Historic Lahaina

Home of The Plantation Inn, historic Lahaina Town is the lively little port that’s one of Maui's top visitor attractions. Favored by Hawaii's royalty for its climate, location, and surfing, Lahaina was once home to Kamehameha the Great and the unofficial capital of the Hawaiian Islands.

In the early 1800s, Lahaina became a major port-of-call for the whaling ships of the Pacific. And soon after, the missionaries from America began settling in the town. It wasn’t long before the staid missionaries and rambunctious seamen began to engage in a long-running dispute that, occasionally, erupted into physical confrontations. Peace finally came when the whaling era ended. For many years thereafter, the prime source of employment for Lahaina's people were the sugar and pineapple plantations.

However, all of that changed, with the rise of the visitor industry, bringing about the revitalization of Lahaina. The town is a windfall for sightseers, history buffs, ocean lovers, shoppers, and fun-seekers alike.

Historical points of interest can be easily explored by foot, and walking maps are available at the Front Desk.

Shopping & Dining

Located in Lahaina are some of the finest eateries, art galleries, and shopping in the Pacific. Built on the water's edge, Lahaina has several sites and artifacts from its royal Hawaiian past, its whaling and missionary era, and its days as a multi-ethnic plantation town. Attractions include movie theaters, traditional Hawaiian entertainment, unique theatrical productions, and night clubs.

At the north end of Lahaina Town sits Lahaina Cannery Mall. Once a working pineapple cannery, it has been tastefully converted into a contemporary shopping mall featuring more than 50 shops and restaurants. As Maui's only fully-enclosed, air-conditioned mall, it is a popular place for shopping and dining. Anchor tenants are Safeway, Longs Drugs Store, and Starbucks Coffee. Free parking and convenient shuttle service are available. For links to more online resources about Lahaina attractions, go to our Maui Web Links page.