Delightful Lahaina has always been a small hub of activity on Maui. In its 19th-century heyday, it was first the royal capital of the entire Hawaiian Kingdom, then an important port for Pacific whaling ships. Christian missionaries clashed with bawdy sailors here, before the lure of sugar turned it into a thriving plantation town. Now something of a tourist hot spot, Lahaina is filled with shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, and historic sights, while the rainbow-crowned Pu’u Kukui (West Maui Mountains) provide a magnificent backdrop.
Dancers at the Feast at Lele
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Early Morning
Lahaina is hot virtually year round, so it’s best to start early in the day. Most historical spots are within a block or two of Front Street, so begin your walking tour at the south end in Malu’ulu’olele Park (see Moku’ula), and head roughly north, in the direction of the Kā’anapali Beach (see Kā’anapali Beach).
The first sites you’ll encounter are Banyan Tree Park, the old Lahaina Courthouse, and Lahaina Harbor (see Front Street, Lahainaand; Lahaina Courthouse see also; Lahaina Harbor). Just a block farther is the BaldwinHouse (see Baldwin House), the two-story, New England-style home of a Protestant missionary. The building also served as Baldwin’s medical office, and the early dental equipment on display makes you feel lucky to live in this age of effective anesthetics!
Continue your stroll to the Wo Hing Temple where the influence of Chinese immigrants to Maui can be seen, along with early movies made by American inventor Thomas Edison.
Late Morning
Take a break for lunch or a cool libation at any of Front Street’s oceanfront restaurants. For a quick bite, Cheeseburger in Paradise is immensely popular. Portions are big, prices small, and the ocean view, especially from upstairs, is glorious.
When you’re re-energized, there are plenty of trendy boutiques, art galleries, and souvenir shops all along Front Street to attract your vacation money (see Shopping).
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The king of T-shirt shops, Crazy Shirts designs are distinctive, and the shirts made of the highest quality cotton.
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Though David Paul Johnson is no longer involved, many of his signature dishes survive, such as Tequila Shrimp and Firecracker Rice, Kona Coffee Roasted Rack of Lamb.
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This oceanfront thoroughfare is Lahaina’s main street. Lined with all the trappings of a vacation town, from souvenir shops and activity reservation outlets to a plethora of bars and restaurants, Front Street bustles day and night. It is the site of major festivals throughout the year (A Taste of Lahaina in September, Halloween’s Mardi Gras of the Pacific in October, the International Festival of Canoes in May) and a continual stream of smaller events, including the weekly Friday Night is Art Night. (see Front Street, Lahaina)
Pioneer Inn, Front Street
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Gerard Reversade has been honing his own style of classic French cooking mixed with island flair for more than 20 years.
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This mid-19th century structure served as Lahaina’s prison, the inmates largely made up of ship deserters, drunks, reckless horse riders, and violators of the Sabbath. Built by convicts in the 1850s from blocks of stone salvaged from the old fort, the prison had a catwalk for use by an armed guard and wooden cells to hold the criminals.
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On the campus of Lahainaluna, the oldest high school west of the Rockies, this hillside building holds the history of the written word in Hawai’i. Until the mid-1800s, Hawaiian was a spoken language only. In order to spread the Bible’s word, Protestant missionaries used English letters to transliterate Hawaiian, and they brought a printing press with them specifically for the task. A replica of the press and the pages it printed are displayed here.
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Huge burgers, messy ribs, frou-frou drinks, and plenty of rock ’n’ roll memorabilia.
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Opened in 1963 and named for a popular Hawaiian entertainer who performed during the 1950s and 1960s, this is the largest retailer of island-style, locally made apparel, souvenirs, and gifts.
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This three-story pagoda sits at the outer edge of Lahaina town. In its courtyard stands a giant statue of Buddha, the largest outside Japan, placed in commemoration of the 1868 arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to Maui. The serene grounds are open to the public; the buildings are not.
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Restaurant price categories
Price categories include a three-course meal for one, a glass of house wine, and all unavoidable extra charges including tax.
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International Festival of CanoesThe International Festival of Canoes is Maui's main annual event: a two-week celebration of Hawaii's rich heritage honouring the voyaging canoe which united all of Polynesia. Read more
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Maui Film FestivalThe annual Maui Film Festival, held at the luxurious Wailea Resort, offers film and digital cinema premières and a handful of filmmakers' panels, while social events and galas help keep up the... Read more
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