A Makawao Christmas Tree
Ever wondered about Makawao Town's lovely sentinel of the holiday season, the norfolk pine on the property behind the Library? How old is it? Who planted it? How did that star get up there? Who have been the guardians of that star?
The story is that the norfolk was planted by the Crook family, on their property sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. There is an old photo of Miss Crook with her brother in front of the tree which, at the time, was about 15 feet tall.
According to Duane Hamamura and Judy Mertens, about 14 years ago Gary Moore, Peter Baldwin and Rose Freitas decided to put a beautiful lighted Christmas star at the top of the pine. A friend of Gary's climbed up 140 feet and installed it near the top. The star was then connected to a very long extension cord, turned on, and it lit up the night over Makawao for several years.
About 5 years ago there was an strong electrical storm that swept over the upcountry area. At least three tall trees were struck, one in Haliimaile, one in Haiku, and the third was the norfolk in Makawao. The first two died, but the Makawao norfolk, although weakened, still stands.
After the storm, the star was moved down to a 100 foot height by another brave tree climber although he inadvertently hung it upside down after it fell. Duane recounts that he got many phone calls about the upside down star and its symbolism of evil. The tree climber went back up, fixed the star in the correct position and it has been hanging there ever since, connected to power via a 100 foot extension cord down to the power source on the ground. The Makawao community has Duane Hamamura to thank for being the guardian of the light of our Makawao Christmas Tree!
