Lahaina Historic District facts for kids
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Lahaina Historic District
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Old Lahaina Courthouse in 2010
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 Location in Lahaina, Hawaii
Location in Maui
Location in Hawaii
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| Location | W side of Maui on HI 30, Lahaina, Hawaii |
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| Area | 1,671 acres (676 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000302 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | December 29, 1962 |
The Lahaina Historic District is a special area in Lahaina, Hawaii, located on the west side of the island of Maui. It is known as a National Historic Landmark District, which means it's a very important place in American history. This district was recognized in 1962.
Lahaina is special because it still looks a lot like a busy port town from the 1800s. During that time, it was a major center for whaling ships in the Pacific Ocean. It was also one of the capital cities for the Kingdom of Hawaii.
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Protecting Lahaina's Past
Two important people, Donn Beach and Pete Wimberly, helped create rules to protect and restore the old buildings in Lahaina. These rules made sure that new construction would fit in with the historic look of the town. Because of its unique history, Lahaina was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1962.
The historic district covers a large area. To the north, it reaches Puʻuona Point, and to the south, it goes to Makila Point. On the east side, it's bordered by the hills above the town. The western boundary stretches all the way to the island of Lānaʻi. This wide area includes the "Lahaina Roads," which was a safe harbor where ships could anchor. This harbor was key to the town's growth in the 1800s.
Lahaina's Royal and Whaling Days
Before European explorers came in the late 1700s, Lahaina was a popular place for the kings of Maui to live. In 1795, Kamehameha I arrived here when he started to conquer Maui. Later, in 1819, Kamehameha II also made Lahaina his home.
That same year, the first whaling ships arrived, and Lahaina quickly became economically important. Between 1840 and 1855, Lahaina was even more popular than Oahu for whaling ships. This was because it had a better deep-water harbor where large ships could easily anchor. When Kamehameha III became king of Hawaii in 1825, he chose Lahaina as his capital. He liked it more than the busier city of Honolulu. However, in the 1860s, the whaling industry started to decline, and Lahaina's importance as a port town faded.
Historic Buildings of Lahaina
When the Lahaina Historic District was created in 1962, nine specific buildings were highlighted for their important role in the town's history. These buildings help tell the story of Lahaina.
| No | Name | Year | What Makes It Special | Picture |
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| 1 | Baldwin House | 1835 | This two-story house was used by early missionaries, including Rev. Dwight Baldwin. |  |
| 2 | Old Spring House | 1823 | Rev. William Richards built this to cover a spring. It provided fresh water for the community. |  |
| 3 | Court House | 1859 | This building replaced an earlier palace used for government work. It was damaged in an 1858 windstorm. It was rebuilt in 1925 and looks quite different now. |  |
| 4 | Old Prison (Hale Paʻahao) | 1852 | The main cell block was finished in 1852, and the coral-block wall around it was done in 1854. The original cell block burned in 1958 but was rebuilt in 1959, along with the wooden gate house. |  |
| 5 | Waineʻe (now Waiola) Church | 1953 | Construction began in 1828 and finished in 1832. It was destroyed by strong winds twice and by fire in 1894. The current building was completed in 1953, when its name changed to Waiola. Many Hawaiian royals are buried in the cemetery, which dates back to 1823. |  |
| 6 | Hale Aloha | 1858 | This meeting house was completed in 1858. It replaced an older stone church from 1823. It served as both a school and a church and was restored in the 1980s. |  |
| 7 | United States Marine Hospital | 1842 | The writer Herman Melville mentioned that one of his shipmates died at this hospital in 1843. It was sold in 1865 and later became a school for girls, then a church office. |  |
| 8 | Maria Lanakila Catholic Church | 1858 | This church was built in 1858, replacing an earlier one from 1846. The current building was put up in 1928 on the same foundation and is said to be an exact copy of the 1858 structure. |  |
| 9 | Pioneer Hotel | 1901 | This was the very first hotel in Lahaina. |  |
Gallery
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Old Spring House, 1823
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Old Prison yard & gatehouse, 1830s
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Old Prison outer wall, 1830s
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Old Prison cellblock, 1830s
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Baldwin House, 1834–1849
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Baldwin House with grape arbor, 1834–1849
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U.S. Seamen's Hospital, 1843
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Maria Lanakila Catholic Church, 1858
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Hale Aloha in 1966, before restoration
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Hale Aloha with bell tower, 1858
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Hale Aloha seaward side, 1858
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Old Courthouse, 1859
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Pioneer Inn front desk, 1901
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Pioneer Inn, 1901
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Waiola Church, renamed & rebuilt 1954
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Registered National Historic Landmark plaque, 1964
