Episode 10 | Maui, Hawaii
Update as of Aug 9, 2023:
Our hearts are broken seeing the devastating loss of land, history, and life due to the wildfires in Maui. There are no words to describe the pain we feel when looking at some of the videos and pictures we've seen of the fire and the destruction it caused. Our hearts are with the people of Mauii and Hawaii. If you have found us through a search result related to the fires, please consider making a donation to the CNHA's Kākoʻo Maui fund where donations will be matched. More information can be found here.
Original article continues below…
Aloha! I hope you brought your walking shoes and your boarding passes because it’s time for another episode of Aimlessly Wandering! On this episode, we will be exploring historic Front Street in Lahaina Hawaii, which dates back to the early 1820s. But Before we jump into this episode, you should probably go back and watch Part 1 of our Hawaii adventures to see what you may have missed and how we got here!
With that out of the way, let’s jump into Part 2 - Exploring Lahaina Hawaii Here we go…
The Lahaina Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District that encompasses most of the community of Lahaina, Hawaii - Located on the west side of the island of Maui. Right in the heart of the district is Lahaina Banyan Court Park - home to the oldest living Banyan tree in Hawaii. The park is situated on the site of the Old Lahaina Fort which was built in 1831. In 1854, a courthouse was also built on the site.
To memorialize the 50th anniversary of the first American Protestant mission in Lahaina, a banyan tree seedling was planted on April 24, 1873. While it’s native to India, it is one of 60 types of fig trees in the Hawaiian islands. The banyan tree is the largest in Hawaii, and one of the largest in the United States.
Our next stop was the Wharf Cinema Center Shops, where we were welcomed by the music of Damien Awai.
The Wharf Cinema Shops are located across from the Banyan Tree and are home to a variety of shops and restaurants, including specialties and open-air courtyards. It is also home to the plantation museum. Outside the center, we found Polynesian artisans busy at work.
We found our way closer to the wharf and found the historic Pioneer Hotel & Pioneer Theatre, which was built in 1901, and a designated US National Historic Landmark. We were impressed at the beautiful courtyard of this hotel, including Alex the parrot, who was incredibly shy when we were visiting.
We passed by the historic Baldwin House, and then made our way along Front Street, admiring the views and the cool Pacific breeze.
While taking in the view along the sidewalk, we couldn’t help but notice crabs hanging out on the rocks. But, just as we thought that all was well, Adrienne faced an unexpected surprise. Thank Goodness for Hooters Wet-wipes. Thanks, Hooters.
We continued to make our way down front-street, admiring the historic buildings and passing the many storefronts that line the street.
Realizing we had worked up a thirst, and that we were still getting used to the jet lag, we were lucky enough to stumble across VigilLatte Artisan Coffee at just the right time. While were there, Adrienne got a bit of a show…
Our baristas were amazing, and the coffee was delicious. If you’re in Lahaina, we would for sure suggest you stop there. We paused for a minute alongside the ocean and took in the sites that the Bayfront had to offer before moving on to our next stop.
When you travel with Adrienne, you’ll know to expect that she’s determined to find unique and local bookstores. Hawaii was no different, we continued on determined to find the Friends of Lahaina Bookstore. Located in the Outlets of Maui Outlet mall, this used bookstore features a rather large collection of offerings, at a perfect price - perfect for your beach reads.
Of course, it comes as no surprise that Adrienne found a book she wanted.
We continued forward to the Lahaina Cannery Mall, which was situated on the old Baldwin packers plantation farm. It was there that we found one of many ABC convenience stores in the area. ABC Stores are a great place to get everyday essentials and souvenirs. The chain operates 73 stores, 57 of which are located in the state of Hawaii alone, so they are relatively easy to find. The best part is that the ones we stopped at carried alcohol, which is great if you want mimosas.
After walking almost 3 miles, we had worked up an appetite and took the suggestion of one of the guests we met at our resort to hit up Cheeseburger in Paradise, an easy-going American outpost with tiki decor, known obviously for their burgers. The first thing that was needed was cold tropical drinks….
Their burgers were tasty and the view was amazing. If you're looking for great burgers in Lahina, I'd definitely suggest it.
Of course, you can't have a meal without dessert, so it only made sense that we hit up the world-famous Honolulu Cookie Company. Founded in 1998, the company got its roots by making shortbread cookies in their signature pineapple shape, chosen for its symbolism of the hospitality associated with Hawaii. Their cookies make a perfect treat, or an even better souvenir to gift to people back home. After picking up our sweet treats, it was time to head back to the resort, and into the pool.
While Exploring Lahaina was certainly a highlight, it was only a small blip compared to what came the following day…
