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Lahaina, Maui

Hawaiian translation- Lahaina: Cruel Sun

Aloha! MauiBeachfront.com, your Maui vacation rental specialist, welcomes you to Lahaina, a colorful, lively little port town located on the western coast of Maui. It is one of Maui vacation visitors’ must-see destinations. More than 75% of all Maui visitors travel to this historic town that is nestled between the calm waters of the Auau Channel facing Lana'i Island and the fertile peaks and valleys of the West Maui mountain range known as Mauna Kahalawai. The name, Lahaina, means “cruel sun”. Some believed the town was named Lahaina because of the frequent droughts in the area long ago.

However, abundant freshwater streams, verdant valleys with fertile volcanic soil, marvelous, warm sunny days and a pristine sea greeted the first Polynesian settlers to this region thousands of years ago and still greet visitors to Lahaina today. This region, called West Maui, was the first area on Maui to be developed for tourism, and it remains one of the most popular. MauiBeachfront.com offers a fabulous penthouse rental at Lahaina Roads, an attractive oceanfront Maui condo resort that hugs the shoreline close to Lahaina. The building parallels the ocean for outstanding views of the Pacific and Lahaina Harbor.

Lahaina is one of Hawaii's oldest and most historic cities. It was so favored by Hawaii's royalty for its climate, and location that Kamehameha I who conquered Maui in 1794 named Lahaina the capital of his new kingdom. Lahaina remained the capital of Hawaii until Kamehameha III moved the seat of government to Honolulu in 1840.

During the 1800’s, Lahaina was a popular Pacific port-of-call for whalers and merchants from New England. By the 1840s, hundreds of ships anchored at Lahaina making it the whaling capital of the Pacific Ocean. Today the old Nantucket style buildings on Front Street which fronts the ocean have been converted into quaint shops, art galleries, fine restaurants and nightclubs.

As whaling declined in the second half of the 1800’s, agriculture became the dominant industry in the Lahaina area. Sugar and later pineapple plantations flourished in West Maui. Immigrants from China, Japan, and the Philippines were brought to Maui to work in the sugar cane fields after a smallpox epidemic killed many native Hawaiians. Lahaina has provided a home for many cultures over the centuries and the influence of these Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants can still be seen throughout Lahaina.

The rise of the tourist industry in Maui brought about the revitalization of Lahaina with fabulous Maui accommodations including Maui condos and Maui Hotels. The folks at MauiBeachfront.com want you to experience this vibrant and exciting destination for sightseers, honey-mooners, history buffs, ocean lovers, shoppers, and fun-seekers. Lahaina has numerous sites and artifacts from its royal Hawaiian past, its whaling and missionary era, and its days as a multi-ethnic plantation town. Lahaina is designated as an official historical district boasting over 30 historical landmarks. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation has worked diligently to preserve Lahaina’s colorful past and its historic buildings, such as the Baldwin House, a missionary’s home built in the 1830s. In addition, Lahaina offers visitors traditional Hawaiian entertainment, unique theatrical productions, nightclubs, award winning restaurants, famous art galleries, and boutique shops. The Lahaina Town Action Committee produces ten major events annually in addition to ongoing promotions and festivals, which showcase the diverse cultural aspects of the town of Lahaina.

At the north end of Lahaina Town sits the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Once a working pineapple cannery, it has been converted into a contemporary, fully enclosed, air-conditioned mall featuring more than fifty stores and restaurants.

The south end of Front Street leads to the Lahaina Harbor, which is the launching site for many water sport activities including excursions to the outer islands. The Lahaina Visitor Center across from Lahaina Harbor is an excellent first stop in Lahaina. There, you can pick up information about museums, restaurants, activities, Maui historic inns, Maui rentals and much more. The visitor center is generally open from 9am to 5pm.

Many visitors to Maui come for the beaches and there are a number of popular beaches and beach parks within close proximity to Lahaina. Launiupoko Beach is one of the local favorites. It has great swimming and a large area for picnics and BBQ’s. The spectacular Hanaka’o’o Beach Park has long uninterrupted stretches of golden sand, Puamana Beach Park tends to attract locals looking to surf and BBQ, and Baby Beach, is a great favorite with families since the reef forms a giant, shallow, salt water pond where kids can paddle and play. All are within a mile or two of Lahaina. Golf, swim, snorkel, scuba dive, hike, horseback ride, shop, dine out, go on a sunset cruise…the list goes on. There is just so much to do in Lahaina and the surrounding area.

And a great location from which to experience Lahaina is from our Mauibeachfront.com featured property at Lahaina Roads located at the northern tip of Front Street. Lahaina Roads is an unpretentious, low rise, oceanfront Maui condo and our oceanfront penthouse unit with an outstanding wrap around lanai offers panoramic views of miles and miles of ocean including magnificent views of Molokai and Lanai Islands. It’s any easy walk into town. Make Lahaina and our Lahaina condo an integral part of your memorable Maui vacation.

Mauibeachfront.com wishes you, Aloha!

Maui Beachfront Rentals is a Maui vacation rental management company representing individual owners of preferred resort condominiums and deluxe homes on the island of Maui. Our service is personal, our standards high and our rates competitive! MauiBeachfront.com has your Maui vacation rental.