Home News and Society ‘Burned down to ashes’: Why devastated Lahaina Town is such a cherished place on Maui ‘Burned down to ashes’: Why devastated Lahaina Town is such a cherished place on Maui News and Society 0 Comment Before Hawaii became a U.S. territory in the late 1800s, Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The town is a beloved destination.