Posted on: Saturday, December 8, 2001

Not every tree should be considered sacred

Hawai'i owes a great debt of gratitude to the Outdoor Circle, which over the years has kept our vistas free of billboards and preserved many fine trees.

There has been no stronger advocate of our public environment than the Circle.

But the Kane'ohe Outdoor Circle has overreached in its efforts to save a banyan tree that has become a real problem on Likelike Highway at Anoi Road.

Banyan trees are massive and beautiful creations, but they grow rapidly, their roots spread far and destructively, and they certainly aren't native plants.

The tree is a serious liability to the property owner on whose land it stands. It is a nuisance for the highway and the pedestrian overpass, and its roots have undermined the concrete slabs of two neighboring homes.

Instead of defending any and every tree, the Kane'ohe Outdoor Circle might wish to choose its battles more carefully. Its efforts should be redirected toward the replacement of this banyan with a more suitable tree for this highly visible, high-use location.