Hawai'i | Where in the world is Riccardo?

Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hotspot; it was once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century and also a historic whaling village; Maui, Hawai’i, USA

“Once known as Lele, which means “relentless sun” in Hawaiian, Lahaina is a historic town that has been transformed into a Maui hotspot with dozens of art galleries and a variety of unique shops and restaurants. Once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the early nineteenth century [1820 – 1845], Lahaina was also a historic whaling village during the whaling boom of the mid-1800s. Up to 1,500 sailors from as many as 400 ships took leave in Lahaina, including Herman Melville, who immortalized the era in his classic novel Moby Dick. Today, Lahaina is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can still get a feel for old Lahaina as you stroll down lively Front Street, ranked one of the “Top Ten Greatest Streets” by the American Planning Association. Visit historic stops like the U.S. Seamen’s Hospital, Hale Paahao (Lahaina Prison), the Pioneer Inn, Maui’s oldest living banyan tree and other sites on the Lahaina Historic Trail. Approximately 55 acres of old Lahaina have been set aside as historic districts.” — www.gohawaii.com/islands/maui/regions/west-maui/Lahaina

While Lahaina itself has a population of only 12,000, it hosts about 2 million visitors a year; Maui, Hawai’i, USA

Lahaina has over a thousand years of rich history. While Lahaina itself has a population of only 12,000 (and Maui has a population of 111,000), it hosts about 2 million visitors a year (80% of the tourists who come to Maui). Lahaina’s popularity as a tropical getaway has made its real estate some of the most expensive in Hawaii; many houses and condominiums sell for more than US$5 million, according to Wikipedia.

The old Pioneer Inn sits in the center of town, adjacent to the Lahaina Pier (where out tender boats dropped us off) and adjacent to Lahaina’s famous giant banyan tree, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USA

Lahaina’s banyan tree, planted in 1873, is not only the largest in the state but also in the United States; Maui, Hawai’i, USA

“The banyan tree in Lahaina, in Maui, Hawaii, United States, was planted on April 24, 1873, in Lahaina to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of first American Protestant mission. The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) (known in Hawaiian as paniana, located in the Courthouse Square, which was renamed Banyan Tree Park covering 1.94 acres, is not only the largest in the state but also in the United States. The tree was a gift from missionaries in India. A mere 8 feet (2.4 meters) when planted, it has grown to a height of about 60 feet (18 meters) and has rooted into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk, with the canopy spread over an area of about 0.66 acres (0.27 ha).” — Wikipedia

Lahaina’s banyan tree has grown to a height of about 60 feet (18 meters) and has rooted into 16 major trunks, apart from the main trunk; Maui, Hawai’i, USA

Air roots of the Lahaina banyan tree; Maui, Hawai’i, USA

The reconstructed ruins of Lahaina Fort are on the southeast corner of Banyan Tree Park with the old Lahaina Court House in the background; the fort was originally built in 1832; Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USA

The old Lahaina Court House now is home to the local artists’ gallery and the tourist visitors’ center, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USA

Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USA

King Kamehameha conquered all the Hawaiian islands and established his kingdom of Hawai’i in 1810. He located the capital of his kingdom in Lahaina, a central location to oversee the activities of the islands. In 1819 – the year of his death – the first whaling ships began arriving in Lahaina; and in 1845 the capital of Hawaii was relocated to Honolulu.

Lively Front Street, ranked one of the “Top Ten Greatest Streets” by the American Planning Association, Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, USA

Visible from Lahaina is the beautiful island of Lanai – known for decades, after the first pineapple was planted there in 1921, as the “pineapple” island, due to the large pineapple plantations that exported tons of fruit annually; Hawai’i, USA

“In 1921, Charles Gay planted the first pineapple plant on Lanai. The population had decreased again — to 150 — most of whom were the descendants of the traditional families of the island. A year later, James Dole, the president of Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later renamed Dole Food Company), bought the island and developed a large portion of it into the world’s largest pineapple plantation. Upon Hawaii statehood in 1959, Lanai became part of the Maui County. In 1985, Lanai passed into the control of David H. Murdock as a result of his purchase of Castle & Cook, which was then the owner of Dole. High labor- and land costs led to a decline in Hawaii pineapple production in the 1980s, and Dole phased out its pineapple operations on Lanai in 1992. In June 2012, Larry Ellison, then CEO of Oracle Corporation, purchased Castle & Cooke’s 98 percent share of the island for $300 million. The state and individual homeowners own the remaining 2 percent, which includes the harbor and the private homes where the 3,000 inhabitants live.” — Wikipedia

A double rainbow appeared aft of our ship 45 minutes before sunset, as light rain showers cleared, sailing from San Diego, California, to Honolulu, Oahu, Hawai’i; Pacific Ocean

In the ancient Hawai’ian religion, Kāne is the creator and gives life associated with dawn, sun and sky.

After three days sailing from San Diego, California, USA, to Honolulu, Oahu, Hawai’i (a 7-day crossing in the Pacific Ocean) in rough seas (2.5-4.0 meter [8-13 feet] waves) and overcast skies and rain, 45 minutes before sunset tonight I headed up the stairs and emerged onto Deck 12 to find relatively calm skies and the end of a light rain and then clearing skies. As I headed to the stern (in the east), I was amazed to find the most magnificent rainbow I’ve ever seen. Spanning north to south, a full 180-degree, partial double rainbow in full color [see photo, above].

After my daily 30-minute fitness walk around the upper deck, I headed west to the bow and watched a beautiful sunset that capped a tribute to Kāne, the Hawai’ian sun god. Enjoy the moment!

After three days of sailing to Honolulu in rough seas and overcast skies and rain, as we crossed the Pacific Ocean, we got a break in the weather with a beautiful sunset

“The 1907 book Legends of Hawaii has the following account of creation involving Kāne. The author says that there are several versions of this story, probably due to waves of immigration from different areas of Polynesia at different times, but generally they agree on the major points. It says that in the beginning, there was nothing but Po; the endless black chaos. Then Kāne, sensing that he was separate from the Po, pulled himself free of Po by an act of sheer will. Sensing Kāne’s presence, Lono and then Kū also pulled themselves free of Po. Then Kāne created the light to push back Po. Lono brought sound to the universe and Kū brought substance. Between them, they created all the lesser Gods. Then together, the three Gods created the Menehune, the lesser spirits to be their messengers and servants. Next, they created the world to be a footstool for the Gods. Finally, they gathered red clay from the four corners of the world, they mixed the clay with their spittle and molded it into the shape of a man. Then Kāne took a special magical white clay and formed it into a head. Then the three Gods breathed life into the statue and created the first man. The first man was created in the image of Kāne.” — Wikipedia

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Tag Archives: Hawai'i

Lahaina, Maui, Hawai’i, U.S.A.

Tribute to the Hawai’ian Sun God, Kāne, sailing across the Pacific to Honolulu, Oahu, Hawai’i