Until permanently moving to Honolulu, Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. In the 19th century, Lahaina was the center of the global whaling industry with many sailing ships anchored in at its waterfront.

Our condo was just a short distance north of Lahaina, and as we were driving into town one day Bill noticed something odd.  See that fishing vessel over there through the tree branches?  It was right up against the rocks and it was bobbing and rocking and rolling.  Something just didn't seem right.

I mean just look at it over there.  Usually when people use the term "on the rocks," they don't mean it literally.

Here's a video.  It was about here that we realized the boat was on fire.

See the water cannon trying to put out the fire?

It turned out that the boat had been anchored off shore and the strong winds had caused it to break away and drift onto the rocks.

Gawkers.

She was called the Pacific Maid.

And eventually, as we learned from the news, the fire was extinguished and the ship was preserved for later salvage.  Here's the story from Hawaii Now:

The first report was made at 7:27 a.m. when the Pacific Maid vessel broke from its mooring and drifted into the rocks at Wahikuli State Park in Lahaina.  Engine crews from the Lahaina Fire Station arrived to find the engine compartment of the boat on fire.  The fire was contained to the engine of the Pacific Maid and was extinguished by 10:30 a.m, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.  Ladder and tanker crews from the Lahaina Station, along with a Jet Ski and Coast Guard personnel responded to assist.  No one was on board, and the boat was still intact when the incident was turned over to personnel from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Enough excitement.  Let's go into town, park in the overcrowded muddy public parking lot, and have a look around.

Banyan Tree Square features an exceptionally large banyan tree planted on April 24, 1873, by William Owen Smith to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Christian missionaries.

But these days Lahaina is a very touristy place, filled with an endless array of souvenir shops and surprisingly high-end art galleries.  You can wander in off the street and pick up an original Picasso or Gaugin or Chagall, or even pieces by celebrities like Red Skelton and Anthony Quinn.  Bring a fat checkbook.

It's cheaper to stroll along the waterfront.

There's a nice museum in the old courthouse.

Remember that Cheeseburger in Paradise we had in Waikiki?  Well, the waitress told us that the only better cheeseburger in all of Hawaii was at their sister store in Lahaina.  Doug and Bonnie didn't need much persuasion to give this a try.

The place had an...um...eclectic decor.

We had a nice table by the window.

With quite a view.  I think I can find you a better cheeseburger in DC, but I doubt I can improve on the view.

No cheeseburger in Hawaii is complete without an umbrella.

Doug and Bonnie seem pleased with our choice of cuisine.