Lahaina is a town on the western end of the island of Maui, Hawaii that abounds with restaurants, night clubs, and souvenir shops. Because the western end of Maui is a popular vacation destination, tourism is important to Lahaina. Most tourists, however, eschew Lahaina during the day, choosing instead the beaches of Kaanapali; but life in Lahaina after sunset is quite active.
PLACE TO VISIT
Lahaina is not known as a sightseeing destination, and instead is focused mainly on food, souvenirs, and night life. In the course of those activities, however, there are a couple of attractions worthy of attention:
PGA Tour's Mercedes-Benz Championship - The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts the golf tournament every January.
Vic-Maui Yacht Race - The longest offshore sailboat race on the West Coast which starts in Victoria, BC, Canada and ends in Lahaina
Banyan Tree - Considered the center of the city, this huge tree occupies an entire city block. There are a couple of historic places around as well
Carthaginian 2 - A replica of a whaling ship. Great to look at, especially at sunset. Kids will especially enjoy it.
Old Lahaina Luau - Widely respected as the best and most authentic Hawaiian luau in the Pacific, the Old Lahaina Luau is a feast for the eyes and stomach. Enjoy fire dancing, hula, tasty drinks and a large assortment of tropical dishes.
Take a cruise - Various boats can take you on dinner cruises, whale watching cruises, fishing rides, or to the island of Lanai. Look for good deals but beware of the "too good to be true" offers, they probably are. Note that during the whale season you'll see whales no matter where you go so getting a separate whale watching cruise may not be necessary. On the other hand, they are usually cheap.
Sugar Cane Train - Officially known as Lahaina Kaanapali Railroad, this is the only train in the whole of Hawaii. It shuttles between Lahaina and Kaanapali. If you choose, you can take a dinner train. $21 adults roundtrip, $15 children 3-12.
Halloween in Lahaina - Lahaina is home to one of the wildest Halloween parties on the islands. 25-35,000 costumed participants fill the streets each year to enjoy the jovial festivities. Some of the more elaborate costumes have taken over a year to make, which adds to the complexity of the colorful scene.
HOW TO REACH
Most visitors arrive on Maui by plane via Kahului airport (OGG). The vast majority rents a car there and drives to various Maui destinations, including Lahaina. The Honoapiilani Highway (route 30) is a very picturesque drive along the shore which gets you directly to Lahaina. The drive from the airport is about 40 minutes, though the road may get congested sometimes.
Some people fly to West Maui airport, which is closer to Lahaina (about 15-20 minutes drive).
By boat - Cruise ships sometimes anchor near Lahaina and passengers get tendered to shore.
