The Lahaina Banyan Tree, the largest banyan tree in the United States, is located in the middle of the courthouse square in downtown Lahaina, Hawaii. The tree has many limbs that stretch outward and cover an area of about one quarter mile. It's more than 60 feet high and has 16 major trunks emerging from the original trunk.
The tree was planted by Sheriff William Owen Smith in 1873 as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Lahaina's first Protestant mission. Over the years, there have been many celebrations and festivals held under the tree. The tree has aerial roots that help support its large limbs, and residents of Lahaina hang glass jars of water on these roots to help them grow faster and reach the ground.
The Lahaina Banyan Tree and the surrounding Banyan Tree Park are a great location for relaxing or taking photos. There are many benches underneath the tree where people can rest, and there are sometimes live music and hula performances. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, artists and crafters set up booths to sell their work.