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In 1834, an American doctor and missionary named Dr. Dwight Baldwin sailed into Hawaii on a quest to educate the native Hawaiians about health and God. After 17 years of service as a missionary, Baldwin was granted 2,600 acres in Kapalua for his own personal use. Baldwin first used this land to farm and graze cattle, however, when his ranch manager began planting pineapples on a 4-acre plot the doctor’s fortunes boomed. Eventually, he also constructed this famous Hawaiian home out of coral and rock.
Though Dr. Baldwin came to the islands as a missionary, he also helped introduce the people of Hawaii to a great deal more than religious ideals. While living in the Baldwin Home, he contributed his time to teaching the native Hawaiians how to read and write in both Hawaiian and English so that they could better understand democratic values, diplomacy and finances. He assisted them in learning practical skills in agriculture, mechanics and health education. He was also a very dedicated physician. During the 1853 small pox outbreak that overran Maui, Molokai and Lanai, he single-handedly vaccinated hundreds of Hawaiians who would have otherwise perished with the epidemic.
Today the Baldwin house remains preserved by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and holds the title of oldest home in Lahaina. Inside visitors can take a tour of the home which as been artfully restored to reflect Baldwin’s life: photos of the family, house artifacts and library paint an extremely vivid picture of Lahaina during the 1800’s. Guest will be happy to know that many of the original furnishings remain, including the family’s grand piano, carved four-post bed, and Dr. Baldwin’s dispensary where he gave treatment to sick Hawaiian’s daily. Since 1964, when the estate was generously donated to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the Baldwin Estate has been a staple in architectural and archeological research. Thanks to this donation, the property may never be sold and will remain in the Public Domain where it can be enjoyed for years to come.
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