Lahaina - Replaced, But Can Still Hang with the Best of Them

Sept. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- Lahaina was the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii until it was permanently moved to Honolulu in near the end of the 19th century. This happened due to the decision of King Kamehameha I, even though his son preferred Lahaina to Honolulu so much that he had a palace on an island near the centre of the town. It is located in the western region of Maui.

It was also known as 'Lele', which in Hawaiian means 'the relentless sun', and 'La Haina' meaning 'cruel sun', which I guess describes the climate very well as it is usually sunny and dry. Although it does see some rainfall, most of which occurs between December and February. Being that the climate is usually dry and hot, golfing is a very popular - even the PGA Tour's SBS Championships are held there every January at the Plantation Course in Kapalua. Also nearby are popular beaches like the famous Kaanapali and the Kapalua, which are where the ideal Hawaiian rentals are.

Lahaina is a town with a lot of history and heritage, which is probably why it's historic district has been declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962, at which time it was described with the following sentence: 'Long the residence of Maui kings and chiefs, Lahaina preserves the atmosphere of a mid-19th century Hawaiian seaport, when it was a favourite port of call for American whalers. It was also the centre of missionary activities.'. In the town you will find numerous places with history, such as the US Seamen's Hospital which has been completely restored by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the Hale Paahao that is an old prison, which was called 'the stuck in-irons house', called that because the nature of the prison with its standard wall shackles and its ball and chain restraints. There are various other attractions that define the history of the town, such as the Baldwin home, the Banyan tree and the Maria Lanakila Church.

This is a historic town that was known for its whaling roots, in fact you can say it was the global centre of whaling during the middle of the 19th century in which there was a whaling boom  During this time roughly 1,500 sailors from 400 odd ships would depart Lahaina, including Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick. Now though, whales have become a tourist attraction for the right reasons, there are various tours for whale watching that depart from Lahaina Harbour, especially during the winter period. It is said that you can get to one of the best humpback whales spot from Lahaina.

The town is now well known for its art galleries, you will see dozens of different type of art, ranging from the local aspiring artist many acclaimed pieces. There is the Lahaina Arts Society, which is home to 185 artists, which is a non profit organisation that is located at the Old Jail Gallery. You can also sample some of the best Hawaii cuisine in Lahaina's restaurants and you could see the award winning show Ulalenma at the Maui Theatre.






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