Nestled between the West Maui mountains and the shimmering Pacific on the northwestern shore of Maui, Lahaina is one of Hawaii’s greatest seaside towns and the original seat of Hawaiian royalty. The town was often considered Kamehameha the Great’s historically famous “royalty playground,” and is now full of old-world architecture from the town’s plantation era. It is also home to several incredible historic landmarks, including the Old Lahaina Courthouse.
The Lahaina Courthouse, which was opened in 1860, originally served as a center for government offices and court functions during the Hawaiian monarchy as well as a customs house for whaling and trade ships.
Kirt Edblom/Flickr
Built with coral block and other materials from Kamehameha III’s unfinished western palace — also known as Hale Piula — the two-story wood-facade building was home to a post office and collector’s office in addition to a courtroom and offices for the Governor of Maui, Sheriff, and District Attorney.
Maik-T. Šebenik/Flickr
Decades after the Kingdom of Hawaii became the Territory of Hawaii, the courthouse was rebuilt in 1925 in its current Greek Revival architectural style with a gabled roof and second-floor balcony.
Curt Smith/Flickr
The post office, police station, courtroom, judge, jail, and tax collector’s offices were in use until the 1970s when the Lahaina Civic Center was constructed.
Rick Obst/Flickr
A major restoration was started in 1998, and today, the Old Lahaina Courthouse is home to the Lahaina Visitors Center, Lahaina Arts Society galleries, Lahaina Town Action Committee offices, and the Lahaina Heritage Museum.
Jasperdo/Flickr
Today, visitors can tour the space and learn all about the history of Lahaina and the island of Maui as a whole as well as the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Jasperdo/Flickr
Don’t forget to stop by the old jail in the basement where you will find one of the most unique art galleries in existence.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Talk about a unique piece of living history!
The Old Lahaina Courthouse is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, head to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation website. You might also want to learn about the history of the courthouse’s neighbor, the Lahaina Banyan Tree Court.
Kirt Edblom/Flickr
Maik-T. Šebenik/Flickr
Curt Smith/Flickr
Rick Obst/Flickr
Jasperdo/Flickr
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Talk about a unique piece of living history!
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Address: 648 Wharf St, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA
