Wednesday morning we met our guide from Maui Nei, Maile (rhymes with “smiley”), for a walking tour of Lahaina’s historical sites. I’ve captioned each picture below, which represent only a fraction of what we learned.
Maile explains the shape of Maui.]
We learned about the uses of many trees: for tools, food, housing, cordage, canoes, and more.
The kukui nut inside its fruit. Kukui nuts were used to make candles.
Near the Baldwin Home, Maile described the end of the kapu system in Hawaii, which coincided with the arrival of the first missionaries.
The noni fruit, with its stinky smell & bitter taste, is still nourishing. Today it is mixed into smoothies with fruit, In ancient Hawaii, it was eaten when other food was scarce.
Plumeria trees were planted near the cemetery for their beautiful appearance and perfume.
Maile explains more about the Moku’ula and the restoration efforts. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human inhabitants as early as 700 A.D. The most recent use of the site was by Kamehameha III, who left Lahaina & made Honolulu the capitol in 1845.
Some places we stopped were the Old Lahaina Courthouse, Pōhaku Hauola (healing stone), The Baldwin Home, Take Home Maui, and Waiola Church. We also walked through Moku’ula after Maile gave a protective oli (chant) for walking through a sacred space. No pictures were taken during this time.