Exotic invasive albizia trees cause risk to travelers on Kuhio Highway - state developing management plan; Kalihiwai, HI

TheGardenIsland.com > News > Kauai News > Invasive trees still causing damage

By Paul C. Curtis - The Garden Island
Published: Monday, June 29, 2009 2:09 AM HST
KALIHIWAI — Invasive albizia trees, which grew naturally along Kuhio Highway to form a tree-tunnel-like canopy pleasing to some motorists, are still causing trouble, according to neighbors and state officials.

A week after tree trimmers removed some of the branches thought to be dangerous to drivers, another branch came crashing down, landing on a North Shore family’s mini-van, denting the hood and crushing the windshield, said Adam Frye, who lives along the highway in Kalihiwai.

“I think everyone was OK, physically, but mentally, holy cow, must have been so scary,” he said in an e-mail.

The state has hired a professional to assess the situation and a report of the findings is due next month.