Banyan Tree Up Close

Most people who visit the famous banyan tree on Front Street in Lahaina will remember it for its massive sprawling branches that seem to go on forever.  The limbs are so long in fact, that wooden supports have been built to hold them up.  I was trying to figure out a way to capture an image of the entire tree or somehow get an essence of the tree, but the banyan was simply too large.  As I walked closer, I noticed what looked like hundreds of scratches in the bark.  Bears?  Woodepeckers?  Can't be.  A close-up inspection revealed a plethora of love stamps.  Is that the right name?

Think about it for a second.  You and your love are sitting there under the most famous giant banyan in Maui feeling all romantic.  Furthermore, you are so enamored with each other that you are moved to actually CARVE your initials into said banyan tree in front of hundreds of other people.  The carving process must take between 6-8 minutes, and that's if you use a real knife. If you use something more handy like a pen or a bottle opener, the carving will take even longer.

I should open up a little booth under the tree and rent out carving knives.