The Banyan Tree Of Hawaii And Other Natural Wonders

I have seen some extraordinary banyan (sometimes spelled “banian”) trees in Hawaii. The first that I saw was at Waikiki Beach; in fact, there are several impressive Indian banyan—Ficus Benghalens--specimens there (see photo). It is a type of fig tree with large, leathery leaves and is the national tree of India.  I also saw two impressive rows of an Italian variety of the banyan tree lining the national military cemetery known as the “Punchbowl” (see photo). The Punchbowl banyans do not spread as broadly as their Indian counterparts but do convey the impression of strength and sturdiness that all banyans so well symbolize.

The unique thing about the Indian banyans is that roots drop from branches and slowly find their way to the ground where they root themselves and form new trunks. There can be no better-rooted plant in the world than the Indian banyan. It is hard to imagine that even a strong hurricane could uproot it. The most impressive banyan that I saw was in Lahaina on the west coast of Maui (see photo). Lahaina is an interesting seacoast town that has its history rooted in whaling. The oldest high school in the United States is located in Lahaina. It was opened by Protestant missionaries in 1831 and is still in operation. The Lahaina banyan was planted in 1873. It has spread to a width of over 200 feet and has scores of rooted trunks. Over 50 feet high and covering more than two-thirds of an acre, the Lahaina banyan still grows after 138 years; it is impressive.

I first heard of a banyan tree in college when I had to read an essay by Ralph. W. Emerson, called “Compensation.” Little did I realize at the time what a lasting effect that essay would have on me. Emerson believed that studying the ways of the natural world yielded insights into the human condition. He believed that there are principles and laws operating in nature that have parallels in the human realm, mankind being very much a part of the natural world. One of these principles—the law of compensation—is explained in one of his very best but under-appreciated essays, written in 1844. I always found this essay to be far more comprehensible, accessible, and meaningful to high school age students than the usual anthologized works of Emerson such as “Nature” or “The American Scholar.” In the final paragraph of the essay, Emerson references a banyan tree. He believes that all events in life—even very bad ones—have some compensating good, even if that good may not be immediately discernible; nature always works toward some sort of balance. He writes at the end of the essay:

 And yet the compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a loss of wealth, a loss of friends, seems at the moment unpaid loss, and unpayable. But the sure years reveal the deep remedial force that underlies all facts. The death of a dear friend, wife, brother, lover, which seemed nothing but privation, somewhat later assumes the aspect of a guide or genius; for it commonly operates revolutions in our way of life, terminates an epoch of infancy or of youth which was waiting to be closed, breaks up a wonted occupation, or a household, or style of living, and allows the formation of new ones more friendly to the growth of character. It permits or constrains the formation of new acquaintances and the reception of new influences that prove of the first importance to the next years; and the man or woman who would have remained a sunny garden flower, with no room for its roots and too much sunshine for its head by the falling of the walls and the neglect of the gardener is made the banyan of the forest, yielding shade and fruit to wide neighborhoods of men.

When I taught American literature in high school, I often had the following essay question as part of my final examination: “Which work of literature that we read this year meant the most to you and why?" I was always curious to see what selection would be chosen. The most consistently popular selection—sometimes approaching 70 percent—was the extended excerpt that I asked them to read from Emerson’s “Compensation.” This selection consistently was more popular than such traditional favorites of adolescents as The Catcher In The Rye. The word “banyan” was one of our vocabulary words for this selection.

Why was this essay so popular? Students often responded that the ideas in the essay made a lot of sense to them; most importantly, it gave them something to believe in and to be hopeful about. It was easy to think of many examples, too, where something happened to someone that seemed so bad initially but turned out to have other compensatory elements associated with it that helped balance things out and led to growth in character. The life of Helen Keller, for example, often came up in discussion. Good will flower from evil; nothing in life is completely bad. You may have to dig a bit to see that, but it will be there, says Emerson. In your weakness may lie your strength and you, too, could become a banyan of the forest—a symbol of strength and sturdiness. "Compensation" is the single most important essay that I have ever read in my life, so I was very happy to see a banyan tree firsthand.

Besides the banyan, another natural phenomenon of great beauty in Maui can be found in the Iao Valley. It was here that King Kamehameha defeated the Maui warriors in the Hawaiian Wars of Unification in 1795 at the Battle of Kawela. Kamehameha was a fierce warrior who reportedly was able to move the 3,000 pound Naha Stone when he was 14. He also carried a large club into battle that was embedded with shark teeth. The Iao Valley on Maui contains a fast-running stream which is fed by waterfalls from the steep mountains that define the valley. Some of these falls have a 1,000 foot drop (see photo). During the battle with the Mauis, it is said that the stream ran red with blood. The famous Iao Needle projects up to a height exceeding 2,000 feet (see photo).

Another natural phenomenon worth looking at is located on the southwestern part of Maui, near Wailea and Makena—both exclusive areas of Maui. Many celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Clint Eastwood, Oprah Winfrey, and Tiger Woods have homes near Wailea and Makena. The natural preserve worth a look here is called the Ahihi-Kinau Preserve. It is an area where you can see many acres of lava fields (see photos). You can see the path of the lava flows off of the side of Haleakala Mountain. The volcano last erupted in 1790. The lava fields are quite a sight. The rocks are black and porous. Signs ask you not to take home samples. You guessed it: people do anyway. Many of the stolen pieces are mailed back each year, however, as there is a widespread belief on the islands that these rocks bring bad luck. According to a forest ranger that I talked with, many of the mailed-back samples come with lengthy letters detailing the woes that entered people’s lives since they took the rocks home.

I have also included a close-up of a red-crested cardinal. This bird boldly approached me when I was eating a snack at Pearl Harbor. He got within three feet (see photo). Note the beak: it looks just like the red cardinals of New England. In addition, I have included the photo of a gecko on Maui—they're everywhere (see photo).

Aloha! Mahalo for reading the articles about Hawaii. Go there some day—you'll love it.

Note and Sources:

1. Fromm's 2011 Travel Guide for Hawaii

2. Iao Valley signs