LAHAINA, Hawaii — The 150-year-old banyan tree in Lahaina has become a symbol of hope in the wake of the wildfire that destroyed the historic town. 

While the massive tree is still standing, its leaves are scorched, some of its bark is burnt, and its survival has been uncertain.

A group of arborists, landscapers, and volunteers have been working together to save the tree, according to a Department of Land and Natural Resources news release. 

A few days after the fires, the volunteers brought in multiple water trucks and doused the tree’s roots with hundreds of gallons of water every few hours. 

Landscaper Chris Imonti said root samples taken from the tree last week showed “new life in the roots.” 

“As long as we give it enough love, I think it’s going to be fine,” Imonti added.

Along with providing water for the tree, Imonti has been working with a crew to aerate the area around the tree and provide it with “compost tea,” which is a liquid of beneficial microorganisms. So far, 1,200 gallons of compost tea has been fed to the tree. Volunteers are chopping up small blocks of alfalfa and spreading it around the base of the tree’s trunk. They hope the nutrients in the alfalfa will help the tree. Arborist Steve Nimz put sensors on the banyan tree to measure growth rates. 

“I’ve been here for years and years, so, like many others, I have a personal attachment to the tree. To me, it’s a symbol of hope,” said Imonti. “We’re taking it to heart to try to bring back the tree, to give some hope to Lahaina. We don’t know what’s down the line, but I think it’s going to be a new beginning for everybody.”

Imonti said he expects to see new leaf growth on the banyan tree within six months. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.