Lahaina’s Historic Walking Trail
When I lived in Lahaina I would pass by historic homes and temples every day on the way to work. While living there I often took this historical part of Hawaii for granted - but when I came back to Maui with my young children in tow many years later I was eager to share the islands rich historical past with them.
The Ala Hele Mo’olelo O Lahaina (Historic walking trail) is a fabulous self guided tour which takes locals and tourists alike back into Lahaina’s colorful past starting from the 16th century through the mid 20th century.
To get your free map head to the Lahaina Visitor’s Center, located between the Banyan Tree and the harbor. The walking tour encompasses 62 historical and cultural sites, many located quite close to Banyan Tree Park, it takes approximately 2 hours or so from start to finish. I would suggest starting first thing in the morning as Lahaina gets blazing hot (tradewinds are blocked by the mountains that sit behind the historic whaling town).
A little bit about Lahaina, which once was the capital of Hawaii for about a quarter of a century, after King Kamehameha I, or Kamehameha the Great, conquered the islands.
In the early 1800’s the missionaries came to the islands to educate the Hawaiians and to create a written language for them as the Hawaiians did not have a written language. A mission school was built and printing house. To honor the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the missionaries Sheriff William Owen Smith on April 24, 1873 planted the banyan tree in Banyan Tree Park. This is the oldest banyan tree in the United States - it is over 136 years old, and spans almost a full city block! Also, arriving in the 1800’s were the whaling ships as Lahaina once was known as the whaling capital of the world.
Imagine as you walk down Front St. that all the art galleries were grog shops, all that is left of this past is Pioneer Inn - were I had my first “legal” drink at age 19 - which was the drinking age when I lived on Maui...
The walking tour is often over looked by tourists, but I feel it is a great way to glimpse back at Lahaina’s multi faceted past.
Some of my favorite spots to see are:
- Banyan Tree - 1873
- Lahaina Fort and cannons - circa 1830’s
- Pioneer Inn - 1901
- Front Street - 1820
- Hali Pai (printing house) - circa 1831
- Lahaina Lighthouse - 1840, then rebuilt in 1905
- Jail or Hale Pa’ahao - circa 1850’s
- Baldwin Missionary House - 1834
- Master’s Reading Room - 1834
- Wo Hing Temple - 1909
- Lahaina Jodo Mission, Buddha and Temple Bell - circa 1968 - 1970 (first temple burned down in 1968)
So, next time you head over to Maui try and squeeze this free and educational tour into your day. This is such a great way to get to know Hawaii’s past and to see what it has become along the way.
Joyce Craddock - Hawaii destination specialist
jc@incrediblejourney.net
888-729-6899
