Early History of the Jewish Community of Maui
There are no records of when the first Jews came to Maui. It is realistic to assume that some arrived as traders in the mid 19th century, about the same time as others who came to Honolulu. Lahaina, Maui was a major Pacific whaling port and the seat of the Hawaiian Monarchy. As Maui's plantations and livestock industry grew, merchants and traders were attracted by the opportunities for commerce. Following World War I, members of the professions settled here as well.
Maui hosted several major military installations during World War II. Jewish service men and women attended services with military chaplains. Some chose to remain, or to return to Maui after the war.
During the 1950s and 60s Maui began to develop as a major tourist destination. The employment and business opportunities, idyllic climate, and low cost of living were strong attractions for individuals and families, many of whom migrated from cities in the western US.
In the 1960s and early 1970s a number of Jewish families, mostly retirees, settled in Lahaina, and in the new Kaanapali resort area of west Maui. The area, originally one of the centers of the sugar industry, was beginning to grow in population and commerce, and this growth was driven by the tourist industry. A number of these families would get together in individual homes to celebrate some holidays, and an occasional Shabbat, with festive meals. These get-togethers evolved into group Passover Seders and casual holiday services in beach parks and, occasionally, in hotel function rooms.
There is a great article on the Jewish community in Maui on the website of the Nahum Goldmann Museum of the Jewish Diaspora.