Check It OutActivities
Dining
Shopping
Art
Entertainment
Accommodations
Real Estate
Transportation
Services
- Free Visitor Guides
View now
- Enter to Win!
Hawaiian Vacation for Two!
Explore Lahaina's Rich Past
By Karee Carlucci Published: 06/25/2007
This towns name refers to the relentless sun that reflects upon its hillsides year-round; it is world-renowned for its scenic beauty and charm. Its ancient name of Lele was defined as leaping or disembarking from a canoe, because its tranquil shores offered a homecoming to weary travelers. I'm talking about Lahaina, the first capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the home of Hawaii's heritage.
In the form of two cultural walking tours, one self-guided and the other with native Hawaiian guides, today Lahaina is a place where history and culture come alive.
A series of interpretive signs entitled Ala Hele Mo'olelo O Lahaina Lahaina Historic Trail, has been installed throughout Lahaina's two historic districts which surround Front Street. This self-guided walking tour provides a living chronicle of Lahaina. Whether you park at the south end of town in the 500 block of Front Street (near the Moku'ula restoration site) and walk north, or park near 900 Front Street (at Lahaina Center) and walk south, you'll discover that there are many notable spots offering a glimpse of the past. When you come across a bronze plaque with the name of the trail and a breadfruit design at the top, youll be able to read a brief story and see a photo or artist rendering of what the site may have looked like generations ago.
The timeline for this trail covers Hawaii's history from the great rulers of Maui in the 16th century, the Piilani Family, through the wars of unification of the islands in the late 1700's, to the beginning of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the era of the Kamehameha kings (I, II and III). The signage also describes the arrival of the missionary era in Lahaina, and talks about whaling, the shipping trade, and the constitutional government (between the 1820's and 1860's). The annexation of Hawaii as a territory of the U.S. heralded the start of the plantation era and the migration of Asian and European laborers who significantly shaped the town in the first half of the 20th century.
Did you know that Hawaii's first royal princess, Nahienaena, lived in Lahaina almost all her life and had her own hale pili (thatched house) on the beach where todays King Kamehameha III Elementary School is situated? Or that Canal Street on the south side of the Banyan Tree was aptly named because it was once a waterway used by whaling ship tenders to reach the government marketplace?
Lahaina was considered a window to the world, having seen the comings and goings of chiefs and kings, missionaries and whalers, the military, heads-of-state, plantation owners, celebrities and explorers for centuries. In the heart of town under the towering Banyan Tree, the Lahaina Court & Custom House has served in an official capacity since 1860. It oversaw the change from Kingdom of Hawaii to territorial government by the United States, and was used as a courtroom, police station and jail. Lahaina Courthouse now officially welcomes visitors to West Maui.
The second floor of Lahaina Courthouse is a complete museum showcase. It features a glass display box with a real treasure for the people of Lahaina: the 1890s Hawaiian Flag. This is the same flag that flew over the Court & Custom House when Hawaii officially became a U.S. Territory. A beautiful koa wood cabinet houses an 8- by 5-foot relief map of Maui, which identifies popular sites. Gracing the surrounding walls is a historic photo exhibit depicting life in LahainaTown in the early 20th century. Visitors can also stroll through the new Lahaina Heritage Museum, which presents the towns history in an informational and interactive manner, telling stories of the people and past that make Lahaina what it is today. Exhibits change twice a year; they feature Hawaiian canoe voyaging, whaling days, and plantation camp life.
To learn even more about this fascinating town, take an interactive guided tour. Maui Nei Cultural Tour, Maka‘ika‘i Ma Loko O Lahaina, a Journey Through Lahaina's Past, tells the town's stories through Hawaiian eyes. Featuring teachers and chanters as guides and storytellers, this walking tour is a perfect complement to the self-guided historic trail. Visitors seeking to learn more history, explore the back streets of Lahaina, hear Hawaiian chants, and find out about the restoration project of Hawai‘i's royal complex will enjoy this journey. It's available on select days from 9:30 to 11:30am by advance reservation only.
Check-out the Lahaina Visitor Center and Lahaina Heritage Museum in Lahaina Courthouse by the harbor; phone 808- 667-9193 or go to visitlahaina.com. To book a Maui Nei Cultural Tour, call 808-661-9494 or visit mauinei.com.
Locations
Maui, West Maui
Photo Gallery - Explore Lahaina's Rich Past
Click here for Slideshow. You can also click on any of the photos to start slideshow.
