HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0863.001 2020-2022 y -2z
COMM.8(l!)
QUEEN EMMA SUMMER PALACE HULIHE`E PALACE
2913 PALI HIGHWAY
Daughters of Hawai i 75-5718 ALI`I DRIVE
HONOLULU,HAWAII 96817 KAILUA-KONA.HAWAII 96740
TELEPHONE (808)595-3167 ESTABLISHED 1903
903 TELEPHONE (808)329-1877
July 18, 2022
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Honorable Maile Medeiros David, Chair
Honorable Aaron S.Y. Chung, Vice Chair
Honorable Holeka Goro Inaba
And Council Members
County Council
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County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street _.
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Support for Resolution No.454-22–Inaba CRF Funds to Daughters of Hawaii, Banyan Tree
Preservation at Hulihe'e Palace
Aloha kakou,
Mahalo piha for the opportunity to submit testimony concerning Resolution No. 454-22, regarding the appropriation of
Contingency Relief funds to provide a grant to the Daughters of Hawai'i to assist with expenses related to the
preservation of the Royal Banyan Tree, planted by Queen Kapi'olani at Hulihe'e Palace in the 1880s. We write in
strong support of Resolution No. 454-22 to assist with the preservation of the Banyan tree at Hulihe'e Palace.
For over a hundred years the Daughters of Hawai'i, a nonprofit 501(c)(3)organization, has upheld our mission of
historic preservation, preserving and protecting places of historical and cultural significance in Hawai'i and
increasing awareness of the importance of historical preservation. Since 1903,we have drawn attention to and
saved from oblivion historical sites and wahi paha such as the Nu'uanu Pali on Oahu to commemorate the Battle
of Nu'uanu, Kukaniloko on Oahu one of the two birthing places throughout the islands reserved for the highest-
ranking ali'i, and Ka'iulani's Banyan marking the home of Princess Ka'iulani—Hawai'i's last heir to the throne.
Today, we are the caretakers of three historic sites, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Two of these sites are here on the island of Hawai'i, Hulihe'e Palace in Historic Kailua Village and Kauikeaouli
Stone, the birth site of Kauikeaouli, King Kamehameha III at Keauhou Bay.
The ficus benghalensis, commonly known as a banyan, banyan fig, or Indian banyan, at Hulihe'e Palace is in dire
need of a complete examination and an extensive trim. This Royal Banyan is a major feature and landmark of Historic
Kailua Village and these funds will assist with maintenance to preserve our community's nearly 150-year old tree.
This tree is as much a part of the Village as all of the families that grew up here. She has watched over the community
for generations and it is our kuleana to watch over her. She is majestic and historic, but like all of us, needs care and
tending to, and with regular TLC, she could potentially live a thousand years. It's incredibly humbling to think that
perhaps someday, our great-great-grandchildren will stand in awe of her too. There are few things left in society, in
our community, today that we can say that about. We're at a critical point for this banyan tree to be thoroughly
inspected by an arborist and a plan for trimming be made and completed. The Daughters of Hawai'i are committed to
the health and maintenance of this banyan.
The Daughters of Hawai'i has a long history and we continue to dedicate ourselves to historic preservation in our
community. Thank you for providing this opportunity to share with you today,we look forward to the Council's support
of the preservation and commemoration of this historic Royal Banyan tree and the legacies of our ali'i.
Mahalo a me ka ha'aha'a,
The Board of Directors
Daughters of Hawai'i
Board of Directors: Manu Powers,Regent&President Martha Morgan, Vice Regent&Vice President Kawehi Apo,Secretary
Alexa Zen, Treasurer Lindsey Chun-Hori Puamohala Kaholokula Joelle Segawa Kane,Esq Rachel Kawakami
Kehaulani Keanaaina Ulalia Woodside Lee Jennifer Larsen Morrow Kanoelehua K.L.Renaud,Exggcutive Di ctor .
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