Visit Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

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NOTE: Several businesses in Lahaina are open, including restaurants like Mala Ocean Tavern, although some areas affected by the wildfires remain closed to the public; it's best to check individual businesses for availability before visiting. Lāhainā is a town on Maui, Hawaii, and the gateway to the famous Kaanapali and Kapalua beach resorts north of the community. Until permanently moving to Honolulu, Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. In the 19th century, Lahaina was the center of the global whaling industry with many sailing ships anchored in at its waterfront; today a score of pleasure craft make their home there. A series of wildfires destroyed approximately 80% of Lahaina in 2023, resulting in the deaths of 102 people. As of Oct 2024 most of the debris from the fire has been cleaned up, and crews are almost done restoring utility access to all impacted lots. In 1831 a fort was built for defense, and the remains of its 20-foot (6.1 m) walls and original cannons can still be seen. Also nearby is the historical Pioneer Inn. The Baldwin House is also close by. The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts the PGA Tour's SBS Championship every January. The many restaurants along Front Street offer a broad variety of food and entertainment, making the street the hub of West Maui's night life. Halloween was a major celebration in Lahaina and has become a signature event in the past decades with crowds averaging between 20,000 to 30,000.[7] The evening starts off closing Front Street to cars so theKeiki Paradeof children in costumes can begin. Eventually adults in costumes join in and by dark, the street changes to one big party, which has earned the event the title of "Mardi Gras of the Pacific". However as of 2008 this celebration has been curtailed due to a the objections of a group of cultural advisers who have upheld the permits necessary as they feel Halloween is an affront to the Hawaiian culture. In 2009 the event was poorly attended as the street was not closed and no costume contest took place. 2010 will not have any organized events as permits have not been allowed for the contests or street closures. Every November, Lahaina hosts the Maui Invitational, one of the top early-season tournaments in college basketball. Lahaina also hosts the finish of the Vic-Maui Yacht Race, the longest offshore sailboat race on the West Coast, which starts in Victoria, BC, Canada.

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