Lahaina is about a 10 minute drive from Ka'anapali. We drove there several times during our Maui trip. One of the most famous sites is the Banyan, or ficus benghalensis, tree in downtown Lahaina. It takes up the entire block, so its breadth is difficult to adequately capture on film. According to the signs near the tree, it was only 8 feet tall when it was originally brought over from India in 1873 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Lahaina's first Protestant Mission. The magnificent Banyan tree covers the equivalent of approximately 2/3 of an acre.

Some places of interest in Lahaina include the front of the Bubba Gump restaurant, where you can pretend to be Forrest Gump sitting on a bench with his shoes and suitcase, complete with the requisite box of chocolates. There are several ABC and other stores to pick up souvenirs for friends and family back home. Be sure to check out Na Hoku for unique Hawaiian jewelry. There is also a large selection of restaurants to choose from in downtown Lahaina. None of the restaurants where we dined were particularly memorable or noteworthy.

On one of our trips to Lahaina, we embarked on a Lahaina historical self-guided tour. The Masters Reading Room was originally a storeroom for missionaries and their families. Ship captains used the facility as an "officers club," while the sailors filled the grog shops. The unique building is made of coral blocks and blocks of hard "blue rock," and has reportedly been preserved exactly as built by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the organization which currently occupies the space. We stopped by the Ho Hing Society, which was a social hall built as a place to worship and mingle for Chinese workers, who were brought to Maui to harvest sugarcane. I enjoyed witnessing a part of Asian American history. We stopped to take pictures of the remains of the old fort walls of Lahaina, which looked old and crumbly. The fort formerly protected the royal capital in the 1820s. Our last official stop in Lahaina was the coral wall. Upon conclusion of our tour, we saw a ship in the Lahaina harbor.

Lahaina buzzes with a happy energy. The setting is lovely, and no matter how busy it is, you always feel relaxed. Lahaina loosely translates into "cruel sun." I’ve been there in the summer, and that’s no lie! The trade winds that keep the rest of the island cool and comfortable flow around the north and south ends of the island, missing Lahaina completely. The summer season in Lahaina can be stifling. It is situated on a natural harbor and, at one point in its long history, served as a whaling port and the royal capitol.

Lahaina is quaint and has retained much of its historical charm. The harbor is a hub for many different boating activities. There was a fishing tournament going on while we were there. It was fun to watch the fishermen bring their catch in to be weighed.

Front Street is the main drag lined with shops and restaurants. Okay, let’s get down to the business of shopping. Shopping in Lahaina is fabulous. Every other store on Front Street is a jewelry store. I was in heaven and finally purchased the black Tahitian pearl pendant of my dreams. I got a screamin' deal on it too. Hawaii Jewelry, ask for Michael. If you are looking for a new swimsuit, this is the place to shop. If you can’t find one here, you won’t find one anywhere. I’m partial to Maui Waterwear. There are clothing stores that run the gamut, from Tommy Bahama to el cheapo and everything in between. There is a Hilo Hattie’s here, but it reminds me of an island version of JC Penny. Art galleries abound, but be prepared to leave a chunk of change. You can also buy locally made island goods, like a carved bone Maui fishhook for your favorite skateboarder, shark-tooth jewelry, and lots of things made from Koa wood.

If you get hungry, there are lots of restaurants to choose from. My favorite is Kimo’s. They make the best Lava Flow on the planet. If you are an ice-cream lover, make sure you try a scoop from Lappert’s.

Lahaina is definitely a party town, and things get livelier as the evening wears on. I have heard that Halloween in Lahaina is really something to behold. There is a parade somewhat akin to Mardi Gras. The people who live on Maui really get into Halloween. It’s kind of refreshing and makes you feel like a kid again.

The downside to Lahaina is everybody loves it. Consequently, it is always crowded, especially on cruise-ship day. Parking is a nightmare. We did discover the secret free three-hour parking lot. It’s on the corner of Prison and Front streets. Be prepared to fight for a spot, though. It will take you more than one trip to get the complete Lahaina experience, but that’s a good thing.

LAHAINA is where history comes alive. Lahaina has witnessed all of Maui's cultural changes through the years. Long before Westerners arrived, it was a dwelling place of Maui royalty. From 1820s thru 1860s, Lahaina was the principal anchorage of Pacific whalers, where the ships berthed in the harbor were described as a "forest of masts." It was here, in 1823, that the first band of New England Protestant missionaries landed, influencing every aspect of Maui life. In 1966, 37 acres of Lahaina was declared a National Historical Landmark. Today, visitors can have a glimpse of the past by visiting the Baldwin House Museum, once home of missionary and physician Dwight Baldwin, Wo hing Temple Museum, a Taoist temple, and Lahaina Jodo Mission, a Buddist temple with its serene bronze Buddha, the largest outside Asia.

Lahaina, with a very walkable waterfront area and a mixture of historic sites and tourist attractions, is a great place to spend the afternoon or evening. Stroll along Front Street, where galleries and tourist shops abound. Stop by one of the many restaurants and drinking holes and have a "Maui wowie," a delightful drink with a combined taste of mai-tai and pina colada. Dining in Lahaina is very diverse, with lots of fish and seafood on the menu; restaurants feature everything from Hawaiian cuisine to the latest culinary trends. Do not miss Lahaina's famous Banyan tree planted in 1873 - it now shades 2/3 of an acre.

Drop by Lahaina Cannery Mall, an air-conditioned shopping center featuring some 50 shops selling jewelry, fashion, gifts and crafts, and international dining and food court. There is free keiki hula show every Saturday and Sunday at 1pm and hula shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm.

For lovers of the art, every Friday night, from 7 to 10pm, art galleries in Lahaina celebrate Art Night. This is a great opportunity for visitors to meet resident artists and see their latest works as well as enjoy refreshments served at the galleries. Lahaina is also a prime point of debarkation for whale watching, snorkeling, and sailing tours. The harbor is busy, with dozens of catamarans, sailboats, and ferries to Lanai sailing out daily.

Front Street is in Lahaina and is a great day/afternoon activity. The street is all along the ocean on one side and shops, galleries and restaurants along the other. Don't worry -- there are plenty of parking lots.

The shops range from high class jewelry to typical touristy. You can get some great ice cream and eat a Cheeseburger in Paradise. Watch out for the guys selling activities -- you can get better deals at the condos/hotels.

We've been to Maui on two separate trips now and each time spent more than one afternoon ambling along Front Street.

Lahaina, whose name means 'Merciless Sun,' is the main tourist town of Maui. However, don’t let that put you off as it is one of the few places in Hawaii that has managed to preserve its rich history, most recognizable in its attractive 19th-century buildings.

Before the Europeans arrived, Hawaiian chiefs and kings ruled this hot and dry ocean region. At one point after King Kamehameha had united all the Hawaiian islands, he made Lahaina the royal capital. Thus it remained until 1845, when Kamehameha III moved the capital to the larger town of Honolulu.

During the 1840s the whaling industry was at its peak and hundreds of ships docked at Lahaina every year. Front St. would have swarmed with drunken sailors 24 hours a day in search of bars and brothels in which to spend their hard-earned money. Herman Melville, the writer of Moby-Dick, must have been able to research much of his material in Lahaina.

Lahaina’s next boom, a mere twenty years later, transformed the town into a sugar mecca. Most prominent was The Pioneer Sugar Mill Co., which still exists today.

Today it is now the hordes of tourists who crowd Lahaina’s mile-long drag, browsing the boutiques, art galleries (such as the excellent Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery, where you buy breathtaking paintings of Maui Landscapes!) and trendy bars or touring the historic sights. Probably the most popular landmarks include: the enormous Banyan tree planted in 1873, which fills an entire block and provides shade for artists to set up their wares beneath it; The Pioneer Inn, adjacent is a beautiful bar reminiscent of a bygone era; and docked across from the Inn is the Carthaginian, a replica square-rigger museum ship.

Lahaina makes a great day-trip away from the resorts and is also the venue of 'Old Lahaina,' probably the best Lu’au on the island of Maui, but also one you have to book days in advance, even during the off season. Another consideration is that car parking gets very scarce, so make sure you get there early!

From Lahaina’s wharf, you can also enjoy an ‘island hopping’ trip to either Molokai (perhaps the most untouched Hawaiian island), or Lanai, the former Dole Pineapple plantation island.