Honomu banyan trees trimmed

A woman with a stroller walks Wednesday at Honomu Park under the canopy of the community’s beloved banyan trees. Residents asked Hawaii County not to cut down the trees, which were instead thinned out considerably during the summer. The north side of the trees was trimmed so branches no longer overhang neighboring properties. Honomu resident Stone Willow said the canopies were lifted to between 35 and 40 feet above the ground, deadwood was removed and intertwining branches were separated, except at the highest levels. He said some roots still need to be trimmed and orange fencing removed. Some community members expressed concern that the trees might be top heavy, Willow said, but an arborist said the trees are stable.