From its days as Maui, then Hawaii’s, royal capital to its days as a major Pacific whaling center, to a modern tourist and historical area, the town of Lahaina is a city with a rich history and culture. The name means “merciless sun,” appropriately because Lahaina is one of the driest parts of Maui. Whaling was one flourishing industry in Lahaina while sugar production was another, beginning in 1860. A lighthouse was constructed in 1840 to assist whaling ships and is now Hawaii’s oldest. Lahaina’s famous Banyon tree was planted in 1873 by the sheriff of Maui to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Protestant missionaries. While badly singed from the recent fires, the blocks-long tree is still standing. Until recently, Lahaina was a busy seaport and tourist town … [Read more...] about History Of Lahaina