Lahaina, Hawai'i
Encyclopedia
Lāhainā is the largest census-designated place
(CDP) in West Maui, Maui County
, Hawaii
, United States
, and the gateway to the famous Kaanapali and Kapalua beach resorts north of the community. As of the 2000 Census
, the CDP had a resident population of 9,118. Lahaina encompasses the coast along Hawaii Route 30 from a tunnel at the south end, through Olawalu up the CDP of Napili-Honokowai is to the north. During the heavy tourist seasons, the population can swell to nearly 40,000 people. Until permanently moving to Honolulu, Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii
. In the 19th century, Lahaina was the center of the global whaling
industry with many sailing ship
s anchored in at its waterfront; today a score of pleasure craft make their home there. Lahaina's Front Street has been ranked one of the "Top Ten Greatest Streets" by the American Planning Association
.
In antiquity Lahaina was the royal capital of Maui Loa, 5th Moi of Maui, after he ceded the royal seat of Hana to King of Hawaii Island. In Lahaina, the focus of activity is along Front Street, which dates back to the 1820s. It is lined with stores and restaurants, and is often packed with tourists. Banyan Tree Square features an exceptionally large banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) planted April 24, 1873 by William Owen Smith
to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Christian missionaries.
It is also the site of the reconstructed ruins of Lahaina Fort, originally built in 1832.
The name Lā hainā means "cruel sun" in the Hawaiian language
, describing the sunny dry climate
. Lahaina averages only 13 inches (330.2 mm) of rain per year, much of which occurs from December through February.
Prior to unification of the islands, in 1795, the town was sacked by Kamehameha the Great
. Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii
from 1820 to 1845. King Kamehameha III
, son of Kamehameha I, preferred the town to bustling Honolulu. He built a palace complex on a 1 acre (0.404686 ha) island, Mokuula, in a fishpond near the center of town. In 1824, at the request of the chiefs, Betsey Stockton
started the first mission school open to the common people. It was once an important destination for the 19th century whaling fleet, whose presence at Lahaina frequently led to conflicts with the Christian
missionaries
living there. On more than one occasion the conflict was so severe that it led to the shelling of Lahaina by whaleships.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 7 square miles (18.1 km²), of which, 5.8 square miles (15 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (17.50%) is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 9,118 people, 2,599 households, and 1,759 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,584.7 people per square mile (612.3/km²). There were 3,027 housing units at an average density of 526.1 per square mile (203.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 26.44% White, 0.34% African American, 0.31% Native American, 43.40% Asian, 9.83% Pacific Islander, 2.18% from other races, and 17.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.06% of the population.
There were 2,599 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50 and the average family size was 3.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.1 males.
The median income household income in 2005 was $61,402 and the average household income for 2005 was $79,876. Males have a median income of $39,583 versus $35,392 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP is $29,921. About 6.8% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older.
The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts the PGA Tour
's SBS Championship every January.
The many restaurants along Front Street offer a broad variety of food and entertainment, making the street the hub of West Maui's night life.
Halloween
is a major celebration in Lahaina and has become a signature event in the past decades with crowds averaging between 20,000 to 30,000. The evening starts off closing Front Street to cars so the Keiki Parade of children in costumes can begin. Eventually adults in costumes join in and by dark, the street changes to one big party, which has earned the event the title of "Mardi Gras of the Pacific". In 2008 the celebration had been curtailed due to a the objections of a group of cultural advisers who have upheld the permits necessary as they feel Halloween is an affront to the Hawaiian culture. In the following years the event was poorly attended as the street was not closed and no costume contest took place. In 2011, citing economic concerns, the city has allowed the event on Front Street the proper permits for the annual signature event to continue.
Every November, Lahaina hosts the Maui Invitational
, one of the top early-season tournaments in college basketball
.
Lahaina also hosts the finish of the Vic-Maui Yacht Race
, the longest offshore sailboat race on the West Coast, which starts in Victoria, BC, Canada
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in West Maui, Maui County
Maui County, Hawaii
-National protected areas:* Haleakala National Park* Kakahaia National Wildlife Refuge* Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge- Demographics :As of the 2000 Census, there were 128,094 people, 43,507 households, and 29,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the gateway to the famous Kaanapali and Kapalua beach resorts north of the community. As of the 2000 Census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the CDP had a resident population of 9,118. Lahaina encompasses the coast along Hawaii Route 30 from a tunnel at the south end, through Olawalu up the CDP of Napili-Honokowai is to the north. During the heavy tourist seasons, the population can swell to nearly 40,000 people. Until permanently moving to Honolulu, Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
. In the 19th century, Lahaina was the center of the global whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
industry with many sailing ship
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
s anchored in at its waterfront; today a score of pleasure craft make their home there. Lahaina's Front Street has been ranked one of the "Top Ten Greatest Streets" by the American Planning Association
American Planning Association
The American Planning Association is a professional organization representing the field of city and regional planning in the United States. The APA was formed in 1978 when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Planners and the American Society of Planning...
.
History
William Owen Smith
William Owen Smith was a lawyer from a family of American missionaries who participated in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He served as attorney general for the entire duration of the provisional Government of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii.-Life:Smith was born August 4, 1848 in Kōloa...
to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Christian missionaries.
It is also the site of the reconstructed ruins of Lahaina Fort, originally built in 1832.
The name Lā hainā means "cruel sun" in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
, describing the sunny dry climate
Hawaiian tropical low shrublands
The Hawaiian tropical low shrublands are a tropical savanna ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands. These shrublands cover an area of in the leeward lowlands of the main islands and most of the smaller islands, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The ecoregion includes both grasslands and...
. Lahaina averages only 13 inches (330.2 mm) of rain per year, much of which occurs from December through February.
Prior to unification of the islands, in 1795, the town was sacked by Kamehameha the Great
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
. Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
from 1820 to 1845. King Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
, son of Kamehameha I, preferred the town to bustling Honolulu. He built a palace complex on a 1 acre (0.404686 ha) island, Mokuula, in a fishpond near the center of town. In 1824, at the request of the chiefs, Betsey Stockton
Betsey Stockton
Betsey Stockton , sometimes spelled Betsy Stockton, was an African American educator and missionary.-Life:She was born into slavery in the Princeton, New Jersey, about the year 1798....
started the first mission school open to the common people. It was once an important destination for the 19th century whaling fleet, whose presence at Lahaina frequently led to conflicts with the Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
living there. On more than one occasion the conflict was so severe that it led to the shelling of Lahaina by whaleships.
Geography
Lahaina is located at 20°53′10"N 156°40′29"W (20.886122, -156.674602).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 7 square miles (18.1 km²), of which, 5.8 square miles (15 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (17.50%) is water.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,118 people, 2,599 households, and 1,759 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,584.7 people per square mile (612.3/km²). There were 3,027 housing units at an average density of 526.1 per square mile (203.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 26.44% White, 0.34% African American, 0.31% Native American, 43.40% Asian, 9.83% Pacific Islander, 2.18% from other races, and 17.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.06% of the population.
There were 2,599 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50 and the average family size was 3.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.1 males.
The median income household income in 2005 was $61,402 and the average household income for 2005 was $79,876. Males have a median income of $39,583 versus $35,392 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP is $29,921. About 6.8% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older.
Attractions
In 1831 a fort was built for defense, and the remains of its 20 feet (6.1 m) walls and original cannons can still be seen. Also nearby is the historical Pioneer Inn. The Baldwin House is also close by.The Plantation Course at Kapalua hosts the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
's SBS Championship every January.
The many restaurants along Front Street offer a broad variety of food and entertainment, making the street the hub of West Maui's night life.
Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
is a major celebration in Lahaina and has become a signature event in the past decades with crowds averaging between 20,000 to 30,000. The evening starts off closing Front Street to cars so the Keiki Parade of children in costumes can begin. Eventually adults in costumes join in and by dark, the street changes to one big party, which has earned the event the title of "Mardi Gras of the Pacific". In 2008 the celebration had been curtailed due to a the objections of a group of cultural advisers who have upheld the permits necessary as they feel Halloween is an affront to the Hawaiian culture. In the following years the event was poorly attended as the street was not closed and no costume contest took place. In 2011, citing economic concerns, the city has allowed the event on Front Street the proper permits for the annual signature event to continue.
Every November, Lahaina hosts the Maui Invitational
Maui Invitational Tournament
The Maui Invitational Tournament is an annual early-season college basketball tournament that takes place Thanksgiving Week in Lahaina, Hawaii at the Lahaina Civic Center on the island of Maui. It is hosted by Chaminade University of Honolulu, which participates yearly along with a field of seven...
, one of the top early-season tournaments in college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
.
Lahaina also hosts the finish of the Vic-Maui Yacht Race
Vic-Maui Yacht Race
The Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race , the longest offshore sailing race off the west coast of North America, is the pinnacle of Pacific Northwest ocean racing. First contested in 1968, the Vic-Maui runs every second year, starting in June or July off Victoria, British Columbia, Canada...
, the longest offshore sailboat race on the West Coast, which starts in Victoria, BC, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.