Lāhainā Banyan Tree Celebrates 140th Birthday

Banyan tree birthday flyer. Click image to view in greater detail.

By Wendy Osher

A celebration is planned this weekend to mark the 140th birthday of the Lāhainā Banyan Tree.

According to the Lāhainā Town Action Committee, the banyan was brought from India and planted in 1873 by the sheriff to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first missionaries.

At the time it was planted, the tree stood just 8-feet tall, but has since grown to cover an estimated two-thirds of an acre with a dozen main trunks, according to the LTAC.

Banyan Tree – Lahaina, Maui. Photo courtesy Lahaina Town Action Committee.

The celebration will take place over two days and will include a birthday cake, live music, silent auction, 25 Maui artists, a magician, clowns and a keiki birthday card contest.  Admission is free.

A schedule of events is included below:

Saturday April 20, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: silent auction
• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: magician Brenton Keith and his bag of tricks performs throughout the park
• 12 to 1 p.m.: magician Brenton Keith and his bag of tricks on stage
• 1 p.m.: complimentary Banyan Tree birthday cake and announcement of birthday card contest winner
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: live music, including Uncle Louie, Kapule and friends, Al and Dale Nip, Na Kamali’i Nani O Lāhainā, and Upcountry Celtic
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Maui artists selling their own artwork, woodcarvings, pottery, glasswork and jewelry

Sunday, April 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Maui artists , selling their own jewelry pottery, artwork, wood carvings and glasswork
• 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:  live music, including Al Nip, Kalama Kids ukulele performance under the direction of Benny Uyetake, Haʻikū Hillbillies, Kulewa, Kapule and friends, and Uncle Louie Williams