If you want to learn more about Hawaiian culture and history, the place to go while on Maui is the Bailey House Museum. Located in Wailuku, this museum, run by the Maui Historical Society, is the place to go to learn about Hawaiian culture, see artwork and artifacts and view furnished rooms from 19th century Maui. The house is a mission home built in 1833 on the site of the Royal Compound of King Kahekili, the last ruling chief of the island of Maui. Originally, the house served as a mission school for girls. It was purchased by Edward and Carline Bailey in 1847 where the Bailey family lived until 1888. The house has been resorted to it’s 19th century condition and currently serves to house many Hawaiian documents, artifacts and resources owned by the Hawaiian Historical Society. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Admission is $7 for adults ($5 for seniors)and $2.00 for children between the ages of 7-12. Children under 6 are admitted free of charge.
In 1868, the first Japanese immigrants were brought to the shores of Maui to work in the sugar plantation fields. They brought with them their Buddhist religion as well and eventually erected a temple in which to worship in Lahaina. This site became home to the Lahaina Jodo Mission which you can still visit today. Although the original, wooden temple burned down, the people of Lahaina rebuilt the temple in 1968 and expanded the facility to include a 90 foot tall Pagoda, and a 12 foot high statue of Buddha. This statue, cast of copper and bronze and weighting around 3 1/2 tons was imported from Japan and is the largest statue of Buddha in the world outside of Japan. The mission was remodeled to celebrate the Centennial of the Japanese immigration to the Hawaiian Islands. Located north of town off Front Street near the Mala Wharf, you can find the Lahaina Jodo Mission at 12 Ala Moana Street. While entry into the buildings is not allowed, it is free to walk around the peaceful and beautiful grounds and admire the unique Japanese architecture.
