Monkey Pod Tree Kauai
One seedling was planted in downtown Honolulu, and the other in Koloa on Kauai. These two trees are thought to be the progenitors of all the trees in the state. Therefore the trees in old Koloa town may have descended from the first Monkeypod tree, the grandmother of all the trees on Kauai.
The first seed was planted at the crossroad of Bishop and Hotel Streets in downtown Honolulu, Oahu; the second in the historic district of Koloa on Kauai. Today, those kernels are believed to be the progenitors for the hundreds of monkeypod trees currently found throughout Hawaii. Monkeypod is a familiar beautiful shade tree with large trunk and very broad arched crown of dense foliage.
It has bipinnate leaves with many paired diamondshaped leaflets that fold together at night and on cloudy days. All the "Save the Koloa Monkeypod Trees" signs that have dotted the Old Koloa Town area have been taken down. I no longer get emails from the group that was trying desperately to save the trees with various court injunctions.
Reset your trip odometer and drive three-and-a-half miles from the pavement to a junction beneath a huge monkeypod tree. After a stop to photograph it, turn left at the tree and drive about a half-mile west to the beach. The Monkeypod tree is a striking attraction found mainly in Hawaii, where they are celebrated for their impressive size, lush foliage, and historical significance.
Its large umbrella-shaped canopy offers shade and is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Waihinu boasts of a monkeypod tree which was planted by Twain, when he visited there. It stood in the front yard of the residence of Samuel Kauhane, former chairman of the Hawaii supervisors, and is an excellent specimen of the tree.
It is known as the Mark Twain tree. Among the monkey pods within the park, there is one in particular that brings thousands of visitors to this spot and is nicknamed the Hitachi Tree. The Hitachi Tree is estimated to be 130 years old, 75 feet (25 m) tall, 120 feet (40 m) wide, with a trunk around 21 feet (7 m) in girth.
In Hawaii, Monkey Pod trees can be found on all major islands, including Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. They are particularly abundant in lowland areas and coastal regions. Samanea saman Available in 15 gallon size.
Moderate salt and wind tolerance. Good drought tolerance. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
Grows to 5080 ft in height with a canopy diameter wider than the tree is tall.
