Nakama Village Banyan Trees

In the charming village of Nakama stands a gate consisting of two large banyan trees. Banyan trees live and grow bigger by dropping aerial roots down from their branches, which eventually touch the ground and thicken into roots that support the tree. They also throttle other trees, earning them the name “strangler fig.”

The banyan tree gate was cut open by the villagers in 1923 so they could pass through it on their oxen carrying sugar cane to the sugar cane mill located beyond the trees. The village retains some of its laidback southern atmosphere to this day. However, like most villages on this part of the island, Nakama is also struck heavily by typhoons during the summer months. For this reason the villagers build their houses low and place stones on the roof. Visitors can stroll through the village to see these details.