A giant banyan tree in a beach town where kings were born

LAHAINA, Hawaii — The beach town of Lahaina in western Maui was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, a place where kings were born. Though it transformed into a mostly tourist area in the 1960s, much of Lahaina’s history can still be found sprinkled around town — including in the roots of a giant banyan tree. “There’s just a ton of historical spots in town, really precious, sacred places,” said Amy Fuqua, manager of the Lahaina Visitor’s Center. It’s now the town’s main thoroughfare, dotted with historical sites — 62 in all around town — as well as shops and restaurants with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and neighboring islands. At the town center is the Lahaina’s famous banyan tree, a 60-foot, multi-trunked tree that covers nearly an acre.