Lahaina, once known as "Lele," meaning relentless sun, is the treasure of Maui. The sun isn't really relentless--but it shines bright and steady on the lush tropical vegetation, sparkling blue waters and the sandy beaches Lahaina offers. No matter what time of year it is, there is something new and exciting to do in Lahaina. From shopping and the nightlife to exploring the land and getting the blood flowing, Lahaina satisfies.
Boat Tours
The ocean is central to life in Lahaina. Once described as "the Venice of the Pacific," as the Best of Maui Guide contends, because of the network of canals and waterways teeming with canoes, Lahaina later became a whaling town, immortalized in "Moby Dick." Boating in Lahaina today offers the chance to see Maui from a new perspective. Boats can be chartered for fishing, deep-sea diving, and touring. Some boat tours even offer instruction for a small fee. Other pleasant surprises are boat tours and diving that are handicapped accessible, cruising on the submarine "Atlantis" and mini-cruises for singles.
Beaches
Nestled as it is between Maui's mountains and the calm waters of the Auau Channel, facing the Hawaiian island of Lanai, Lahaina's beaches offer breathtaking sunsets, winter whale watching and ideal summer fun. All the beaches are open to the public and provide swimming, snorkeling, surfing, sailing and kayaking. Or attend the "outdoor classroom" held by local surfer shops just outside the breakwater on the south end of the harbor to learn and play.
History
"LahainaTown," comments the Best of Maui Guide, "sets a dramatic stage in history ... as colorful as the tranquil seas and verdant mountains which embrace it." In 1790, Kamehameha the Great conquered Maui by force, marrying into the sacred royal Hawaiian family and declaring Lahaina capital of his new kingdom. Lahaina today, on the National Register of Historic Places, showcases a unique blend of cultures. A stroll down Front Street allows you to visit places like Hale Paahao--also known as Lahaina Prison. The Lahaina Jodo Mission features the largest Buddha statue outside of Japan and 55 acres of history, all available as a self-guided tour.
Shopping
A stroll down Front Street brings you to any number of tourist retail shops. "Accented by the large number of visitors on nights and weekends, people watching is as interesting as window shopping," according to Lahaina Family Vacation. Lahaina Center is an outdoor shopping mall and features a free exhibit "Hale Kahiko"--meaning ancient house--of a replica native Hawaiian village. In the evenings, according to Lahaina Family Vacation, a portrait photographer sets up a temporary studio on the sidewalk and "pleads and cajoles both his parrots and human portrait subjects to stay still for their picture."
Cultural Events
Get a taste of Lahaina's culture any day or night of the week. Local restaurants provide delicious Polynesian foods, which are really a blend of influences from Japanese to European and beyond. Don't forget to sample one of Lahaina's famous luaus, where beautiful Hawaiian women in grass skirts sway to the hula as a pit-roasted pig and Polynesian feast tempts you to think, "here is heaven." Or gather under the largest banyan tree in America, at the south end of Front Street, to attend Hawaiian art and craft shows. Local musicians wander the streets, which fill for numerous festivals and activities throughout the year.
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