Hauola Stone

Lahaina


Well, that doesn't look entirely comfortable. At the northern shoreline of the small plaza behind the Lahaina Public Library, look beneath the water’s surface for the middle of three lava stones. In the 14th and 15th centuries, royal women gave birth to the next generation of chiefs and royalty here.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Lahaina attractions

1. Brick Palace

0.03 MILES

The first Western-style building in Hawaii, the Brick Palace was erected by Kamehameha I around 1800 to keep watch on arriving ships. Despite the name,…

2. Lahaina Public Library Grounds

0.04 MILES

The gardens here were once a royal taro field, where Kamehameha II toiled in the mud to instill in his subjects the dignity of labor. Today they offer a…

3. Lahaina Lighthouse

0.05 MILES

Directly in front of the Pioneer Inn is the site of the first lighthouse in the Pacific. It was commissioned in 1840 to aid whaling ships pulling into the…

4. Masters’ Reading Room

0.07 MILES

Built in the 1830s, this coral block and stone building was used by ship captains as a club for hanging out between seafaring adventures. Restored in 1970…

5. Baldwin House

0.08 MILES

Built in 1834–35, the Baldwin House is the oldest surviving Western-style building in Lahaina. It served as the home of Reverend Dwight Baldwin, a…

6. Old Lahaina Courthouse

0.09 MILES

Tucked in the shadows of the iconic banyan tree, Lahaina’s 1859 courthouse is a repository of history and art. Its location beside the harbor is no…

7. Lahaina Heritage Museum

0.1 MILES

This small museum on the 2nd floor of the Old Lahaina Courthouse celebrates Lahaina’s prominent role in Maui’s history. Exhibits spotlight ancient…

8. Banyan Tree Park

0.11 MILES

A leafy landmark (the largest tree in Hawaii) stands in the center of Lahaina. Remarkably, it sprawls across the entire square. Planted as a seedling on…