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Lahaina

Lahaina is the most visited town on Maui, hosting about two million visitors a year. It is nestled between the calm waters of the Auau Channel and the green peaks and valleys of the West Maui Mountain Range.

At first glance, Lahaina may seem like just another seashore town, but it is a deceptive impression. This town has rich and colorful history. Lahaina started as an ancient Hawaiian fishing village. The first Polynesian settlers arrived at these shores more than a thousand years ago and were attracted by the lush valleys, freshwater streams and pleasing climate. King Kamehameha I made Lahaina his seat of government in 1710.

Then westerners began sailing to Hawaii, and Lahaina became a popular town due to its natural harbor. In the mid-1800s, more than 400 ships a year came to Lahaina for suppliers and recreation. The town became a bustling whaling port. After the whaling industry died out, Lahaina served as a trade port for sugar industry.

In the 1970s, Lahaina became a popular tourist destination. The town is often called the "jewel in the crown of Maui", it is filled with a sense of history, but definitely with its mind on the future. Nowadays Lahaina is not a quiet seaside village, but a vibrant, active town. It is the only town on Maui, which offers a competent menu of nightlife options.

Front Street is a main street of Lahaina, where many restaurants, bars, pubs, shops and art galleries are situated. Lahaina's top sightseeing spots are the 19th-century historical sites. The Old Courthouse, built in 1859, is now home to a gallery exhibiting work by Lahaina artists. The Lahaina Heritage Museum is located on the second floor of the Old Courthouse. The Baldwin House, the oldest building in Lahaina, was built in 1834. Wo Hing Temple, on Front Street, was built in 1912 by Lahaina's Chinese community. Now it is a museum of Chinese-Hawaiian artefacts.

Lahaina Harbor has a ferry boat service. The ferry goes to the neighbor island of Lanai (7 miles across the Auau Channel).

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