Lahaina, HI

Lahaina Town is the center of fun, social and cultural events on Maui. Before we moved to Maui permanently we used to visit on vacation. No matter where we stayed, Wailea, Kihei, Kaanapali, wherever, it seemed like we spent time driving to and strolling the streets of Lahaina.

That’s what a lot of people do, and who can blame them. Front Street, sort of the main drag, is lined with shops and restaurants. The shops offer everything from tacky tee shirts to fine art and beautiful island…

Lahaina Town is the center of fun, social and cultural events on Maui. Before we moved to Maui permanently we used to visit on vacation. No matter where we stayed, Wailea, Kihei, Kaanapali, wherever, it seemed like we spent time driving to and strolling the streets of Lahaina.

That’s what a lot of people do, and who can blame them. Front Street, sort of the main drag, is lined with shops and restaurants. The shops offer everything from tacky tee shirts to fine art and beautiful island jewelry.

The locals live and shop a block from Front Street and at the far ends of town. Unlike some of the other “tourist” areas, Lahaina is a town where people live and work and have a community just like small town America anywhere. And, yes, we are part of the USA. So, please, when you visit, don’t say, “back in the States.”
Halloween is a major celebration in Lahaina and has become a signature event in the past decades with crowds averaging between 20,000 to 30,000. [5] The evening starts off closing Front Street to cars so the Keiki Parade of children in costumes can begin. Eventually adults in costumes join in and by dark, it's one big party. Coming to Maui for Halloween has caught on, however, the celebration is well-attended by locals as well.[6]
Every November, Lahaina hosts the Maui Invitational, one of the top early-season tournaments in college basketball. Many of the visitors to the Tournament and other events, including Halloween, use the occasion of their visit to Lahaina to stock up on items not available on the US Mainland or in other countries.
The center of town is dominated by the largest Banyan tree in the US. It fills almost the entire block that serves as our town square and provides shade for weekly art shows and many festivals, including the festival of canoes.
The exceptionally large banyan tree was planted in 1873 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the missionaries. It is also the site of the reconstructed ruins of Lahaina Fort, originally built in 1832.
In front of the Banyan tree square is the Lahaina Harbor. The harbor is home to the sport fishing boats, dinner cruises, tour boats and our favorite sunset cruise boat, the Scotch Mist II, a 50 foot Santa Cruz.

On the Front Street side of the Banyan tree is the Wharf Center. In addition to the standard tourist fare you’ll find the Wharf Cinema, where you can take in the latest blockbuster or date movie or get an “affordable meal.”

The best burgers in town are at Cool Cats Café in the Wharf Center. If you get a seat on the rail you can enjoy a burger, see the water and enjoy people-watching on Front Street. Most nights they have live music featuring local musicians who gladly accept tips.

In antiquity Lahaina Town was the royal capital of Maui Loa, 5th Moi of Maui, after he ceded the royal seat of Hana to King of Hawaii Island. Prior to unification of the islands, in 1795, the town was sacked by Kamehameha the Great. Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845. In 1824, at the request of the chiefs, Betsey Stockton started the first mission school open to the common people.
It was once an important destination for the 19th century whaling fleet, whose presence at Lahaina frequently led to conflicts with the Christian missionaries living there. On more than one occasion the conflict was so severe that it led to the shelling of Lahaina by whaleboats.