Visit our sister property, The Plantation Inn. Located in the heart of historic Lahaina Town, our Maui bed and breakfast will surely delight you with its romantic charm and modern comforts. Click here to find out more.
One of the great pleasures of travel is learning about its history
-- the people, places, and events that have molded a community's
past and present. Visiting historical sites and breathing in the
smells, viewing the sights, or listening to a skilled and knowledgeable
historian/interpreter is always a highlight. (So is visiting a
museum filled with artifacts, images, and writings, or perhaps
stumbling on a site with archeological interest.)
History buffs can rejoice when they visit Maui. From the dawn of time to the present day, Maui's history is preserved, illuminated, and lovingly recreated in a variety of venues. Here is a brief overview.
Like most cultures, Hawaii's earliest history includes a "creation myth,"
a story explaining how our first people viewed their place in
the cosmos. Here on Maui a spectacular theatrical presentation,
featuring the most up-to-date technology and professional performers,
dramatizes Maui's creation myth and the history of Hawaii. The
show, recently recognized as "Hawaii's Best Show & Attraction"
by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, is called "Ulalena"
and is presented nightly at Lahaina's Maui Theatre.
Lahaina
Also located in Lahaina is the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, a community-based organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the rich cultural and historical legacy of Lahaina, once the royal capital of all of Hawaii. Here, the history of Lahaina in the missionary and whaling eras is preserved in the Baldwin Home, the residence of one of the first family of missionaries to arrive in Hawaii from New England. The Royal Coconut Grove gives the visitor a view of how the Hawaiian monarchy utilized and revered the gifts of this fertile land. Other points of interest in Lahaina are the Lahaina Prison, Brig Carthaginian, and Wo Hing Temple. The Lahaina Prison is remarkably intact. Here visitors can view the conditions under which miscreants were incarcerated over 150 years ago. The Brig Carthaginian, floating alongside the Lahaina Harbor wharf, is an accurate recreation of a typical whaling vessel. Wo Hing Temple memorializes the culture of Maui's Chinese workers, one of the major immigrant groups which became an important part of our island's history.
Mokuula
For many Mauians history is more than exhibits and photos, it
is a part of daily life. Individuals, organizations, businesses
and government agencies are all involved in preserving, protecting
and restoring historical sites throughout our island. Often these
efforts involve partnerships between many entities. One of the
most recent efforts illustrates this trend as well as the way
that Project Pookela impacts our community. As a result of the
Lahaina Historical Tour Pookela class, the employees of Kaanapali
Beach Hotel committed themselves to bringing together diverse
elements of our community in an effort to restore a Hawaiian site
to its former glory. The site is known as Mokuula, an area in
Lahaina which was once home to a royal residence and a fishpond
which supplied food to the populace. In the process of the validation
of Mokuula as a significant site, a second session of Pookela
classes assisted archeologists commissioned by the County of Maui.
Lori Sablas, Director of Pookela, and former Kaanapali Beach Hotel
cultural advisor Akoni Akana were the force behind the formation
of Friends of Mokuula, the organization created to see the site
to full restoration. Since then, Akana has left the hotel to take
on the directorship of the foundation, now fully granted. Friends
of Mokuula is now a dedicated partnership which in 2001 acquired
a lease on this important property. Plans are underway to restore
the area, to replant the grounds with native plant species and
to create an interpretive facility to educate the public.
Kaanapali
The Kaanapali Beach Resort Association offers a complimentary 90-minute historical tour every Tuesday and Friday that teaches guests about the history and legends that make Kaanapali, Maui a culturally significant place. Click here for more details.
For museum lovers, the Whalers Village Museum, located just steps away from Maui's Most Hawaiian Hotel, offers additional insights into the life of the thousands of sailors who manned the period's whaling vessels. Featuring re-created artifacts and original photos from the era, this historical display makes one of Lahaina's most colorful eras come to life.
Central Maui
For decades the phrase "Sugar is King of Hawaii" reverberated throughout Maui.
Massive tropical plantations devoted to sugar transformed the
landscape of Maui, and much of Hawaii, with green fields swaying
gently in the trade winds. Successive generations of immigrants
from around the globe worked the fields and mills, lived in plantation
camps which formed the backbone of our multi-cultural population.
A colorful display of the cultures of these immigrant workers
can be seen at the hotel's Kaanapali Mixed Plate Restaurant. Although
the heyday of sugar is now over, the history of this era is still
compelling. Much of that history is on view at the Alexander &
Baldwin (A&B) Sugar Museum located in Puunene, in central Maui.
Located near the Sugar Museum, in the historical town of Wailuku, is another of Maui's historical treasures. The Bailey House Museum, operated by the non-profit Maui Historical Society, is a lovingly and accurately restored home from the Missionary era. Here you can stroll through an excellent example of the New England influence on this period's architecture. Set in ancient Hawaiian royal grounds, this museum also features a selection of artifacts from the heyday of sugar plantation life on Maui.
Hana
Known far and wide as "The Last Hawaiian Place" the Hana area
of east Maui is the highlight of many Maui vacations. The drive
to Hana features miles of winding highway, picturesque one-lane
bridges and some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet.
Lush jungle growth crowds the roadside and scenic views of the
villages of Keanae and Waialua overlook modern day Hawaiians still
living traditional lifestyles. Hale Waiwai O Hana (The Hana Cultural
Center), located in Hana Town, highlights the history of the regional
ethnic culture and history through an outstanding collection of
Hawaiian artifacts.
Nature trails and interpretive programs are also available at the Garden of Eden Arboretum & Botanical Garden on the road to Hana. Native and exotic trees, flowers, and foliage are presented here in a unique and natural island setting.
Natural History
The lives of Hawaii's first people were inextricably intertwined with the land, plants, and animals. This is among the many reasons that Hawaii's natural history is also an exciting and interesting part of many visitors' experiences.
Haleakala
Opportunities to learn about Maui's natural history start at the
very top of Haleakala (House of the Sun), the 10,023-foot dormant
volcano which dominates the Island. Now a national park, Haleakala
is a sacred site to the Hawaiians. The park has hiking trails
through and around Haleakala's magnificent crater where visitors
can experience this natural wonder up close. The park's Visitor
Center also provides a variety of interpretive experiences, with
knowledgeable and dedicated personnel whose sole job is to bring
the natural and cultural history of Haleakala alive for today's
visitors.
Kula
A short way down the mountain from the crater, the Kula Botanical Gardens feature a six acre walking tour displaying the flora and fauna indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. Once again, interpretive materials are available to visitors.
Iao Valley
One of Maui's most impressive natural history attractions is found in Wailuku's
Iao Valley, an area rich in historical lore. Located in Wailuku,
just a short drive from the Bailey House Museum, the Hawaii Nature
Center combines classroom science, nature hikes, and a state-of-the-art
interpretive center to give its visitors an unequalled opportunity
to experience and understand Hawaii's natural history. Supported
by most leading Hawaii businesses, the Hawaii Nature Center is
a major educational asset for our community. Virtually every public
and private elementary school student on Maui is the recipient
of comprehensive natural history, science and environmental educational
programs developed by Hawaii Nature Center in conjunction with
Maui schools.
The history of Maui and its people is rich and varied. And, like Maui itself, unique. Fascinating and involving to visitors and Mauians alike, it enriches all who take the time to discover and learn.
Please take a moment to explore our Maui Web Links section for more online resources. Whatever your interest, we're pretty sure you will find it here.
Visit our sister property, 
One of the great pleasures of travel is learning about its history
-- the people, places, and events that have molded a community's
past and present. Visiting historical sites and breathing in the
smells, viewing the sights, or listening to a skilled and knowledgeable
historian/interpreter is always a highlight. (So is visiting a
museum filled with artifacts, images, and writings, or perhaps
stumbling on a site with archeological interest.) 
For many Mauians history is more than exhibits and photos, it
is a part of daily life. Individuals, organizations, businesses
and government agencies are all involved in preserving, protecting
and restoring historical sites throughout our island. Often these
efforts involve partnerships between many entities. One of the
most recent efforts illustrates this trend as well as the way
that Project Pookela impacts our community. As a result of the
Lahaina Historical Tour Pookela class, the employees of Kaanapali
Beach Hotel committed themselves to bringing together diverse
elements of our community in an effort to restore a Hawaiian site
to its former glory. The site is known as Mokuula, an area in
Lahaina which was once home to a royal residence and a fishpond
which supplied food to the populace. In the process of the validation
of Mokuula as a significant site, a second session of Pookela
classes assisted archeologists commissioned by the County of Maui.
Lori Sablas, Director of Pookela, and former Kaanapali Beach Hotel
cultural advisor Akoni Akana were the force behind the formation
of Friends of Mokuula, the organization created to see the site
to full restoration. Since then, Akana has left the hotel to take
on the directorship of the foundation, now fully granted. Friends
of Mokuula is now a dedicated partnership which in 2001 acquired
a lease on this important property. Plans are underway to restore
the area, to replant the grounds with native plant species and
to create an interpretive facility to educate the public. 
Known far and wide as "The Last Hawaiian Place" the Hana area
of east Maui is the highlight of many Maui vacations. The drive
to Hana features miles of winding highway, picturesque one-lane
bridges and some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet.
Lush jungle growth crowds the roadside and scenic views of the
villages of Keanae and Waialua overlook modern day Hawaiians still
living traditional lifestyles. Hale Waiwai O Hana (The Hana Cultural
Center), located in Hana Town, highlights the history of the regional
ethnic culture and history through an outstanding collection of
Hawaiian artifacts. 
Opportunities to learn about Maui's natural history start at the
very top of Haleakala (House of the Sun), the 10,023-foot dormant
volcano which dominates the Island. Now a national park, Haleakala
is a sacred site to the Hawaiians. The park has hiking trails
through and around Haleakala's magnificent crater where visitors
can experience this natural wonder up close. The park's Visitor
Center also provides a variety of interpretive experiences, with
knowledgeable and dedicated personnel whose sole job is to bring
the natural and cultural history of Haleakala alive for today's
visitors. 
