LAHAINA MAUI, HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

LAHAINA: Lahaina's unique seaside setting tells a tale of how the bustling whaling industry of the 19th century met headlong with Protestant missionaries who were determined to clean the town of debauchery and drunkenness. Today, Lahaina is Maui's historical attraction and certainly one of the state's most visited destinations. No matter from what end visitors browse along the famed, dockside Front Street, strollers get a look at the melding of three different cultures: whalers, missionaries and native Hawaiians.

At one end is the massive banyan tree and landmark Pioneer Inn. On the opposite end is the Wo Hing Temple which served as the headquarters for Chee King Tong, a worldwide Chinese fraternal society. The ornate structure, built early in the century, was in danger of being demolished. It was restored in the early 1980's and has been open to the public since 1984. Next door is the Cook's House which shows the Edison films, an amazing depiction of turn-o-the-century life in Hawaii, reportedly the first moving pictures made in the islands.

Near the center of Front Street is the Baldwin Home Museum, the quarters of Dr. Dwight Baldwin and his family from 1836 to 1868. The museum contains period artifacts and is next door to the Masters Reading Room at the corner of Dickenson Street.

The old Lahaina Luau: a traditional feast and authentic Hawaiian music and dance.

The old Lahaina Luau is consistently rated one of the top events of its kind in the state. Its reputation is based upon an emphasis on tradition, gracious hospitality and excellent service. The Luau evening begins with a shell lei greeting and a tropical drink at the open bar. Guests are then seated as they prefer, either at tables or on the ground, as is customary for a traditional Luau. The enchanting musical program that follows traces the hula and Hawaiian history from its roots in the Marquesas Islands of Tahiti to the beautiful, graceful hulas of more modern times.

The Luau is located along a tranquil stretch of beach in Lahaina town which was, more than 300 years ago, the center of royal life and the home of the great chiefs of Maui. It was called “Lele” in the ancient chants. Here, the great chief Kahekili made his home, drawing to his court the pick of Maui's aspiring young ali'i and warriors. In the years following, Kamehameha the Great would spend pleasant days at “Lele” enjoying the famed waves of the royal surfs' Uhailio and Uo.

Pigs, chickens, fruit and vegetables were raised from the area's rich and cultivated lands, and, as is traditional with royalty in most cultures, lavish entertainment and feasts were offered to chiefly guests. Arrangements for such a feast could take many days while underground ovens (“imu”) were made ready for the pigs, taro, sweet potato and fish. Additionally, foods such as poi, a staple of the ancient diet, and breadfruit (ulu), a special delicacy which once grew profusely in Lahaina, were prepared.

The royal guests were seated comfortably around the dancing area as the drums and chanting called forth the dancers. Then, as they do at the nightly Old Lahaina Luau, the dancers interpreted the chanted stories with gestures, expressions and movements. This is the traditional hula, with love and reverence, as it was meant to be performed.