Topiaries becomes a neighborhood plight in Lanikai

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A battle over tall topiaries that have been an attraction in Windward for decades has become a neighborhood plight.

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For 25 years, Lanikai resident, Susan Vicenti, has been tending to these ficus.

“A friend of mine once told me that I am a doctor trapped in a farmer’s body. And it was so true. It’s really so true,” Vincenti told KHON2.

What started in four-inch pots are now towering cat topiaries.

The problem — the topiaries are on a city easement. Vicenti voluntarily removed a bunny topiary three months ago when an anonymous complaint was filed about it obstructing an unimproved sidewalk.

“The arms were reaching out, and the ears were really reaching out into the into the traffic. And so that’s where, I think, where the initial complaint came from,” Vincenti said.

In a statement, the city department of planning and permitting said other plants must be removed to keep the sidewalk area clear and are making an exception for Vicenti to keep her topiaries. The city says she has to trim her topiaries to no more than six feet.

“I’ll have to really cut off his tail a lot. But the other one won’t be which is the best topiary, won’t be recognizable anymore,” she said. “No way does it make any sense that they’re unsafe because they’re more than six feet tall. Look at all the trees around us that did get approve.”

Residents of the neighborhood said the topiaries are more than just plants. They said they are landmarks that bring the community together.

“This is an example of bringing people together over something that’s just really sweet and magical. It’s magical,” Neighboring resident Denise Drake said.

“Everybody loves them, young people, old people. Everybody loves them. She [Susan Vicenti] always gets compliments. I don’t know why the city and county should be so strict,” Kailua resident Jeff King said.

Vicenti has started a petition to keep the height of her topiaries. She has 30 days to comply to the city’s authorization, or the agreement could be revoked and the topiaries removed.