A Day in Lahaina Town

Ahhh Lahaina - where to begin? Honestly, I think both my husband and I would agree hands down that the historic town of Lahaina is one of our favorite places on the entire island. It's also the reason we chose to stay at Lahaina Shores Beach Resort on both our trips. Now, don't get confused. Technically, Lahaina covers a large portion of west Maui including the popular resort areas of Ka'anapali all the way up to Kapalua. But, for the purposes of this post I'll be talking about the actual "town" area of Lahaina which lines Front Street. 

Lahaina is one of the most historic towns on the island and dates back thousands of years. The town served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845 and is also known for its location on the port once popular for whaling. Today, there is something for everyone to discover and the streets are lined with art galleries, shops, restaurants, and historic sites. Similar to the Road to Hana, Lahaina town is more of an experience and visitors often don't go with one particular destination in mind but rather to stroll the boardwalk and see where the day takes them. Be warned this is one of the busiest areas on the island and parking can be a real pain. There is some street parking and a few smaller lots but they do fill up quick. That's one of the main reasons we love staying in Lahaina because we get to experience it multiple nights in a row just by simply strolling down a few blocks from our hotel. 

There is so much to do and see in this tiny town and I highly recommend spending a least a few hours (if not longer) here. I've put together a few of my favorite things to do, see, and eat while you're there. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.

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Down the Hatch

Dining 

Front Street is lined with a great mix of restaurants ranging from quick budget-friendly stops to more upscale romantic establishments. Depending on what time of the year you go, there may be a bit of a wait at some of the more popular spots. We've gone in both August and February and haven't had an issue either time. However, I do suggest making a reservation for some of the nicer places as it just makes things easier. A few of our favorite places to eat are:

• Down the Hatch
• Kimo's (go at sunset and request to sit on the rooftop deck)
• Bubba Gump Shrimp 
• Monkey Business (great happy hour specials)
• Cheeseburger in Paradise
• Aloha Mixed Plate (not directly downtown but so worth it)
• Ululani's Shave Ice
• Lappert's Ice Cream Store (get the Dole Whip!) 

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Maui Pineapple Store

Shopping

If you think there's a lot of restaurants in this town, there's just as many, if not more, shops and art galleries. We love spending at least one evening popping in and out of whichever shops pique our interest. Even though we do a lot of window shopping, we always pick up a few souvenirs for our family as well as a shirt (or two) for both of us.

If you're into art you'll also find over 40 upscale galleries offering a variety of mediums. On Friday evenings the town hosts "art night" from 7-10 p.m. and many of the artists are present at the shops if you have questions or special requests.

A few of our favorite shops are:

• Maui Pineapple Store
• Honolulu Cookie Company 
• ABC Store (great for traditional Hawaiian souvenirs and treats)
• Honolua Surf Co. (our favorite shop for clothes)
• Rip Curl 
• Whaler's General Store

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Banyan Tree

This famous tree is in the center of town and can't be missed. It measures 60 feet high and takes up an entire block. It's actually one big tree but almost looks like a small forest with its multiple trunks. There are benches underneath the tree's canopy if you need to escape the sun for a bit. Often there are arts and crafts vendors that will set up shop in the park as well.

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Boardwalk

Lahaina town is located directly on the water making it an ideal location to catch some amazing sunset views. We love strolling along the boardwalk at night and listening to the waves crashing on shore. We'd also grab our Dole Whip or shave ice after dinner and sit on one of the many benches and just enjoy the evening people watching.

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Whale Watching Tour

During the winter months, Lahaina offers a number of whale watching tours that leave out of the harbor. We booked ours with Pacific Whale Foundation and while we didn't see the giant breeching whales often depicted on the brochures, it was still a great day on the water and we got to see quite a few whales spouting and popping out of the water. Pacific Whale Foundation is also centered on conducting research and educating the public about these majestic creatures and a portion of their sales go to support this effort. The guides are all very knowledgeable and offered a lot of education information throughout the tour. 

The harbor hosts a number of other fishing and snorkeling tours which are available year round. It's also a fun spot to just walk around and admire all the different boats. 

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Nightlife 

One thing you'll quickly learn about when visiting Maui is the idea of island time. Much of the island tends to shut down when the sun goes down but Lahaina is one place that stays hopping well into the night. If you're looking for more of a nightlife scene this is the place to be with multiple restaurants offering live music. Down the Hatch is relatively new to the scene but knows how to keep the party going and hosts various events throughout the month including silent discos, pajama parties, and DJs spinning tunes into the late hours of the night. 

Warren and Annabelle's magic dinner show is also located downtown and there is a reason it's been named Maui's favorite nightlife. This show was worth every penny and the magic tricks were mind-blowing! The start of the night is an adventure in itself as you enter Annabelle's Parlor in a very unique way for pupus (appetizers) and cocktails. I won't give it all away because you seriously need to go! During the cocktail hour my husband and I were chosen (we must have had that newlywed glow) to play a special part in the show which made it even more fun. 

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Traditional Hawaiian Luau

We've actually never attended a luau while on Maui as our last trip we went to Paradise Cove Luau while on Oahu. However, it's definitely something you should experience at least once. The food is traditional Hawaiian fare and, depending on which one you go to, you often get to witness the kālua a traditional Hawaiian cooking method that utilizes an imi, or underground oven. There are a few options near Lahaina but the Old Lahaina Luau (located a bit farther down on Front Street) is known to be the best. This would be a great way to end your day after exploring the rest of the town in the afternoon. 

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History

I'll admit, we aren't huge history buffs, but if you are Lahaina is a great place to learn more about the traditional Hawaiian culture and what put this bustling town on the map in the first place. Visitors can pick up a map at the Visitor's Center and take a free, historic walking tour which highlights sites such as:

• The Baldwin Home Museum
• Old Lahaina Lighthouse
• Courthouse
• Old Prison 
• Buddhist Church

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Whether you're staying in Lahaina, or simply passing through for the day, this tiny town has so much to offer and you're sure to find something to suit everyone's interests. If you've been there before I'd love to hear what your favorite part of the town is!