On Maui, people will find a small historic town that is located between Lana'l Island and Auau Channel called Lahaina. Lahaina is also home to some of the most beautiful valleys and peaks of Mauna Kahalawai. People who visit Maui make sure not to miss this quaint little town. It is known as the missing jewel that fits into Maui's crown perfectly. Over two million vacationers take a trip through Lahaina while in Maui.
Lahaina has a wonderful history that keeps visitors enslaved to its majestic beauty. Many people have made Lahaina their permanent home after they experienced its diverse culture, rich history, fresh streams of flowing water, great climates, beautiful valleys, and its impregnable soil. Polynesian's settled in this small town for these same reasons in the past.
Lahaina also offers its visitors and residents many wonderful things to do for excitement. The scenic water fronts and famous streets are just some of the wonderful sights to see.
Buddhist Community
Jodo Mission is one of the sights that bring visitors to the town of Lahaina every year. This Buddhist organization is in a wonderful location in the Maui mountains, and has a bell tower, a small park, a quaint temple, and pagodas. Jodo Mission is a Buddhist community that is similar to many communities in Japan. The park in the community has a large statue that depicts the spiritual leader of Buddha.
August O-Bon Dance
Lahaina is home to the famous Hongwanji Mission which used to be an old school and a temple over a century ago. Now, The Hongwanji Mission is the place for the yearly August O-Bon Dance festival. The festival is a celebration to the Japanese Community that resides in Lahaina. It is also a rhythmic dance that keeps with tradition while performing life and death celebrations to the beat of drums and lit candles all around.
Famous Front Street
Moku'ulu-o-Lele is a historical park that was once known as an island, which was located in the middle of the downtown area of Lahaina on the famous Front Street. The island was most famous for Mokuhinia, which translates to sacred ponds. Over a century ago, the island was once ruled by giant lizards, then it was ruled by a Maui Chief, and then taken over by Kamehameha Kings. Now it sits as a historical park that brings millions of visitors in every year to watch restoration projects that will unearth many artifacts of the times.
Historic Lahaina
Lahaina is chocked full of history where old canals were once home to a ruin that was once called The Old Fort Walls. The Old Fort Walls was a fort that was built to shield the town from visitors who thought the fort was more for show than an actual wall for protection. The King at the time was coaxed by Reverend Richard to shoot canons off at his home to keep women away from the many ships that would come into docks. After many years, the town decided to tear the fort down and use it as a set of bricks to build a prison.
Floating Museum in Carthaginian The floating museum in Carthaginian is another popular attraction in Lahaina that brings visitors every year. It is a ship that was brought in as a replica of the actual ship called Carthaginian. Now it is a floating museum that is devoted to whales and whaling adventures.
Lighthouse in Lahaina
The Lighthouse in Lahaina is a nine foot high lighthouse that was considered the first beacon of light that aided ships to the shore in 1840. It has recently been restored to its former glory.
First Stone Brick House
Brick Palace is the ruins of the first stone house ever built in Hawaii. It was built in 1802 by King Kamehameha. The king built the house to allow the captains of the many ships that ported at the docks. It was a large house that stood over thirty nine feet tall that held two different rooms on each floor of the house. It was a stately brick palace that stood for over seventy years until it was reduced to ruins.
Reading Room
The Masters Reading Room was a room where the captains of ships would meet to discuss their duties and strategies. There were writing materials to use to write with, reading materials, such as publications and newspapers. After many years, missionaries wanted to add on to the meeting room, and asked for donations from the captains to build more meeting rooms so that seamen would also have a place to meet. It became a very large meeting room by the time the restorations were completed. There were many pieces of furniture added by each of the captains to make the place look more endearing. There were chairs, spy glasses, looking glass, soap, planks, and pitchers that were given as gifts from the captains. Many of the gifts given by the captains were used to further the endeavors of building the meeting room. They used coral that were cut into bricks and lava rocks to use on the outside of the building. The building was two stories with a storage room on the bottom and the main meeting rooms on the top floors.
