Lāhainā

Lāhainā was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1820 to 1845 and the dominant Pacific whaling port of the 19th century. Front Street, which ran along the waterfront, held the oldest Banyan tree in Hawaiʻi (planted 1873, covering two-thirds of an acre) and some of the state's most historic architecture.

On August 8, 2023, a fast-moving wildfire destroyed most of Lāhainā, killing 97 people in one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history. The fire burned through the historic district, Front Street, and thousands of homes. The community has been in recovery ever since.

The broader west Maui coast — Kāʻanapali (4 miles north), Kapalua (8 miles north), Nāpili, and Honokōwai — was unaffected by the fire and remains fully open. The beaches here are some of the best on Maui: Black Rock at Kāʻanapali for snorkeling, Kapalua Bay for calm swimming, DT Fleming Beach for bodysurfing.

Visiting respectfully: the burn area around Lāhainā town is still an active recovery zone. The community welcomes visitors who spend money locally and treat the area with care. Watch for road signs directing visitors. The ocean, the mountains, and the west Maui sunset are still here.