DK Travel : Maui : Front Street, Lahaina

Front Street, Lahaina

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Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the main thoroughfare of Lahaina is a showcase of restored and preserved sites. In the early 1800s, when this seaside village was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, missionaries from New England arrived, determined to save the souls of native islanders and to discipline rowdy sailors. There’s no proof that souls were saved but the buildings of the era have been.
For more on Lahaina (see Lahaina)

Top 10 Sights

1. Lahaina Courthouse

1. Lahaina Courthouse

Built from coral blocks in 1859, the courthouse also housed the local prison. The former jail cells are now used to display the work of local artists, and there’s a visitor center here, too.
2. Banyan Tree

2. Banyan Tree

Planted in 1873 by the Sheriff of Maui to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Lahaina’s first Christian mission, the Banyan Tree is the center of the town’s activity – festivals, concerts, arts and crafts fairs, and daily socializing take place under the shade of this venerated tree.
3. Lahaina Harbor

3. Lahaina Harbor

Where whaling ships once laid anchor, charter fishing vessels now troll for a catch of delicious ahi , ono , and mahimahi . Other boats wait to take visitors on snorkeling expeditions, whalewatching excursions, and trips to Lāna’i and Moloka’i.
4. Hau’ola Stone

Hawaiians have a deep relationship with their natural surroundings, including stones, or pōhaku . Those deemed as healing stones, like the one near Lahaina Library, were believed to hold powerful forces of nature that could quiet the spirit and heal the soul.
5. Pioneer Inn

5. Pioneer Inn

You can still rent a room in this landmark, which for many years was the only hotel in town. It was built in 1901 by a Royal Canadian Mountie who tracked a notorious criminal to Lahaina and then decided to stay. It has a perfect view of the Harbor. (see Pioneer Inn)

Statue at the Pioneer Inn
6. Baldwin House

Constructed in 1834 for New England missionary Rev. Dwight Baldwin, the faithfully restored house is now a museum that presents a vivid picture of missionary life in the 1800s.
7. Wo Hing Temple

7. Wo Hing Temple

Chinese sugar plantation laborers built this fraternal hall in the 19th century. It now holds a collection of everyday utensils used by the immigrant workers, and shows movies of Hawai’i taken in the early 20th century by Thomas Edison. (see Wo Hing Temple)
8. U.S. Seamen’s Hospital

Originally built for Kamehameha III (see King Kamehameha I), the US government leased the building for use as a marine hospital. The whaling industry created a need throughout the Pacific for hospitals to care for injured, sick, and abandoned sailors.
9. Jodo Mission

9. Jodo Mission

The Jodo Mission commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to Maui in 1868. The largest statue of Buddha outside of Japan sits majestically and serenely in the grounds (see Jodo Mission).
10. Moku’ula

There used to be a lake on this site, and in it an island, Moku’ula, which was home to Hawaiian royalty. In 1918, the lake was filled in, and the island is now buried under the sports facilities of Malu-’ulu’olele County Park.

Practical Information

Front Street is a great place for treasure hunters to find scrimshaw, t-shirts, sarongs, and souvenirs.You can meet local artists and crafters who sell their works under the Banyan Tree on weekends. Parking is at a premium along Front Street, and it’s easier to park in a pay lot. “Lahaina” means merciless sun in the Hawaiian language, a good indication that you should wear your hat and sunscreen when strolling along Front Street. VisitorCenter Lahaina Courthouse 9am–5pmdaily free Baldwin House 10am–4pm daily $3 Wo Hing Temple 10am–4pm daily donation Jodo Mission grounds open daily free