Updated at 11:50 p.m., Monday, December 3, 2007
Fallen tree closes Elm, Birch streets
Advertiser Staff
A large tree fell across Elm Street in Makiki tonight, pulling down power lines. No outage was caused and no injuries were reported.The incident was reported about 10:15 p.m. Police closed Elm Street between Birch and Cedar, and part of Birch Street.
The bo tree, about 25 feet high, was in the property of Bodaiji Mission at 1251 Elm St. The tree apparently split, with part falling in the makai direction in the church parking lot while another section falling mauka and entirely across Elm Street.
The tree fell on a windless night during a light drizzle. Neighbors heard a crashing sound and glass breaking.
The Rev. Koji Nochi of Bodaiji Mission said the tree was brought from India and planted in 1929. The Buddhist faith holds that Buddha attained enlightenment while sitting under a bo tree (also known as a bodhi tree) in Bodh Gaya in India.
An arborist inspected the tree last year and found no significant issues, Nochi said.
The section that fell onto the street pulled down power lines and caused two utility poles to lean at about a 20-degree angle.
Guy wires that help keep the poles upright were pulled out of the poles.
The tree that fell across Elm Street landed on a white cargo van on the mauka side of the street. The tree extended all the way across the street and about 8 feet over the sidewalk.
