Wildfires raging on Hawaii’s Maui island threatened its iconic banyan tree, a historic landmark that has been an attraction on the island for more than a century.
The banyan tree in Lahaina has been scorched but still stands, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat. Damage to its trunk and limbs has been reported, along with serious damage to the surrounding Banyan Court Park.
The tree is one of many structures damaged in the fires, which have been ravaging Maui since Tuesday, displacing hundreds and killing at least 36. The fires have scorched thousands of acres of land and damaged or destroyed major structures of significance across the island.
While officials are still assessing damage, they have reported the damage or destruction of hundreds of structures, including homes, business and historic landmarks, like a 200-year-old church in Lahaina Town.
The exact cause of the fire is unknown, but a recent drought and high winds from Hurricane Dora exacerbated the spreading flames. Experts suspect that human development on the island is at least partially responsible for the rising rate of wildfires, which have quadrupled in recent decades.
Here’s what to know about Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree as officials around the island continue to assess damage and recovery efforts begin.
Live updates:36 dead, thousands flee as Hawaii wildfires rage in Maui
What is the Lahaina banyan tree?
Among the Maui landmarks threatened by fire is the largest banyan tree in the U.S, which was planted in 1873 after being imported from India to honor the 50th anniversary of the first protestant missionaries to arrive in the area.
The tree, which turned 150 years old in April, spans 1.94 acres in length and stands more than 60 feet tall. Its 16 trunks total a quarter mile in circumference, making it not only the largest in the U.S. but one of the largest in the world, according to the official Lahaina website.
Also home to hundreds of mynah birds, the tree is known as “the heartbeat of Lahaina…
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