Mauilahaina

Lahaina

The town of Lahaina is an old seaport that, active and bustling as it is today, is merely a ghost of its former self where sailors and whalers from all over came to the town and enjoyed its fantastic Pacific beaches and even more fantastic Hawaiian locals. Lahaina is on the western part of Maui, known for its jagged peaks and verdant valleys such as those of the breathtakingly gorgeous West Maui Mountains. While in West Maui, most tourists and visitors choose to spend the sunny beach days on the beaches of Kaanapali and then head over to Lahaina to take part in its thriving nightlife, filled with restaurants, shops, galleries, nightclubs and bars. The region of West Maui is home to the absolute best resorts on all of Maui, adding to the luxurious but laid-back atmosphere so prominent here.

This old port town has a rich and long history. It was originally an ancient fishing village, visited by all the Hawaiian chiefs and even enjoying a temporary stint as Hawaii’s capital. It then became an important sea port for westerners due to its excellent natural harbor. It quickly became known as the Pacific’s wildest sea port. Several of the buildings in Lahaina date back to that wild and exciting time. This historical moment is still evident in some of these buildings and mixes in nicely with the indulgent and exciting life on Laihana today. Travel writer James Michener was inspired to write his look at the state of Hawaii, titled Hawaii, from this unique mix of present and past on Lahaina.

The oldest house in Lahaina has today been converted into a museum, the Baldwin Home Museum, and is one of Lahaina’s top visitor destinations. It was built in 1834 by Reverent Dwight Baldwin who came to Hawaii on a missionary trip. Right next to the Baldwin Home is Maui’s oldest building, Master’s Reading Room. The history of the Master’s Reading Room falls at a crossroads of sailors/whalers and the missionaries that arrived on Lahaina in the mid 19th century: when the missionaries successfully shut down most of the grog shops and prostitution houses, Master’s Reading Room became the hangout for seafarers.

When looking for food, great restaurants of all price ranges and world cuisines are abundant on West Maui. For less expensive options, the Cilantro Fresh Mexican Grill offers the best Mexican food in all of Maui, boasting old-style Mexican dishes made from scratch. The Aloha Mixed Plate offers a great ambience and local plate-style dishes. The Pacific’O Restaurant with its sensational setting and long bar offers guests comtemporary Pacific dishes with fresh catches of the day with a touch of India and Indonesian cuisine. If you are looking for more authentic Polynesian-style dishes, head on over to the Feast at Lele with its fantastic oceanfront setting and traditional Lahainian Luau dancers.

Then there is, of course, the wonderful and exciting Lahaina night life, including everything from fancy nightclubs to welcoming bars to great entertainment. For night clubs with great music, check out Maui Brews on Front Street where you can shake your groove thing to salsa, swing, and reggae as well as live music on Friday and Monday nights. As far as great watering holes, head over to the restaurant-turned-bar Moose McGillycuddy’s (also on Front Street) for great laid-back Hawaii vibes. Finally, do not miss out on Ulalena at the Maui Myth and Magic Theater where you will be able to witness one of the best local shows in all of Hawaii, filled with myth, drama, dance and awesome multimedia spectacles.