LAHAINA

city, Maui county, on the northwest coast of Maui Island, Hawaii, U.S. Extending for 2 miles (3 km) along the leeward (southern) shore, the city is backed by volcanic peaks culminating in Puu Kukui (5,788 feet ) and sheltered by thick groves of coconut palms. Lahaina was actively associated during the 19th century with the Hawaiian royal family, European whalers, and American missionaries. In 1820 King Kamehameha II transferred his capital to Lahaina (meaning cruel sun), where it remained until replaced by Honolulu in 1845. The Wainee Church Cemetery is sacred to islanders as a burial place of Hawaiian monarchs. Lahaina Roadstead, on Auau Channel, was a favourite anchorage of Pacific whaling fleets. The stone prison of Hale Paahao, built by missionaries in 1851, was built for drunken and disorderly sailors. Lahainaluna High School (1831) is also a relic of missionary days, and on its campus Hawaii's first newspaper, Ka Lama Hawaii (The Torch of Hawaii), was published in 1834. At the centre of the city is a historic banyan tree planted in 1873 and claimed to be the largest in the islands. The Olowalu Petroglyphs, 5 miles east, are rock carvings up to 300 years old depicting occupations of the early Hawaiians. Tourism, pineapple canning, and sugar refining are Lahaina's chief sources of income. Pop. (1990) 9,073.