Port of Call: Lahaina, Maui

Lahaina from the Crown Princess before arrival

Port of Call: Lahaina, Maui. Lahaina had been a magic word for Han since the Eagles gave it recognition on their 1976 song “The Last Resort” with the line: “You can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina.”

Frankly, it almost feels criminal to allow a huge cruise ship to drop anchor in this haven of peace and tranquility. It seems sacrilege, but as soon as you set foot on land in the town, you realize you’re way too late to save the location. Many have already set foot there before and by doing so created an infrastructure that services tourists. Hippie couples and families moved there in the sixties, built their homegrown businesses and their children and brethren were now living enviable lives in the tropics. I guess a little jealousy stuck up its ugly head when we saw this tropical paradise.

But then…., unbeknownst to us at the time, Lahaina would burn down to the ground several months after our visit in a tragic windswept inferno, that took many lives and landmarks. Living on an island requires you to be self-reliant and self-sufficient, because help when tragedy strikes is often too far away.

We had been looking forward to this port of call, that over the decades has attracted some many celebrities in opening bars, restaurants and various other businesses. Gene Simmons (KISS), Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Oprah Winfrey, Helen Hunt, Willie Nelson and many more have put down roots in Maui’s communities.

The 150 year old Indian Banyan Tree in 2023

First thing on our agenda was of course the 150 year old world famous Banyan Tree living structure in front of the library and the old courthouse, given to the island by Indian missionaries. Lahaina was the capital of the Hawaiian monarchy in the 1800s, pretty much at the same time the Banyan Tree was planted (1873). Covering 1.94 acres by 2023, the tree resides in Lahaina Banyan Court Park. A mere 8 feet (2.4 m) when planted, it grew to a height of about 60 feet (18 m) and 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). It is considered the largest banyan tree in the USA. The library would give us Wifi access and the tree would provide shade. It was a beautiful morning as the stores opened.

TJ went out on a discovery trip down the streets, while Han sat in the tree shade working the internet. Yes even during our off season, the hotel reservations keep coming in and guest questions need to be answered.

A Hawaiian Spam Special

Once done with our daily “work” we strolled the streets and tried some of the weirder food options available. In Maui, as on the other Hawaiian Islands, you can find Spam in various forms, including musubi, Spam-flavored Hamakua Macadamia Nuts, and Spam-flavored saimin. Musubi is a popular dish made with rice, seaweed, and Spam, and can be found at street corner carts. Well TJ found the cart and had to try one, which inevitably ended up in my face, after she took ONE bite.

Another food that needed to be tried was Shaved Ice. For those seeking the perfect ice slushy in Maui, Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is the go to spot. They offer a variety of flavors and toppings, including mochi balls and toasted coconut, all served with a fresh, homemade syrup. Not too bad, I must say.

Walked past “The Fleetwood” in a tranquility induced rhythm and ended up at a local artists’ Tiki shop. He was apparently popular with quite a few people =at his booth, as we were waiting for him to cut and carve a personal Tiki for us. He even signed it for us.

A Lahaina Shopping Street

Close to the water and the marinas we walked the shoreline for a bit, just to see how boaties live in Lahaina and enjoyed the laid-back, non-pretentious atmosphere of the island.

Again, we could have taken one of the ships offered tours of the island, but for us discovering the “Couleur local” is the essence of traveling, not the dollar incentivized attractions of a cruise director. In the 1980s and 90s Han lived on popular Caribbean Islands St.Thomas and St.Maarten, where he witnessed many cruise directors stopping by local stores and restaurants to collect commissions for directing cruise ship guests to their stores.