Dozens of brown trees along Likelike Highway in Kalihi Valley aren't dead.

They're dormant, says state Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

He said an arborist inspected the trees after the department got several e-mails from concerned drivers. A slew of brown trees can also be seen on hillsides in Kalihi Valley.

The arborist determined the trees are dormant because of unusually cold weather.

They are not in danger of falling, Ishikawa said.