T is for Tree
Our first trip to Hawaii was in 2005, the same year that I started my blog. There are no pictures of that trip here, because we went to Hawaii in June, and I started my blog in November. One thing that amazed me was the Banyan Tree near the Waikiki aquarium. California is not tropical, and I had never seen a Banyan Tree. Banyan trees are not native to Hawaii, they were brought from India, where, according to this site, Banyan is a derivative of the word ‘Banya’, which means merchant in the Gujarati language of India, where Banyan trees provided much needed shade for merchants selling their wares.
I was so charmed by the tree in Oahu, and how they put down roots from their branches, how those roots secure themselves to the ground and provide support for the wide branches, giving the appearance of a grove of trees, rather than the reality of just one tree. My trusty guide book told me that there is a huge Banyan tree on Maui, which I really wanted to see. Happily, this was simple, as it was across the street from the dock where we took off for our dolphin watching tour. It is a sight worth seeing, though the pictures we took did not do it justice, so I am showing you a picture that I found online, at the same website I linked above, Kelii’s Kayak Tours. There are a few more lovely photos there.
Look at it. Can you believe that this is one tree? Strikingly beautiful.
4 Comments
nance
I did not know that about banyan trees. How wonderful and extraordinary! I’m so glad you included that picture and explained this incredible trait. I’m fascinated now and can’t wait to read more about them.
(I chuckled about your caption of So young, so thin in the 2005 photo. I HEAR THAT.)
Trees of all kinds continually interest me and make me feel so serene and connected to Nature. We have lost so many old growth trees around the world. I know you share my dismay about that.
J
Nature is amazing, isn’t it? I mean, for a tree to evolve the ability to grow roots from its branches that would then afford it both nutrients and stability? Remarkable. When I saw the one on Oahu, I had no idea that those were roots hanging down, I just thought it was amazing and cool and exotic.
Regarding the young and thin, yeah. Sigh. Nothing I can do about the age, but maybe the thin. This was 16 years ago, and twice as many pounds. Depressing.
Jonathan
That tree is amazing! Love when nature does things like this.
J
Me too! It’s so incredible, and we saw so many little glimpses of amazing nature in Hawaii that were so different from the amazing nature around us. I loved it.