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.
Statue of Buddah at the Lahaina Jodo Mission
Like water falls? Then don’t miss this gorgeous one on Kauai. To get to Kipu Falls, follow these directions: at the 3 mile marker on Highway 50 just past the town of Puhi, turn left onto Hulemalu Puhi Bypass Road then right onto Kipu Road. At the one lane bridge, park at the dirt road on the left. The road descends steeply to the. This area can be very muddy if it has been damp so be careful on this steep hill. Follow the stream bed for a half-mile and you will come to a spur trail that cuts across a large pool fed by the falls. The falls is ringed by a 20 foot cliff and a huge Banyan tree growing at the edge of the pool. While difficult to get to, the hike to this very secluded and interesting falls is well worth the effort. Be sure to stay off private property in the area by following the stream down to the falls area.
If you are visiting the Kona side of the Big Island, a frequent jumping off point for exploring the western part of the Big Island is the town of Kailua-Kona. If you are looking for high quality snorkeling and a little taste of history, head south down Highway 190 to the town of Captain Cook. Take Napo’opo’o Road down to the beach where you will find a beautiful and sheltered bay known as . It was here at Kealakekua Bay, that Captain Cook was killed by the natives in 1779 in a dispute over the theft of a rowboat the natives had stolen from Cook’s ship, the HMS Resolution. A white obelisk monument stands in his honor on the north side of the bay. The snorkeling in these waters are some of the best in the islands. You can also rent canoes from the shore and easily explore this beautiful bay or take a swim in the peaceful and usually calm ocean waters.
- Captain
Cook Monument
The Grove Farm was a historic sugar plantation and estate established in 1864 by George Wilcox, the son of missionaries. George was joined by his brother Sam, the local sheriff and manager of the cattle ranch portion of the estate. The 16,000 square foot mansion is filled with Hawaiian history as well as period furnishings and sugar plantation trappings. A two hour tour of the buildings, grounds and gardens is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. led by local Kauai residents. A $10.00 donation is suggested and tours must be booked in advance. To get to Grove Farm, go southwest on Hwy 50 from Lihu’e and make a left on Nawiliwilli Drive. Watch for a sign for Grove Farm Homestead on the left side of the roadway.
