Lahaina: royal capital and whaling town

Lahaina was the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom from 1820 to 1845 and, in the 1840s and 1850s, the busiest whaling port in the Pacific, with more than 400 ships a year at its peak. The August 8, 2023 wildfire destroyed most of the historic town, including the Baldwin Home and Pioneer Inn; the famous banyan tree survived and is regrowing.

• Royal capital: Kamehameha I kept a residence here, and under Kamehameha II and III Lahaina was the kingdom's capital until it moved to Honolulu in 1845.
• Whaling: American whalers arrived from 1819; about 100 ships called a year by 1824 and more than 400 a year at the 1850s peak. Whaling declined after the 1860s.
• Landmarks before the fire: the 1834 Baldwin Home (the missionary doctor's house and museum), the 1910 Wo Hing Temple, the 1901 Pioneer Inn, the old fort in Banyan Court and Waiola Church with its royal cemetery.
• The 2023 fire: on August 8, 2023, a wind-driven fire killed about 100 people and burned most of historic Lahaina. Rebuilding is ongoing; the 1873 banyan tree, scorched, has been sprouting new growth.
• Visiting today: West Maui is open. Respect closed areas and residents still rebuilding; Kāʻanapali, Nāpili and Kapalua are nearby.

Sources: NPS: Lahaina Historic District · National Geographic: What was lost in Lahaina

Last checked Nov. 1, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.