Lahaina Town Remembered- History

The Lahaina Prison, Hale Pa`ahoa ("stuck in iron house"), was built in the 1850s and is still standing today. During the whaling era, Lahaina was a bustling town loaded with rowdy, drunken sailors. The Lahaina prison was built to house these miscreants for enough time for them to sober up.

The two story prison is composed of cells for both men and women; some rooms contained shackles for those who were difficult to handle. The prison is encircled by walls made of coral. There is a green courtyard in the center. The warden lived in the wooden gatehouse situated between the walls.

You can tour this prison from 10am to 4pm daily. It is free but donations are encouraged.

Originally built in 1859, the Lahaina Courthouse is a historic site once home to the customs office, the town jail, the post office and the courthouse. The building is made of materials that were rescued from King Kamehameha`s unfinished Lahaina palace, it having been destroyed by a storm a year earlier.

Today, the courthouse is home for the Lahaina Arts Society and Lahaina Visitor Center. Tours are free, and are held daily from 9am to 5pm. While there, you will also find some wonderful maps and information on Lahaina Town.

The Master`s Reading Room served as a retreat for ship captains and officers from 1833 until the end of the whaling era. The reading room provided ships` masters with reading materials to catch up on current events, and rooms in which they could gather together away from the "common folk."

The Baldwin home was built in 1834 by Reverend Dwight Spaulding, and is the oldest standing house on Maui. Today, this two story house provides a way for visitors to come to understand what life was like for a colonial missionary in Hawaii.

Reverend Spaulding was also a Harvard trained doctor, and treated many patients in his home. This beautiful house was also used by Reverend Spaulding and his family to entertain ship captains, officers and visiting Hawaiian royalty.

Tours are available daily form 10 am to 4 pm. Candlelit tours are available on Fridays from 6 to 8:30.

Every Friday is Art Night in historic Lahaina Town. Spend the evening walking along Front Street and taking your time viewing the many art galleries that line the streets. Each gallery hosts different artists who are there to "talk story" and demonstrate their skills. As an added bonus, each gallery serves complimentary cocktails and "pupus".

Cap your night off with a wonderful meal in one of Front Street`s oceanfront restaurants.

The Baldwin home was built in 1834 by Reverend Dwight Spaulding, and is the oldest standing house on Maui. Today, this two story house provides a way for visitors to come to understand what life was like for a colonial missionary in Hawaii.

Reverend Spaulding was also a Harvard trained doctor, and treated many patients in his home. This beautiful house was also used by Reverend Spaulding and his family to entertain ship captains, officers and visiting Hawaiian royalty.

Tours are available daily form 10 am to 4 pm. Candlelit tours are available on Fridays from 6 to 8:30.

April

April marks Lahaina’s famous Banyan Tree birthday! Come out to wish this beautiful and historic tree Hauoli la Hanau (happy birthday). Festivities include a birthday cake, Maui artists, live music, a silent auction and more.  

The Lahaina Banyan Tree is one of Maui`s most treasured possessions, and a popular gathering place for locals and tourists alike. This famous tree is one of the largest banyan trees in the United States, and stretches its massive branches over a 200 ft. area. The tree was planted on April 24, 1873, in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the first American Protestant mission in Lahaina.

This event is free and from 9 am- 5 pm.

When visiting Hawaii, be sure to reserve time out of your vacation to explore the rich history and culture of our island. There are endless opportunities to dive deep into the past, and learn about the events that helped shape the Hawaii we know today.

Historic Lahaina Town offers much more than just great restaurants and shops; there is a tremendous amount of history to be explored as well. Follow the Lahaina Historic Trail and visit such sights as the Baldwin Home Museum, the Old Prison, Courthouse, Maria Lanikila Church, the Seamen’s Cemetery and more.

Visit the Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s website to download their free walking map and start exploring!