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hailing from places as far away as China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Germany and Scandinavia. That's why Maui is called the melting pot of the Pacific.

Whales were not plentiful in Hawaiian waters at this time, but Lahaina served as a safe harbor from which ships would set off to hunt whales in the North Pacific. The town provided a place to anchor, restock supplies and get medical attention. Today, whale hunting has given way to whale watching, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and sunset cruises.

Lahaina remains the bridge to Maui's past. Lahaina's historic homes, buildings, churches and waterfront look much the same as they did when it was a whaling village. One of the town's most striking landmarks, a giant banyan tree that shades two thirds of an acre and is the largest tree of its kind in the Hawaiian Islands, has ancient roots. The giant branches that re-root themselves are romantically lighted, and are a favorite rendezvous for lovers and friends alike. The most popular attraction is "A Walking Tour Through Lahaina's Past." The journey opens with a chant at the sacred Hauola birthing stone near Lahaina Harbor, then travels along the pathways of the past revealing the story of the historic town, with stops at a prison built in 1853 to jail rowdy sailors, the Old Lahaina Courthouse, the (missionary) Richard's House, and the Wo Hing Temple Museum where you can view some of Edison's first silent movies.

Maui has been voted "Best Island in the World" for nine consecutive years, and is the only place you can get a "just mauied" T shirt. But beware, because a good friend of mine went there thirty years ago on a vacation and according to her, she's not coming back anytime soon.

http://www.visitmaui.com/agent s/history.html

Learn more about this author, Kathy Stemke.
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