The trees stand among a number of homes in the quiet Manoa neighborhood.

Roberta Fong has lived on Beckwith for more than 50 years and is glad to hear that the city will cut down a tree that is just steps from her front door. "I'm worried about that one," she said.

Fong, a retiree, remembers when, 30 years ago, a tree across the street from her house fell and crushed part of her hedge. No one was injured that time.

"I'm so scared when we have windy and rainy weather," she said.

Fried said Julia remains in a coma but her condition has stabilized and improved slightly.

"They have noticed for the first time some purposeful movement of her left leg, and she is now moving her eyes side to side," Fried said earlier yesterday. "Her youth is certainly on her side."

One of the seven trees to be cut is next to Julia's home, where a nearly 100-foot tree crashed through the roof shortly before 5 a.m. March 15 as the family slept.

After Julia was injured, the city launched an assessment of trees in Manoa to determine whether any others might pose a safety risk, and these trees are the first to be cut down as a result. The seven trees will be replaced later with a different species, and the evaluation of trees in Manoa will continue, Hannemann said.

The city regularly inspects trees to prevent problems, said city urban forestry expert Stan Oka.

Private arborist Steve Nimz was hired by the city to help evaluate trees in the area. He said his survey included an aerial inspection and tests with a Resistograph, an instrument that determines whether tree wood is sound or decayed.

Damage wasn't obvious, Nimz said. But he said termite damage led to decay serious enough that the trees should be removed.

"Visually, it would be very difficult to see it from outside, so you'd have to check from the inside," he said.

Nimz cautioned people against thinking that all Norfolk pines are dangerous. "They are actually one of our stronger trees," he said.

Manoa resident Jacques Moulin was sorry to hear that some of the trees near his home on Beckwith will fall but believes it's necessary if the trees are damaged.

"If they are termite-eaten, they should come down," Moulin said.

Fried, the Engle family attorney, said Julia's family is grateful the city is removing the other trees that could pose a threat.

"They are really pleased and want to express their thanks to the mayor, and really appreciate the mayor's coming forward and giving his prayers and thoughts and all," Fried said.

Doctors aren't able to say if or when Julia will come out the coma, or whether she will suffer permanent brain damage, he said.

"Every bit of improvement is certainly encouraging," Fried said. "We're still relatively early, and that fact that she's so young is a big deal. ... There's still a real chance."

The tree that fell was more obviously damaged than those that will be removed, he said.

Hannemann's decision to remove the other trees is not expected to affect legal action regarding Julia's injuries, he said.

The Outdoor Circle, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, praised Hannemann's decision as carefully balanced.

"He could have taken far more drastic action," said Outdoor Circle President Mary Steiner. "We think he was faced with a very difficult decision in the wake of the tragedy."