It replaced an earlier replica of a whaler, Carthaginian, which had been converted to film scenes for the 1966 movie Hawaii. Built in 1920 and brought to Maui in 1973, it served as a whaling museum until 2005, and after being sunk in 95 feet (29 m) of water about 1⁄ 2-mile (0.80 km) offshore to create an artificial reef, now serves as a diving destination. The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts the PGA Tour's Sentry Tournament of Champions every January.Ĭarthaginian II was a museum ship moored in the harbor of this former whaling port-of-call. Hale Paʻi, located at Lahainaluna High School, is the site of Hawaii's first printing press, including Hawaii's first paper currency, printed in 1843. Also near the small boat harbor are the historic Pioneer Inn and the Baldwin House museum in the historic district of Lahaina. In 1831 a fort was built for defense, and the reconstructed remains of its 20-foot (6.1 m) walls and original cannons can still be seen. The valleys are the backdrop for "the 5 o'clock rainbow" that happens almost every day. The West Maui mountains have valleys visible from the historic district of Lahaina. The southern end of Front Street is home to the largest banyan tree in the United States.įront Street is a popular attraction with stores and restaurants, as well as many historical sights such as the Bailey Museum, the Lahaina Courthouse, and the Prison. Geography Īccording to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.1 km 2), of which 7.8 square miles (20.2 km 2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km 2), or 16.26%, is water. Lahaina's Front Street has been ranked one of the "Top Ten Greatest Streets" by the American Planning Association. In the 19th century, Lahaina was the center of the global whaling industry, with many sailing ships anchoring at its waterfront today pleasure craft make their home there. Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845, when the capital was moved back to Honolulu. In response, Maui Governor Hoapili built the Old Lahaina Fort in 1831 to protect the town from riotous sailors. On more than one occasion the conflict was so severe that it led to sailor riots and even the shelling of Lahaina by the British whaler John Palmer in 1827. 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. In 1824, at the chiefs' request, Betsey Stockton started the first mission school open to the common people. He built a palace complex on a 1 acre (0.40 ha) island Mokuʻula surrounded by a pond called Moku Hina, said to be home to Kiwahine, a spiritual protector of Maui and the Pi'ilani royal line, near the center of town. King Kamehameha III, son of Kamehameha I, preferred the town to bustling Honolulu. Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1802 to 1845. In 1795, before unification of the islands, the town was conquered by Kamehameha the Great. Lahaina's historic district averages only 13 inches (330 mm) of rain per year, much of which occurs from December to February. The Hawaiian language name Lā hainā means "cruel sun", describing the sunny dry climate. It is the largest Banyan Tree in the United States. It is also the site of the reconstructed ruins of Lahaina Fort, originally built in 1832. The Banyan Court Park features an exceptionally large banyan tree ( Ficus benghalensis) planted by William Owen Smith on April 24, 1873, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Christian missionaries. It is lined with stores and restaurants and often packed with tourists. In Lahaina, the focus of activity is along Front Street, which dates back to the 1820s. In antiquity Lahaina was the royal capital of Maui Loa, aliʻi nui ("high chief") of the island of Maui, after he ceded the royal seat of Hana to the ruler of Hawaii Island. Hokoji Shingon Mission in downtown Lahaina, a Japanese Buddhist temple