Mini Josie Goes to Lahaina on Kihei, HI

Lahaina is the old capital of the kingdom of Hawaii, located on Maui’s west coast. Back in the 1800s, it was a major whaling town. Josie is so small and the most famous landmark in Lahaina, the banyan tree, is so big, that there wasn’t really a way to make a picture of the two work. (The banyan tree is a single tree with many, many trunks, all connected, and it takes up an entire block.) Here’s all the other mischief we got into, though! 

We found some reproduction vintage 70s style aloha shirts. None came close to fitting Mini J, though. Drat. Note the coconut buttons. This was the most obnoxious print we could find. *cackle*

A shot down Front Street. That’s the ocean to the left, hidden behind the vehicle; that’s why there are no buildings that side of the road.

Let’s have a look at the water. Mini J, if you fall in, you’re gonna have to swim back to shore yourself.

Time to head into Lush. BATH BOMBS

OK, enough Lush loot. Let’s see what else Lahaina has to offer. 

Evidently glass-bottom boat rides on boats made to look like yellow submarines. WE ALL LIVE IN A YELLOW SUBMARINE ~

And here’s a major 1800s-era Front Street landmark.

My memory is being a challenge today, but I -can- remark that the shed on the right side of the picture below is the old cookhouse, which they’ve turned into a theater.

In Hawai’i, it is customary that statues of respected figures are often draped in leis. Saint statues in Catholic churches will not infrequently be wearing a lei placed on them by believers grateful for saintly/divine assistance with their problems, for example, and the bronze statue of Queen Ka’ahumanu at the mall named after her is almost always wearing leis, too. (As is the statue of Duke Kahanamoku on the beach at Waikiki…) The leis pictured below are made of eyelash yarn, which is unusual for a statue lei, but is very practical, as it’s obviously vastly more durable than flowers.

Since the last sea turtles wouldn’t pose for the camera, we found one that would.

Say “humuhumunukunukuapua’a” three times fast. (It’s the name of Hawai’i’s state fish!)

I’m hungry! Can we skip straight to dessert?

Another shot to show how decadent this concoction is. Mmmmm! It was every bit as delicious as it looks. Those are crushed macadamia nuts, not peanuts (and everyone in Hawaii calls them “mac nuts”)

Where’s Mini J hiding? I hope we find her soon!

This 3D glass jellyfish art is so beautiful, amazing, and.. eek... expensive.

To see more of Josie’s adventures, click here to view her Travel Log!