Crews worked this week to cut down a 70-foot banyan and several mango trees found to be endangering air traffic at Hilo International Airport, according to the state Department of Transportation.
“The (Federal Aviation Administration) inspected and found that the trees were in violation because they were too tall and encroaching on flight lines,” said DOT spokesman Tim Sakahara. “It was becoming a safety issue, and if they did not cut them down, they would have been fined and been in violation. Unfortunately, the trees had to be removed because of safety.”
Sakahara said the banyan tree, located at the western end of the main runway, had gotten too tall and too wide, growing over the fence enclosing the airport area near Railroad Avenue. The mango trees were in the same vicinity, he said.
The tree removals were scheduled to happen earlier but were delayed because of bad weather. Work removing the banyan began Tuesday and was set to be complete Wednesday, Sakahara said.
He added that the large banyan was a magnet for unwanted behavior in the past, with a stabbing happening under its branches a few years ago, as well as serving as a popular spot for people to drink alcohol.
“This could help to curb some of the people congregating and doing illegal activity under the trees,” he said.
Not everyone was enthused by the tree’s removal, however.
Doug Arnott, owner of Arnott’s Lodge and Hiking Adventures, posted pictures of the tree on Facebook as workers prepared to cut it down.
“What a shame that this iconic and long-lived banyan tree way off the line of flight is being destroyed at the now fenced in area of Hilo airport,” he wrote. “Generations have enjoyed its shade … if you want a last view go see it fast … saws are buzzing ..!”
One woman responded to his post by calling the situation sad.
“I have lots of memories there, ” wrote Diana Hennessy Hanley. “I would take all three of our kids to watch the airplanes and eat lunch. Great memories.”
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
