Explore Maui’s Past

If you’ve come to Maui, Moloka‘i or Lāna‘i looking for more than beautiful beaches and natural beauty, be sure to explore the area’s incredible variety of museums and cultural attractions. These fascinating destinations reveal the deep connections to our multicultural history and proud heritage.

To make the most of your cultural adventures, be sure to check out the Lāhainā Restoration Foundation’s Passport to the Past that provides access to three of the museums on Maui. lahainarestoration.org /museum-hop-on-maui-with-apassport-to-the-past

Explore Maui Nui’s Past

The Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center’s vision is the collection, preservation and display of artifacts with traditional, cultural, historical and artistic value to the people and island of Lāna‘i. The center’s collection features artifacts and informative displays relating to Lāna‘i’s Hawaiian culture and ranching era, and provides insights into the diverse populations who built the island’s pineapple plantation that historically sustained a thriving community on Lāna‘i. LanaiCHC.org

Baldwin Home Museum

Explore the former home of the Rev. Dwight Baldwin and his family from 1838 to 1870. The two-story house constructed from coral and lava rock is cool and quiet inside. See how Lāhainā missionary families once lived and muse over the reverend/doctor’s antique medical instruments. If you have a question, the helpful docents are always nearby. The home is open daily with candlelight tours on Friday evenings. LahainaRestoration.org/ Baldwin-Home-Museum

The Wo Hing Museum (formerly known as the Wo Hing Society Hall) was built in the early 20th century as a gathering place for the burgeoning Chinese population, most of whom came to the Lāhainā area to work in the sugarcane industry. A thriving cultural hub into the 1940s, this unique space was a center of learning and socializing for Chinese residents integrating themselves into the community and culture of Maui. lahainarestoration.org/wo-hing-museum

The Hale Hō‘ike‘ike Museum

Be sure to visit the Hale Hō‘ike‘ike Museum at the Bailey House —an early missionary home full of Hawaiian artifacts, paintings by Edward Bailey and original furnishings from the 19th century. You’ll find a 2,000-piece artifact collection, over 8,000 historic photographs, and extensive archives including maps, manuscripts, genealogies, and biographies of early settlers. Don’t miss the lush gardens and the Hawai‘i-made crafts and collectibles in the Museum Shop.

MauiMuseum.org/hale-hoikeike-museum

The Moloka‘i Museum and Cultural Center

A fun and interesting stop on your way to Kalaupapa Lookout, the Moloka‘i Museum and Cultural Center offers a glimpse of what life on Moloka‘i used to be like. Learn about the island’s history over the last 150 years, and hear the stories of patients with Hansen’s disease who were sent to live out their remaining days in the infamous leper colony on the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa. You’ll also find a turn-of-thecentury sugar mill, and eclectic exhibits on everything from petroglyphs to plantation-era furnishings.

KalaupapaOhana.org/molokai-museum

The Lāhainā Heritage Museum

Long before it was a tourist hot spot, and before it was the center of the Pacific whaling trade, Lāhainā was a place of great importance in the growth and development of the Hawaiian kingdom. Located on the second level of the Old Lāhainā courthouse, the Lāhainā Heritage Museum is filled with fascinating artifacts and cultural exhibits, and provides visitors a comprehensive, interactive look at the rich and varied history of Lāhainā. Engaging and informative tours are conducted on Wednesdays and are free of charge.

lahainarestoration.org/lahaina-heritage-museum