Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
town's original jail was in the basement of the courthouse by Lahaina Harbor, the need for
a larger penitentiary led to the coral blocks of the Lahaina fort being taken apart and moved
across town to build the tall walls which surround Hale Pa'ahao today. An old wooden
rowboat rests in the corner of the compound, serving as a reminder for how whalers would
move between ship and shore en route to getting themselves in trouble.
Waiola Church and Cemetery
Moving south down Waine'e Street, you will soon come to the
Waiola Church and Ce-
metery
(535 Waine'e St.,
www.waiolachurch.org
) on the right side of the road, which is
essentially where Christianity on Maui began. The two female members of the royalty,
Queen Ka'ahumanu and Queen Keopualani, were among the first to embrace the Christian
religion, and when the capital of the kingdom was established in Lahaina, a small church
was formally dedicated at Waiola in 1823. Though there have been many ups and downs
for the native Hawaiian population over the last 200 years, one thing which has always
remained is the church at Waiola. It's as old and storied as the history of foreigners
on Hawaiian land. Queen Keopuolani herself is buried in the Royal Tomb in the small
cemetery next door, as is the revered Governor Hoapili and the young Princess
Nahi'ena'ena. As you might imagine, this is a spot of immense cultural significance and
pride for the Hawaiian people and should be treated with the utmost respect.
MOKU'ULA: THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF HAWAI'I
Up until 1845 the town of Lahaina served as the royal capital of Hawai'i. Genera-
tions of rulers from King Kamehameha on down ruled the kingdom from this his-
toric, sun-drenched shore, and some of the most notable events in Hawaiian history
were witnessed by this very town.
If Lahaina was so important, you ask, then where is the royal palace? Where is
the seat of the monarchy? Where, exactly, was the capital?
Unfortunately, when the capital was moved to Honolulu in 1845, the site of the
former capital-Moku'ula-was abandoned and left to decay. Where once a large fish-
pond that was the home of
ali'i
and royalty existed, there now sits an overgrown
baseball field frequented by the island's homeless. If ever there were a fall from
grace, it is the site of Moku'ula.
All hope is not lost for the former capital, however, as nonprofit group
Friends
of Moku'ula
(808/661-3659,
www.mokuula.com
)
is committed to the process of
