A new Treecovery hub at Kahului Airport is giving wildfire survivors a way to replant what they lost—offering free native and fruit trees to residents rebuilding in Lahaina and Kula. Visitors can view the growing saplings, a sculpture made from charred wood, and even a living clone of Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree.

A new tree-growing hub at Kahului Airport is helping fire survivors restore what they lost, thanks to a partnership with Maui nonprofit Treecovery Hawai‘i. The group is providing free native and fruit trees—including ulu and mango—to residents rebuilding in Lahaina and Kula, where wildfires destroyed tens of thousands of trees. Tourists can even get involved, as the project blends restoration with “voluntourism” to support Maui’s long-term recovery.

Maui resorts are pitching in on wildfire recovery by growing hundreds of native trees to help restore Lahaina and Kula’s devastated landscapes. In partnership with Treecovery Hawai‘i, hotels like the Fairmont Kea Lani have become temporary nurseries—housing saplings, including one cloned from Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree, until they’re ready to be gifted to local residents.

In the wake of the Lahaina wildfires, the Maui community and local hotels are working together to support recovery efforts. Through a partnership with Treecovery Hawaii, resorts are nurturing thousands of trees that will one day restore the island’s landscape and bring hope to those rebuilding their lives.

Fairmont Kea Lani has partnered with Treecovery Hawai‘i to support reforestation efforts in Lahaina and Kula, providing a grow hub for wildfire-impacted trees, including an air layer from the historic Lahaina Banyan Tree. The initiative also features artist-in-residence Dale Zarrella’s sculptures crafted from salvaged fire-damaged wood, with proceeds supporting Treecovery’s mission.

The Hawaiian Airlines Foundation has awarded $150,000 in grants to three Maui organizations leading recovery efforts after the August 2023 wildfires. Among the recipients is Treecovery Hawai‘i, which is dedicated to replanting trees in Lahaina and Kula to restore the island’s natural environment. 

In the wake of the 2023 wildfires, Maui’s resilience is evident in its land, sea, and skies—from the regrowth of Lahaina’s historic banyan tree to the return of calving humpback whales. As the island heals, organizations like Treecovery are leading efforts to restore West Maui’s forests, ensuring that nature’s cycle of renewal continues for future generations.

At halftime of the Maui Invitational semifinal between national powerhouses North Carolina and Auburn on Tuesday night, musician Steve Grimes took the court with his guitar.

Unbeknownst to many, a massive effort is underway to restore the thousands of trees lost in Lahaina and Kula during the August 2023 wildfires, with countless volunteers involved.

Duane Sparkman, Chairman of the Maui County Arborist Committee, explains the markings on trees within the Lahaina burn zone. The blue dots are the most recent markings from contractor Dawson, composed of professional, local arborists who understand tropical trees.

Maui Cultural Lands, one of the longest running indigenous-owned nonprofits in the Lahaina area, provides visitors hands-on ways to give back on their vacations.....After the fires, one of Lindsey’s board members, Duane Sparkman, approached him with an idea – he wanted to reforest Lahaina and Kula with native trees. Lindsey jumped into a partnership with Sparkman’s newly created nonprofit Treecovery.