Tree Beauty in Waimea & County Takes the Axe to Hilo Banyans on Banyan Drive

Submitted by margaretwille on Sun, 01/24/2010 - 4:17pm

So if you were not born in Hawaii, why did you move here – and not some other place? For many of us the natural beauty of this island is one reason we live here. Yet it is so easy to take that natural beauty for granted one lot at a time, one tree at a time.

For me the natural beauty in Waimea is above all the variety of beautiful trees combined with the beauty of the pu'u hills. In 1971 I was in awe of the singular and extraordinary beauty of Waimea’s tree canopies along Mamalahoa Highway (now gone). Every time another landmark tree member of our community gets the axe, I am sad and angry. There seems to no longer be the common appreciation of what makes this town so special by way of its beautiful trees.

Here is a picture of one “big guy” that sadly is no longer. When asked why this tree was coming down, the answer was that branches could fall. [Yes and if you are worried why not just trim the offending culprit on this california banyans. The owners or occupants respond like it is no big deal: the tree makes a mess when the leaves fall, the tree attracts too many birds, a branch may fall, want more area for parking, or in the event of a new development – usually the answer is, in one form or another, that it is easier to design a project on paper with a blank piece of paper then design around a particular tree or cluster of trees. However usually the way the developer states his plan is that he is removing a majestic tree to plant a native species (such as an inexpensive slow growing ohia bush).

At least one would hope landmark trees in public parks would be sufficiently appreciated that they would be protected and saved for future generations to enjoy. Even that assumption has been proven wrong.

No matter where you live on this island, I suggest you make a visit to Banyan Drive in Hilo. It is unbelievable to me that the upgrading of Reed’s Bay Park includes the demolition of some most extraordinary trees – including the “Big Mama” banyan extraordinaire. Most all of these Chinese banyans were planted to recognize the role some special person played in the history of this island. Check out the placards that still remain on many of these trees Currently within the immediate project area, some 12 or more prominent trees will be eliminated. Given the locations of these particular trees, even with the goal of developing Reed’s Bay Park for more intensive water-oriented recreation, in my opinion, very few need to be removed.

Some of the trees that will be removed are those along the waters edge on rocky out-croppings. Yet in many cases the roots of these trees are preventing further erosion of the beach area. But that observation seems to have been missed.

Unfortunately the protection of these trees as a treasured natural resource was not a Hawaii County Planning Department priority. In fact the planning department in its 12-21-09 recommendation stated “No valuable or protected native species are present or would be affected in any way by the project.” (Planning Department recommendation to Planning Commission at page 6).

But heck – far-sighted planning is not the forte of our county bureaucracy. In particular the Harry Kim administration will in my mind forever be know for its lack of forward thinking – from the consistent approval of replacing extraordinary trees with excessive pavement, to vetoing the plastic bag ban legislation. It was Harry Kim and his trusty anti-tree lieutenant Parks and Recreation Director Patricia Engelhard who promoted the removal of these trees at Reed’s Bay Park. Mayor Kim defended removing the banyans using the boilerplate argument that banyans are not native trees. What a narrow-minded view of the world and of the history of Hilo.

I understand the predicament of the current director of Parks and Rec, Bob Fitzgerald. He needs to have this project all approved by March 2010 or else the County will lose its federal funding assistance. I always appreciate his gung-ho can-do attitude (refreshing compared to the Kim administration holdovers in the Kenoi administration). But I don’t agree when he says the public should have taken a stand on this issue early on in the park planning process. The point is who would ever think one would have to be on guard to watch out in case the County decides to remove the banyans on banyan drive. Who would think it? Besides, according to the information I reviewed, these objections have been voiced repeatedly, they just were not listened to.

I do thank Tim Reese and others who mustered the community support so that the Windward planning commission removed 4 of the first 16 trees from the execution list. However, keep in mind that the special area use permit (Application 09-26) will allow even those four to later be removed without public notice by way of discretionary approval of the planning director.

Photo of Tim Reese

Well maybe I am just a “tree hugger” from Waimea and the folks in Hilo aren’t so upset by what is happening at Reed’s Bay Park. But if you have never appreciated the Big Mama Banyan I am talking about, stop by and hug her good-bye.Here she is:

This tree -- which I believe will be removed has a historical marker for a Mrs. Bond from the year 1937.

Trees to be removed -- although many of these trees help to prevent further erosion.

I believe all of the above trees to be removed.

To be removed - the two trees in foreground, the large banyan in the background center (designated as two trees) and the other banyan on the right background -- according to Parks and Rec -- also to be removed.

In the above photo, according to the Planning Commission/Plannning Department documents, the two trees to the right (banyan and ironwood) are to be removed, -- though they sure aren't inthe way). The banyan on the left is to remain-- although it is more likely in the way and is not as healthy as the banyan on the right. According to Parks and Rec all three will be removed.