There is hope again on Maui, which was devastated by fire.

An iconic 151-year-old banyan tree on the island is recovering a year after it was scorched in last year’s Hawaiian island wildfires.

Thanks to the work of dedicated arborists, several branches of the sprawling tree – which existed before Hawaii became a U.S. territory – show signs of life that seemed impossible after the devastating natural disaster.

“You see a lot of long branches with hundreds of leaves on the tree,” Duane Sparkman, chairman of the Maui County Arborist Committee, told the Associated Press, adding that some branches even bear fruit.

“It’s pretty amazing to see how much of the tree grows back.”

The giant banyan tree on Lahaina’s historic Front Street was one of the countless victims of the August 2023 wildfires that killed 102 people.

It has served as a benchmark for the community for generations – India donated the non-native tree to Hawaii in 1873 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Protestant missionaries in Lahaina.

It has now grown to over 18 metres in height and is anchored by several trunks that extend over almost one hectare – about half of which was irreparably destroyed by the fire.

The biggest tourist attraction was badly charred in the inferno, not because of the flames themselves, but because of the intense heat that dried out the tree.

But because of its long history and the community’s connection to the tree, arborists and volunteers set out to save as much of this banyan tree as possible.

While the banyan tree may be the biggest sign of hope for Maui, arborists are also focused on replacing the estimated 25,000 trees lost in the fire.

Sparkman’s nonprofit organization Treecovery has already potted 3,500 trees that will grow in “micro-nurseries” across the island – including in some hotels – until people can move back into their homes.

“We have growing centers all over the island of Maui where we can grow these trees as long as they need to. When people are ready, we can ask them to pick up the trees and plant them in their gardens,” he said.

“It’s important that we do this for the families.”