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Spotlight on Hawaii |
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As far back as the late 1700's King Kamehameha the Great chose Lahaina as the capital of Hawaii and his favorite home. The
sheltered coast and delightful beaches made Lahaina an ideal playground for the king and his royal family. Today, Lahaina could easily be called the fun capital of Hawaii. Known all over the world for its
colorful waterfront atmosphere, Lahaina attracts over a million visitors each year. People of all ages love to explore the famous Fropnt Street where one can find resident celebrities like George Benson and Carol
Burnett casually sipping cofee at one of Lahaina's sixty-odd restaurants. Informality and fun are written all over this town, a spirit that harks back to the 1840's when up to four hundred whaling ships would
anchor off Lahaina 'Roadstead,' discharging their crews of rowdy sailors. Afer months at sea these 'salty dogs' went straight to the taverns for grog and bawdy merriment. Troublesome drunks were thrown
in the 'Hale Pahao' prison which still stands on Prison Street. |
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Strolling through Lahaina is a must for every visitor. The original historic flavor has been maintained through the efforts of
the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, while being kept contemporary by the Lahainatown Action Committee. Hundreds of curio shops, sophisticated jewelers, art galleries and boutiques contain a myriad of
wares ideal for gifts or personal mementos of your visit to Paradise. The historical town center is noted for its 110-year-old Banyan Tree, one of the world's largest, which grows over a whole block
just in front of The Wharf Cinema Center. The Center, which boasts more than 50 shops and restaurants, surrounds a comfortable courtyard decorated with waterfalls and convenient, umbrella-shaded tables.
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Opposite is the Pioneer Inn, built in 1906, which looks out on the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor crammed with cruise boats and private
yachts. Looking back from the Carthaginian, the authentic replica of a whaling brig, one can see the Seawall and shops lining Front Street. Beyond the Banyan Tree and past the tennis courts is 505 Front
Street, a nautical 'village' of oceanfront shops and restaurants next to the Lahaina Shores Hotel. A walk toward the north end of town leads past the Wharf, the Seawall and Lahaina Market Place, a collection of
shops and restaurants set in an open-court atmosphere. After Lahaina Shopping Center, with a large parking area and a good place to find photo supplies, suntan lotions and comfortable shoes, and across the street
from Longhi's, you'll find the Lahaina Center, home of Hilo Hattie and the world-renowned Hard Rock Café. A few blocks to the north, you can enjoy the air-conditioned comfort of the Lahaina Cannery. Lahaina,
by day or night, is a warmhearted, romantic town which, for centuries, has been a popular haven for vacationers. |
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