth. Some of them touched the ground and dug in, growing larger until eventually turning into trunks themselves. 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. In time, what was once a small sapling matured into a monumental behemoth.
Stabilization of Historic Buildings
After the fire, we were so relieved to see the walls of these structures still standing, but unlike other historic sites in Lahaina (Old Lahaina Courthouse, Old Prison walls, etc.), we found that these were actively continuing to fail and would be lost without immediate action. Thankfully, we were given emergency permission to stabilize Baldwin and Masters now rather than wait for the FEMA funded stabilization, which is still to come in the future for the other historic buildings in Lahaina.
Technology Aids in Historic Preservation
Photogrammetry is an amazing technology! It meshes high-resolution images are captured from 400 feet above using software to create a complex 3d model with remarkable detail. We worked with Sam O. Hirota Inc for great imaging of Banyan Tree Park, Old Lahaina Courthouse, Campbell Park, Baldwin Home Museum and Master's Reading Room. This will aid stabilization and restoration efforts greatly.
Debris Removal
Debris removal at our historic sites is beginning. The first site to be worked on was Wo Hing Museum and Cookhouse. We really appreciate the care that the workers are showing at the site and their willingness to protect any objects that they find during clean up. Debris removal at our other sites is still to come.
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Post-Fire Tree and Plant Care
Our staff have joined the teams working to care for and propagate the various key trees around Lahaina. We will continue to care and focus on the young Ulu trees at Old Lahaina Prison which while damaged may still be viable.
Cleaning Up the Green Spaces
LRF team members are in the burn zone daily helping to maintain the green spaces that we care for in Lahaina. This work allows us to protect the surviving plants and prevent further damage from overgrowth. It also aids in the debris removal phase, as opportunistic plants have intertwined with fallen limbs, signposts, etc. that need to be removed.
Below, you will find some images of Lahaina's famous Banyan Tree that were taken in June and July, 2023:
Recovering Cultural Items from the Ash
Our team is making big moves to recover the collections of the sites we lost in Lahaina. We have successfully recovered artifacts at each site that we have worked, finding objects from all eras, including Native Hawaiian stone objects, ceramic missionary items, small ivory and bone artifacts from whaling ships, and metal items from the plantation era.
Only one site remains to have artifact recovery completed: the Old Lahaina Courthouse. We are awaiting stabilization by US Army Corps of Engineers before entering the site.
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Cleaning and Storing Surviving Artifacts
Now that we have removed surviving artifacts from the disaster zone, we can begin to clean and properly store them. Thanks to the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative, we now have the training and materials (both collections care and personal protective equipment) to care for Lahaina’s cultural items.
This video shows the condition of the famous Banyan tree next to the Lahaina Courthouse. This footage was obtained on 7/28/2023, less than 2 weeks before the fire.
