I then set the scene for Tree 2.0: new water in the base and a freshly vacuumed rug. I asked my husband if he could spare a moment to give a fresh cut to the base of the “new” tree and put it up.

The 150-year-old tree was scorched by a devastating wildfire that started Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, and tore through the heart of the Hawaiian island of Maui in darkness. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott) ...