Residents are deeply concerned about the fate of the giant Bodhi tree as the wildfire swept through the resort town of Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii.
According to AP News, for many generations, the Bodhi tree on Front Street has been a gathering place for the people of Lahaina. The extraordinarily lush branches of this 18-meter tall tree cast a shadow over the historic town, akin to the Hawaiian sun.
For the past 150 years, this ancient tree has been the site of community events and is regarded by many as the “heart of the coastal community.”
The giant Bodhi tree in Lahaina before the wildfire occurred. (Photo: AP).
Gradually, this ancient tree has become a historical landmark of Hawaii.
Planted in 1873, the Bodhi tree was only about 2 meters tall at that time. It was a gift from India to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina. Twenty-five years later, the Hawaiian Islands became a territory of the United States.
Lahaina was declared the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii by King Kamehameha from 1802 to 1845.
“Today, there is nothing I regret more than the tree in my hometown of Lahaina” – a user named HawaiiDelilah expressed on X (formerly Twitter). “We will rebuild everything, and the natural beauty of Maui will endure.”
The tree has stood for 150 years. (Photo: AP Photo).
Conducting a personal survey of the extent of the damage in Lahaina on August 9, a local resident named Tiffany Kidder Win told AP that the giant tree is still clinging to life despite its branches and leaves being reduced to ash.
“The tree is charred, but when I look at its trunk and roots, I believe it will continue to live,” Tiffany Kidder Win recounted.
This ancient tree has multiple trunks. Hanging down are aerial roots that, when they reach the ground, become new trunks spreading over an area of about 4,000m2. Its sprawling branches serve as a habitat for numerous starlings.
It is said that the Buddha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree.
The branches of the Bodhi tree spread over an area of about 4,000m2. (Photo: AP)
“The Bodhi tree in Lahaina is associated with many historical values and the experiences of everyone who has come here,” said John Sandbach, a resident who has lived near the town for nearly two decades.
Mr. Sandbach is monitoring the fire from Colorado. He cannot return home to Maui due to canceled flights. Fortunately, his three children in Maui are safe.
The cause of the wildfire that spread to Lahaina earlier this week is still unclear. The flames spread rapidly due to strong winds and dry vegetation on nearby hills. The homes of residents here, primarily made of wood, quickly burned down.
As of August 12, 80 people have died in the wildfire disaster in Hawaii.
