HAWAII
between 1833 and 1850 and was the
home of missionary Edward Bailey.
Baldwin Home, built in 1838, is the oldest
standing building in Lahaina and is made
of thick walls of coral, stone and handhewn timbers.
The banyan tree came to Lahaina from
India when only eight feet tall. William O.
Smith, the Maui sheriff, planted it in 1873 to
mark the 50th anniversary of the founding
of Lahaina's first Christian mission. Today
the banyan has 12 major trunks, varying
girths and reaches upward to a height of
15 metres stretching outward over a 61
metre area.
The Carthaginian, a replica of a 19th
century brig which now houses a whaling
exhibit, graces the harbour, which is
also the departure point for a multitude
of cruises and whale watching tours
(in season). However, if it is off season,
Whaler's Village in Ka'anapali houses an
excellent whale museum. Lahaina Jodo
Mission Cultural Park, on a point of land
known as Puunoa, was once a small village
fronting the royal grove of coconut trees.
Now the best known landmark in the area,
the largest Buddha outside of Japan sits in
the small park commemorating the arrival
of the first Japanese immigrants in 1868.
Don't miss a journey on the famous Sugar
Cane Train, modelled after the turn of the
century railroads that transported Valley
Isle sugar to Lahaina mills. The steam
driven locomotive runs between Lahaina
and Ka'anapali and visitors can hop
aboard at Puukolii and Ka'anapali as well.
While on Maui, you can explore the Maui
Tropical Plantation which consists of 45
hectares of crops. Learn how to husk a
coconut, create a delicious tropical fruit
boat and string a fragrant lei. Then catch
the Tropical Tram on a 40–minute circuit to
see fruit cutting demonstrations, visit the
marketplace and learn how to start your
own tropical garden.
At the Sugar Museum you will see the
production of sugar, once one of Hawaii`'s
biggest cash crops, from beginning to end.
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