This lighthouse was the first in Hawaii and one of the earliest on the US Pacific Coast. It stood in front of the historic Pioneer Inn (destroyed in the August 2023 wildfire) and was built in 1840 to help guide whaleboats coming ashore. The tower grew from a 9-foot wooden tower at construction to 26 feet in 1866. Whale oil provided the light that was kept burning by a Hawaiian lighthouse watchman. In 1905 it was rebuilt, and in 1916, the US Coast Guard dedicated the current concrete lighthouse. The concrete tower itself survived the August 2023 fire and still stands at the harbor, off Front Street in the center of Lahaina.
***August 2023 - Catastrophic Wildfire***
Devastating wildfires destroyed much of Lahaina town on Maui in August 2023, including devastation along Front Street and much of the surrounding areas. Lahaina Small Boat Harbor sustained an estimated $30 million in damage and was closed for over two years. In December 2025, the harbor began a phased reopening for limited commercial ocean operations. Much of the surrounding area, including Banyan Tree Park and many historic sites, remains under reconstruction. The rebuild is ongoing and expected to continue for several years.
