Alexander and Baldwin Sugar Museum

3957 Hansen Rd, Pu'unene, HI 96784 808-871-8058

Description: PU'UNENE. Housed in the former home of a plantation supervisor, this museum details the role of sugarcane in Hawaii's economy. An assortment of photos and artifacts documents the changes brought about by A&B's push to acquire and accumulate land. Societal shifts affected by the influx of foreign laborers is also noted. In addition, there are displays on the growing and processing of sugarcane. An educational retrospective on Maui's first industry.
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Hale Kahiko

900 Front St, Lahaina Center, Lahaina, HI 96761 808-667-9216

Description: LAHAINA. A series of thatched buildings replicating part of a traditional Hawaiian village, this compound illustrates island life in ancient days. Each of the "hale," or buildings, had a particular purpose, whether it be for eating, sleeping, or working, and all were made of native woods and thatch. Also on the premises are a longboat, tiki images, and plants that islanders found useful for food and other domestic purposes. Throughout the week, visitors can watch demonstrations of craft-making as well as the intricacies of the hula.
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Hale Pa'i

980 Lahainaluna Rd, Lahainaluna High School campus, Lahaina, HI 96761 808-661-3262

Description: LAHAINA. This structure, located on the grounds of the former Lahainaluna Seminary (now an area high school), was home to one of Hawaii's earliest printing presses. The press was used to create a dictionary of the Hawaiian language, which early missionaries began to codify and document in the 1830s. Using the native tongue allowed them to teach the tenets of Christianity more quickly than filtering ideas through English. In 1982, the building was converted into a museum. Today, it holds the original press and replicas of early publications.
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Whalers Village Museum

2435 Ka'anapali Pkwy, Whalers Village Shopping Center, Lahaina, HI 96761 808-661-5992

Description: LAHAINA. Home to two museums, this center looks at the life of the whale and then at the life of those who made a career of hunting it. The first museum contains displays relating to a whale's life cycle and evolution, along with skeletons of the large mammals. Humpback whales, which migrate locally, are given special attention. The second museum looks at Hawaii's whaling past, including the alternately grueling and boring moments of whale hunting. Diaries, movies, ship's models, and artifacts demonstrate the lives of these sailors and dispel part of the romance of a life at sea. The museum also has a good selection of scrimshaw and other memorabilia.
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