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 ake a trim,
tidy New England whaling town, plunk it in the middle of the Pacific,
sketch in some rainbow-crowned mountains and add a generous helping of
palm trees. Stir in the biggest Buddha outside of Asia, a banyan tree
the size of a city block, and a history that reads like an epic novel
and you might come close to defining Lahaina.
This
fun-loving historic town was once the capital of the Hawaiian kingdom
and the seat of power for the Kamehameha dynasty in the early 19th
century. By the mid-1800s, with as many as 400 ships at a time berthed
in the harbor spilling up to 1,500 sailors ashore, Lahaina went on to
become the lusty port of the Yankee whaling fleet. The whalers said
there was no God west of the Horn and they conducted themselves
accordingly — until a band of puritanical missionaries arrived from New
England to spoil the ribald party. The battles between
 the reverends and the revelers became legendary. Among the sailors was
Herman Melville, who immortalized the era in his classic novel, Moby-Dick.
The
missionaries built the first high school west of the Rocky Mountains,
Lahainaluna and, in a move that changed the course of Hawaiian history,
installed Hawaii's first printing press.
Lahaina
today is a reflection of its colorful past. Approximately 55 acres of
the town have been set aside as historic districts containing several
sites designated as National Historical Landmarks.
Among
the gallant survivors are the weathered wooden buildings lining Front
Street and its side streets. In place of grog shops and ship's
outfitters, they now house boutiques, art galleries and charming
seafood restaurants where the demon rum comes in polite mai tais with
little paper parasols planted in wedges of pineapple.
Where
whaling ships once laid anchor, a fleet of pleasure boats now bobs in
the sun, waiting to take visitors on sunset dinner cruises, snorkel and
dive sails, whale watching excursions and picnic trips to other
islands. Lahaina Harbor is also home to many of the world's finest cruise ships that anchor off shore. Presiding over the harbor is the old
 Pioneer Inn with its fascinating nautical memorabilia.
On
Sunday mornings, Hawaiian hymns still ring from Lahaina's churches,
while incense curls heavenward from Asian temples. Signs mark the
historic sites. Walking maps are free and readily available. Lahaina
might be called Hawaii's Williamsburg, except that it's a living town
embracing commerce and tourism.
The
historic Baldwin Mission House is open to the public. Other notable
buildings include the Masters and Mates Reading Room, the Seamen's
Hospital, the waterfront courthouse, the old jail, Lahaina Prison and
many more.
Dozens
of art galleries offer the works of both acclaimed local artists and
masters such as Dali, Chagall and Miro. Art has become so popular that
it is celebrated in a weekly event called Friday Night is Art Night in Lahaina. People stroll from gallery to gallery viewing art, meeting artists,
watching them work, listening to music and sampling the refreshments
served by the galleries.
The
restaurant scene is equally exciting. Added to the menu of fine seafood
establishments overlooking the harbor are a host of innovative
restaurants specializing in Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Some are situated
in meticulously restored historic buildings, and all serve the freshest
local ingredients prepared with a masterful blending of classic Asian
and Continental techniques with the unique taste of paradise. The
result is a culinary triumph that earns rave reviews from food critics
around the country.
Throughout the year, events such as the Ocean Arts Festival, the International Festival of Canoes, and A Taste of Lahaina food festival celebrate everything from whale-watching to Polynesian voyaging and the burgeoning culinary arts. Every Halloween,
the streets of Lahaina are filled with tens of thousands of costumed
revelers who dress up lavishly and compete for the prize in what is
known as Halloween in Lahaina.
Lahaina is also home to the Maui Theatre and 'Ulalena,
a multi-faceted theatrical experience depicting Hawaiian history with a
modern twist. Brilliant dancers and exquisite talent have brought 'Ulalena to the forefront of Island entertainment. 'Ulalena explores the relationships between people, nature and mythology and
integrates Hawaiian chants and dances, original music and choreography
and state-of-the-art lighting and projections.
Lahaina
is convenient to Maui's major resort areas and is connected to the
Kaanapali Resort by the restored sugar cane train, the Lahaina-Kaanapali and Pacific Railroad.
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