Maui fires.
- Thread starter Michigan Tree Murderer
- Start date
shohin_branches
Shohin
When I spent a year traveling out west working on farms it felt like everything West of the Mississippi was on fire after mid June. We hiked up a mountain through a burnt out forest in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. We had to find a new campsite outside of the Tetons because the one we planned to stay at burnt up two weeks prior. We were working on a lavender farm in Montana while the nearby mountain burned three miles from us. We were the last car through the freeway in Kootenay National Park in Canada while the smoke jumpers filled pools with water on the side of the road and helicopters dropped water. We had ash rain down on us in The Enchantments in Washington. We saw the start of the Columbia River Gorge Fire from Mount Saint Helen's as a thin tube of smoke and then a raging forest fire. We were backcountry camping on the beach in the Redwood National forest the night of the Camp Fire Firestorm in California. We emerged from the woods to many missed calls from family members who only knew We were in Northern California. We had to detour to Sacramento and camp next to a reservoir while subscribed to fire alerts because we were surrounded by three fires then drove through two towns that were completely burnt up on our way to my Cousin's house in Oakland. That was one June to November trip.
pandacular
Omono
Wildfire season is no joke. I feel fortunate that up here we've had a pretty calm one, outside the usual 4th of July travesties. Sadly, it gets worse before it gets better. But it will get better, it must get better because as they say, there's no Planet B.
Climate change is one of my big motivations for exploring bonsai, and was the motivation for my teacher as well. I've already learned a great deal about forests in just a year, and I haven't even been trying.
Climate change is one of my big motivations for exploring bonsai, and was the motivation for my teacher as well. I've already learned a great deal about forests in just a year, and I haven't even been trying.
shohin_branches
Shohin
Studying the natural forms of trees gives you that much more respect for the beauty and fragility of nature.
Shima
Omono
It's gone.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I have hope in that the fire moved VERY quickly. Fast moving flames tend not to be as destructive as a fire that burns more deeply into the earth. I'd put money on this tree sprouting from the roots, or even from some of the trunks. Most of it may be dead, but all is not lost.
RJG2
Omono
No "real" information, but one person interviewed thinks the tree has a chance.
apnews.com
Ring by ring, majestic banyan tree in heart of fire-scorched Lahaina chronicles 150 years of history
For generations, the banyan tree along Lahaina town’s historic Front Street served as a gathering place.
apnews.com
Shogun610
Masterpiece
I heard it suffered serious fire damage , but they are hopeful the roots survived and it’s a reboundNo "real" information, but one person interviewed thinks the tree has a chance.
Ring by ring, majestic banyan tree in heart of fire-scorched Lahaina chronicles 150 years of history
For generations, the banyan tree along Lahaina town’s historic Front Street served as a gathering place.
n8
Shohin
Video we made today from August 10 Maxar imagery. Lahaina is leveled. Death toll will be higher than the Camp Fire.
I don't know about the fucking imported tree. This is a deeply traumatic catastrophe and will resonate for decades.
I don't know about the fucking imported tree. This is a deeply traumatic catastrophe and will resonate for decades.
pandacular
Omono
ya, I get that we're all here because we really love trees... but it's really odd to see that getting more discussion than the human devastation.
Shima
Omono
Latest news...it lives!
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Go to Kauai. I've nothing bad to say about Maui, but I think you will enjoy Kauai. We've been to Hawaii perhaps a dozen times, and we found ourselves returning to Kauai.
It's a ficus. Even if it burned to the ground, next year you'd have sprouts from the trunk base as well as all the surface roots.
michaelj
Chumono
From what I've read, not that it's much consolation to families of the dead, but it does mean quite a lot to the locals that the tree survive.
I'd be really surprised if the tree perished.
bonsaiwood
Mame
I have to 2nd this..
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
I've gone through and also witnessed lots of human devastation. It may seem strange to some people, but quite often discussions on things that are otherwise mundane in the face of devastation are really not insensitivity to the devastation but rather a way to maintain or help others maintain sanity. Most if not all of us are quite helpless to the devastation in Hawaii.
Cilrah
Seedling
Personally I believe this tree will survive. With the speed that fire passed through, the age of the tree, and the root system it must have, with cutting back dead branches it should sprout new leaves and branches. I‘m no tree expert but it just seems to me that the entire tree could not be dead. I could be wrong but i have faith 
Shogun610
Masterpiece
Umm no not really , the loss of human life is sad and I pray for the families , but the fact the Banyan Tree mean so much to the community as a symbol of strength and stability.. its important to them as well. So I think it is appropriate to also share news on that.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
It's not odd. OF COURSE we understand the human devastation. We feel for the people of the island and town.
However, this is a bonsai forum. Trees are mostly "our thing."
There are many many other places to discuss the human side of this disaster (and that doesn't mean here isn't one of them)--and FWIW, even the mainstream press is covering the tree. It's as much a part of that place as the people...it is mourned as well.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
In Asia, the village temples practically almost always have a Banyan tree planted next to it. During the Vietnam war, I often see the village temples devastated by ordinance, leaving the Banyan tree standing next to the ruins. The Banyan trees often are the rallying points for the village for the rebuild.
bonsaiwood
Mame
Here’s a link to the Hawaiian Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund:
