Part II: Maui – Stories of Sugar, Paniolo, and the Sea

The Valley Isle's story is one of dramatic landscapes and the diverse cultures that learned to thrive on them. Its museums tell of the powerful sugar industry that reshaped the island, the unique paniolo (cowboy) heritage of the upcountry, and the deep connection to the surrounding sea.

The Sweet & Bitter Legacy of Sugar

Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum

For nearly two centuries, sugar was king on Maui. No place tells this story better than the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum. Located in a charming 1902 plantation superintendent's home in Puʻunene, right across from what was Hawaii's last operating sugar mill, the museum offers a complete look at the industry that defined the island's economy and society. Through fascinating photos, personal artifacts, and massive pieces of outdoor harvesting equipment, you'll learn about the immigrant laborers from China, Japan, Portugal, the Philippines, and beyond who came to work the fields. Their cultures blended to create the unique local lifestyle that endures today.

Wailuku & Upcountry's Cultural Heart

Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House

In historic Wailuku, at the mouth of the sacred ʻĪao Valley, you'll find Maui's oldest history museum, Hale Hōʻikeʻike ("House of Display"). Operated by the Maui Historical Society, the museum is housed in the 1833 home of missionary teachers Edward and Caroline Bailey. It offers a fascinating look into 19th-century missionary life, but its true treasures are the incredible Hawaiian artifacts. The Keōpūolani Room contains the largest public collection of pre-western contact items on Maui, including rare kapa (bark cloth) and a wooden statue of the demigod Kamapuaʻa that survived the 1819 purge of the old religion. In the canoe house, you can see one of the last koa fishing canoes made in Hawaiʻi, alongside a 1919 redwood surfboard that belonged to the legendary Duke Kahanamoku.

Makawao History Museum

For a completely different side of Maui's history, head upcountry to the charming town of Makawao. Here, the Makawao History Museum tells the unique story of the paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboy. This small but vital museum explores Maui's ranching heritage through exhibits on plantations, polo, and local life, featuring invaluable oral history interviews with kūpuna. It's a fantastic way to understand a part of island culture that is often overlooked. They also offer walking tours of the historic town, where hitching posts can still be found lining the streets.

A Note on Lāhainā's Resilience

Lāhainā's heart is wounded, but its spirit endures. The devastating fire of August 2023 swept through the historic town, which once served as the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom and a bustling hub of the Pacific whaling trade. Beloved historical sites, including the Lāhainā Heritage Museum, the Baldwin Home Museum, and the Wo Hing Temple Museum, were tragically impacted.

The stories held in these places are not lost. They live on in the memory and resilience of the community. As Maui heals, the best way for visitors to show aloha is to support the preservation efforts. We will update this guide as these treasured sites begin their long journey to recovery. For now, please consider supporting the Maui Historical Society, the stewards of Maui's history, as they work to protect and preserve what remains for future generations.

For the ʻOhana (Family) on Maui

Maui offers some of the best interactive museum experiences in all of Hawaiʻi, perfect for families looking to learn and play together.

Maui Ocean Center

This is so much more than an aquarium. It's a deep dive into Hawaii's incredible marine world. It's consistently ranked as one of the best family attractions for good reason. The highlight for many is the 35-foot-long acrylic tunnel, where sharks and rays glide gracefully overhead. Other can't-miss exhibits include the outdoor Turtle Lagoon, home to our beloved honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles), and the groundbreaking Humpbacks of Hawaiʻi Exhibit & Sphere, a 3D virtual whale encounter that is truly breathtaking. The center also does a fantastic job of connecting science with culture through exhibits like "Hawaiians and the Sea" and "Kahoʻolawe: A Story of History and Healing."

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Discovery Center

A fantastic and relatively new addition, this interactive center is located on the 3rd floor of Whalers Village in Kāʻanapali, and admission is by donation. It's a perfect spot for families, featuring a dedicated "Kids Zone," stunning multimedia exhibits on native marine life, and engaging displays on conservation and Hawaiian cultural values. Kids and adults can even create art from marine debris collected from local beaches. The center also hosts community events and classes, such as ukulele and weaving, making it a vibrant hub of learning and creativity.