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42-499: The three districts ( moku ) of West Maui are Lahaina , Kāʻanapali , and Wailuku. Wailuku is also known as "Pūʻalikomohana" ("west isthmus"), or "Nā Wai ʻEhā" ("the four waters"). The port of Lahaina lies on the southwestern slope. The summit peak at 5,788 ft (1,764 m) elevation is called " Puʻu Kukui ," which translates to "candlenut hill". The West Maui Mountains were formed through at least three series of major volcanic eruptions during its shield building period. Rocks from

84-621: A description of the constant warfare on Lahaina: The village of Raheina ... seemed to be pleasantly situated on a space of low or rather gently elevated land, in the midst of a grove of bread-fruit, cocoa-nut, and other trees...In the village the houses seemed to be numerous and to be well inhabited. A few of the natives visited the ships; these brought but little with them, and most of them were in very small miserable canoes. These circumstances strongly indicated their poverty, and proved what had been frequently asserted at Owhyhee, that Mowee and its neighbouring islands were reduced to great indigence by

126-527: A series of wildfires destroyed approximately 80% of Lahaina. As of June 24, 2024, 102 deaths had been confirmed, with many victims identified by name. Protestant missionaries sent by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) began organizing a way to write the Hawaiian language with English letters between 1820–1826 after they reached Hawaii. "The long English sound of i

168-420: A whaling museum until 2005. It was sunk in 95 feet (29 m) of water about 1 ⁄ 2 -mile (0.80 km) offshore to create an artificial reef . It replaced an earlier replica of a whaler , Carthaginian , which was converted to film scenes for the 1966 movie Hawaii . Hale Paʻi , located at Lahainaluna High School , is the site of Hawaii's first printing press, where Hawaii's first paper currency

210-558: Is known as the Valley of the Priests. They were given slices of land that spanned from the mountain to the sea. Hewahewa , a direct descendant of Paʻao , was a kahuna nui to Kamehameha I . A contemporary, Leimomi Moʻokini Lum is a kahuna nui . David Kaonohiokala Bray was a well-known kahuna . King Kamehameha IV , in his translation of the Book of Common Prayer , used

252-623: Is north of a wind line and has double the annual rainfall and frequent breezes. Kapalua and Napili have almost four times more annual rainfall than the town. Lahaina has a hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen BShs ) with warm temperatures year-round, fairly wet winters, and dry summers. The population of Lahaina was 12,702 as of the 2020 Census . 34.8% were Asian , 27.9% were White , 0.1% were Black or African American, 0.1% were Native American or Alaska Native, 10.5% were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 24.7% were from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 11.5% of

294-629: Is represented by ai, as in Lahaina, where the second syllable is accented, and pronounced like the English word high". According to Thrums Hawaiian Annual of 1921 the proper pronunciation of Lahaina is La-hai-ná. Lahaina has different pronunciations depending on how diacritical marks are applied. Lahaina is a combination of two Hawaiian words, “lā” which means sun, and “hainā” which means cruel. The varied spellings Lāhainā and Lahaina are commonly interchanged when written in modern english, although

336-494: Is said to have received its name from Lā , the sun, and hainā , merciless. A bald-headed chief who lived at Kauaula Valley, while going to and fro without a hat, felt annoyed at the effects of the scorching rays of the burning sun. He looked up and gazed into the heavens and cursed at the sun thus: He keu hoi keia o ka la haina! " ("What a merciless sun!"). On July 13, 1920, the Star Bulletin published several theories on

378-451: The kālai waʻa is an expert canoe maker, and a hoʻokele is an expert navigator . A kahuna lapaʻau is a "medical doctor, medical practitioner, [or] healer. lit.   ' curing expert ' ". According to Fornander, there are ten colleges or branches of the Hawaiian priesthood: To master all ten branches made one a kahuna nui or high priest . Kahuna nui usually lived in places such as Waimea Valley , which

420-579: The Maui Invitational , a top early-season college basketball tournament. The 2023 tournament was moved to Honolulu because of the wildfires. The Lahaina Aquatic Center hosts swim meets and water polo. Tennis events also take place. Lahaina hosts the finish of the Victoria to Maui Yacht Race , which starts in Victoria, British Columbia , Canada. This race started in the 1960s and is held biannually. The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts

462-489: The Old Lahaina Fort in 1831 to protect the town from unruly sailors. Kamehameha III resided in a traditional royal compound on the sacred island of Mokuʻula located on Mokuhinia lake in the middle of Lahaina from 1837 to 1845. He built a two-story, Western-style palace in 1838 named Hale Piula, although it was not completed before the court moved. During his residence, Kamehameha III signed and proclaimed

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504-605: The PGA Tour 's Sentry Tournament of Champions every January. Movies, literature, and songs about, or filmed in Lahaina include: Kahuna Kahuna ( Hawaiian pronunciation: [kəˈhunə] ; Hawaiian : kahuna ) is a Hawaiian word that refers to an expert in any field. Historically, it has been used to refer to doctors , surgeons and dentists, as well as priests, ministers, and sorcerers . A kahuna may be versed in agriculture , canoe building, or any other skill or knowledge area. They may be called on by

546-585: The United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.1 km ), of which 7.8 square miles (20.2 km ) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km ), or 16%, is water. Lahaina town is one of the driest places in Hawaii, because it is in the rain shadow of Mauna Kahālāwai ( West Maui Mountains ). Many different climate zones define Lahaina's districts. Kaanapali

588-577: The ali‘i nui of Hawaii Island. He did not land on the island but was greeted by the warriors of Kalaniʻōpuʻu including a young Kamehameha I in their war canoes. The base of the Kamehameha statue in Honolulu depicts the warrior meeting Cook off the coast of Lahaina. British explorer George Vancouver visited in 1793 and unsuccessfully attempted to mediate a peace between Kahekili and Kalaniʻōpuʻu's successor Kamehameha I. During his visit, he gave

630-472: The ali‘i nui of Oʻahu. The war ended in a truce between Alapaʻi and Peleʻioholani and the capture and execution of Kauhiʻaimokuakama by drowning. The remains of the fallen soldiers from both sides are said to be buried in the sands of Kāʻanapali district. On November 26, 1778 Captain James Cook 's ships appeared near Maui while the island's monarch Kahekili II battled the forces of Kalaniʻōpuʻu ,

672-601: The "Keiki Parade" of costumed children. Adults in costumes join in. Halloween night in Lahaina has been termed the "Mardi Gras of the Pacific". From 2008-2011 the celebration was curtailed following the objections of cultural advisers who claimed that it was an affront to Hawaiian culture, after which the County permitted the event to resume, citing economic reasons. Each November, the Lahaina Civic Center hosts

714-585: The 8,661-acre (35.05 km) preserve has been managed since 1994 by Maui Land & Pineapple Company in participation with The Nature Conservancy and the State Natural Area Partnership. Lahaina, Hawaii Lahaina, Lāhainā ( Hawaiian : Lahaina , Hawaiian: [ləˈhɐjnə] , / l ə ˈ h aɪ n ə / , old var. Lāhainā) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Maui County, Hawaii , United States. On

756-533: The ABCFM arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in 1820, setting up stations on Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. However, the first mission station on Maui was not established until 1823 by Reverend Charles Stewart and William Richards . The two men and their family accompanied Queen Keōpūolani , the wife of Kamehameha I, and her daughter Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena from Oʻahu to Lahaina. They were tasked with instructing

798-1022: The TV episode), was the leader of a group of surfers . The figure of the Big Kahuna became commonplace in Beach party films of the 1960s, such as Beach Blanket Bingo , in which the Big Kahuna was the best surfer on the beach. Hawaiian surfing master Duke Kahanamoku may have been referred to as the Big Kahuna , but he rejected the term as he knew the original meaning. In the New Age spiritual system known as Huna , which uses some Hawaiian words and concepts appropriated from Hawaiian tradition, kahuna denotes someone of priestly or shamanic standing. The prevalence of these works in pop culture has influenced definitions in English dictionaries, such as Merriam-Webster, which not only defines kahuna as "a preeminent person or thing" but also offers "Hawaiian shaman " as

840-539: The ancient Hawaiians, master navigator Mau Piailug from Satawal was brought to Hawaii to reteach navigation to the Hawaiians. After American missionaries went to Hawaii in 1820, they reportedly prohibited kahuna practices. But, in the 100 years after the missionaries arrived, all kahuna practices were legal until 1831, some were illegal until 1863, all were legal until 1887, and some were illegal until 1919. Since 1919 all have been legal except sorcery, which

882-509: The community to bless new buildings and construction projects or to officiate weddings. Forty types of kahuna are listed in the book Tales from the Night Rainbow , twenty in the healing professions alone, including kahuna lapaʻau , a medical priest or practitioner, and kahuna hāhā , "an expert who diagnoses, as sickness or pain, by feeling the body". There are several categories of kahuna . A craft kahuna , such as

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924-499: The entire island of Maui when he extended his sovereignty over East Maui. The aliʻi of Hāna district accepted him as supreme ruler. Piʻilani also controlled the neighboring islands of Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe , and parts of Molokaʻi . In 1738, Lahaina and most of West Maui were the sites of a series of battles between the forces of Kamehamehanui Aiʻluau with his uncle and ally Alapaʻi , the ali‘i nui of Hawaii Island, against his half-brother Kauhiʻaimokuakama with his ally Peleʻioholani ,

966-483: The fire incinerated thousands of structures. Pacific Disaster Center on August 11, 2023 estimated damage at US$ 5.52 billion. Richard Bissen , the county mayor, summarized the situation: "I'm telling you, none of it's there. It's all burned to the ground." Among the notable structures destroyed were the Old Lahaina Courthouse, Waiola Church, Pioneer Inn , and Kimo's restaurant. According to

1008-482: The first Hawaiian constitution on October 8, 1840, at Luaʻehu, in Lahaina. The legislature 's first meeting was held on April 1, 1841, also at Luaʻehu. With the growing commercial importance of Oʻahu, Kamehameha III moved the capital to Honolulu in 1845. Hale Piula was then transformed into a courthouse until it was heavily damaged in an 1858 storm. The following year, the Old Lahaina Courthouse

1050-511: The historic Pioneer Inn and the Baldwin House, a historical landmark built in the 1800s. Whale-watching excursions were a popular pastime. The humpback whale is dominant, although sightings of fin , minke , Bryde's , blue , and North Pacific right whales have been reported. Carthaginian II was a museum ship moored in the harbor of this former whaling port-of-call. Built in 1920 and brought to Maui in 1973, it served as

1092-601: The latest major shield-building eruptions are called the Honolua volcanic series, which are roughly 500,000 years old. However, there were several rejuvenated stage eruptions more recently, the last dating to roughly 320,000 years ago. The Puʻu Kukui Preserve is the largest private nature preserve in the State of Hawaii, dedicated to protecting the watershed lands of the West Maui Mountains. Established in 1988,

1134-437: The name's origins that included the bald-headed chief legend, as well as theories that included the belief that the name goes back to 11th century as Laha aina (Proclaiming land). Other interpretations of the name include "day (of) sacrifice" and "day (of) explanation". Inez MacPhee Ashdown (1899–1992), historian and founder of Maui Historical Society, believed the name was Lahaʻaina , meaning "land (of) prophecy", because of

1176-508: The northwest coast of the island of Maui , it encompasses Lahaina town and the Kaanapali and Kapalua beach resorts. At the 2020 census (before the 2023 wildfire), Lahaina had a resident population of 12,702. The CDP spans the coast along Hawaii Route 30 from a tunnel at the south end, through Olowalu, and to the CDPs of Kaanapali and Napili-Honokowai to the north. On August 8–9, 2023,

1218-408: The number of kahuna nui (high priest) prophecies made there. The first mōʻī or aliʻi nui (supreme ruler) of western Maui was Haho , the son of Paumakua a huanuikalalailai . This line produced the subsequent rulers. The name Lele was adopted during the reign of Kakaʻalaneo . He held court there during joint rule with his brother Kakae , while living on a hill called Kekaʻa . They were

1260-688: The population. The population of Lahaina was 6,654 in the 1980 Census and 9,189 in the 1990 Census. Before the fire, Front Street stores and restaurants attracted many visitors and was the focal point of the Lahaina Historic District . The Bailey Museum, the Lahaina Courthouse, and the Prison lined the street. The historic district included 60 historic sites managed by the Lahaina Restoration. Front Street

1302-490: The queen about Christianity , to which Keōpūolani converted on her deathbed. The missionaries erected a temporary church made of wooden poles and a thatched roof. In 1824, at the chiefs' request, Betsey Stockton started the first mission school open to common people. Maui Governor Hoapili ordered the construction of a stone church. The cornerstone of the Waiola Church (originally named Ebenezera or Waineʻe Church)

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1344-411: The sons and heirs of Kaulahea I . Kakaʻalaneo first planted breadfruit trees while his son Kaululaʻau is credited with expelling ghosts from Lānaʻi and putting the island under the rule of his father and uncle. Kakae's son Kahekili I succeeded his father and uncle as ruler. Kahekili I's successor was his son Kawaokaohele , who was succeeded by his own son Piʻilani Piʻilani was the first ruler of

1386-525: The term kahuna to refer to Anglican priests, and kahunapule to refer to both lay and ordained Anglican ministers. Craft kahuna were never prohibited; however, during the decline of native Hawaiian culture , many died and did not pass on their wisdom to new students. As an example, when the Hōkūleʻa was built to be sailed to the South Pacific to prove the voyaging capabilities of

1428-555: The traditional spelling “Lāhainā” is still considered proper. Lahaina was originally called Lele in Hawaiian and was known for its breadfruit trees. Lele means jump or fly. Albert Pierce Taylor explains its relationship to the area as the "flying piece of kuleana , that which sticks out from the sea". In 1915, James N.K. Keola, in an article in Mid-Pacific Magazine entitled "Old Lahaina", wrote: "Lahaina

1470-564: The translation of the Bible into Hawaiian. Lahaina was an important destination for 19th-century whalers who came to reprovision their ships with fresh water, fruit, potatoes and other vegetables. The town provided ample rest and recreation for their crew whose presence frequently led to conflicts with the local missionaries. On more than one occasion the conflict became so severe that sailors rioted. The British whaling ship John Palmer in 1827 shelled Lahaina. In response, Governor Hoapili built

1512-540: The wars in which for many years they had been engaged. From 1802 to 1803, Kamehameha I stationed his large fleet of peleleu war-canoes in Lahaina. While there, he wrote to the last independent ruler of Kauaʻi, Kaumualiʻi , asking him to acknowledge his overlordship. Although an invasion failed in 1804, Kaumualiʻi surrendered in 1810, uniting the Hawaiian Islands for the first time. Kamehameha II resided in Lahaina from December 1819 until February 1820, when he returned to Honolulu. American Protestant missionaries from

1554-451: Was built as a replacement courthouse and customhouse at a site near the old fort. A banyan tree ( Ficus benghalensis ) was planted near the site of Kamehameha I's first palace by William Owen Smith on April 24, 1873, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Christian missionaries. It survived as the oldest banyan tree in the state. On January 1, 1919, a major fire destroyed more than thirty buildings in Lahaina before it

1596-403: Was extinguished by residents. The 1919 fire led to the creation of the island-wide Maui Fire Department and adoption of fire safety standards. Over August 8–9, 2023, much of Lahaina was destroyed by a wildfire amid dry and windy conditions exacerbated by Hurricane Dora . As of June 24, 2024, 102 people had been confirmed dead, with many names listed. The survivors were forced to evacuate as

1638-512: Was initially declared illegal but was decriminalized in 1972. The first Christian missionaries arrived in 1820. Kaʻahumanu , one of the most powerful people in the Hawaiian nation, did not convert until 1825. Eleven years after missionaries arrived, she proclaimed laws against hula , chant , kava , and Hawaiian religion . The term was used in the 1959 film Gidget , in which "The Big Kahuna", played by Cliff Robertson ( Martin Milner in

1680-408: Was laid on September 14, 1828. In 1831, missionaries founded Lahainaluna Seminary (present-day Lahainaluna High School ) where Hawaiian boys and young men (among them historian David Malo ) were educated in the religion and in crafts such as carpentry, printing, engraving, and agriculture. The school published the first Hawaiian language newspaper in 1834. Teachers and students were instrumental in

1722-457: Was printed in 1843. The "L" in the West Maui mountains stands for Lahainaluna High School which was built in 1904. West Maui mountain valleys are visible from town. The valleys are the backdrop for "the 5 o'clock rainbow" that appears almost every day. Halloween was a major celebration, with crowds averaging between twenty and thirty thousand. Front Street was closed to vehicles, followed by

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1764-552: Was ranked one of the "Top Ten Greatest Streets" by the American Planning Association . The Banyan Court Park featured was the largest banyan tree in the United States, reaching 60 ft (18m) in height with 46 ancillary trunks covering an area of 1.94 acres (0.78 hectares). The 1831 fort retained reconstructed remains of its 20-foot (6.1 m) walls and original cannons. Near the harbor were

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