Lahaina, city in Hawaii, on the west coast of the island of Maui, on Auau Channel. In 1790 the Hawaiian king Kamehameha I, who had recently conquered the islands, made Lahaina his capital. During the 19th century the city functioned as a whaling port. After the decline of the whaling industry and the transferring of the state capital to Honolulu in 1845, Lahaina's importance as a center of activity decreased. However, Lahaina became a producer of sugar, which bolstered its economy. In the 1960s it was designated a national historic landmark. Since the 1970s Lahaina has experienced a renewal as a tourist destination. Population 9,073 (1990).
