Kailua's landmark trees closer to earning 'exceptional' status

Advertiser Staff

The mayor's Arborist Advisory Committee has approved the nomination of four Kailua trees to the city's exceptional tree list.

The trees in the triangle park at the intersection of Kailua Road and Oneawa Street must still be approved by the City Council, said Carol Ann Ellett, a member of the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, which nominated the trees.

Three of the trees are Ficus microcarpa or Chinese banyan, and one is Ficus macrophylla or Moreton Bay fig.

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle selected the trees for their size, location and grouping, Ellett said.

The trees were planted when Kailua was a much smaller town and have grown to become a significant landmark.

"The trees define the entry to Kailua and make a cool, inviting and dramatic entrance to town," said Ellett. "They also create a shady park in the middle of the main intersection with heavy traffic."