Originally a mission for adults and children, Bailey House stands with two floors and a grounds that purely captures the essence of the islands. In 1837, the home was transitioned into a boarding school, the Wailuku Female Seminary, teaching its students Christianity as well as life skills. When the funding of the school came to an end in 1847, students continued their lessons on a tuition required basis. Shortly after, in 1850, Bailey House was purchased by Caroline and Edward Bailey, giving the origin behind the facility’s name. The Bailey family built a plantation of sugar cane and called this tropical paradise home until 1888.
Fast forward in time to July 6th, 1957, the historic day that the Bailey House museum opened its doors for the first time, producing the largest collection of Hawaiian artifacts Maui County. In 1991, Masaru “Pundy” Yokouchi purchased the building and the grounds and donated the property to the Maui Historical Society, ending the $1 per year lease that had been in place. Now holding over 10,000 historical photos and over 2,000 objects, the Bailey House shows off Hawaiian culture and history at its finest. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, guests of the Bailey House can view maps, manuscripts, genealogies, biographies, documents and more in the research library on property. Touring through missionary, monarchy and plantation era artifacts as well as tools, weapons, statues, paintings, replicas, collections, furniture and more, guests have the opportunity to view independently or as a guided tour.
Perhaps the most enticing piece of the Bailey House exhibits is the endless paintings created by none other than Edward Bailey himself. Taking a look into the grand significance of the sights through out the museum, one special and spoked about piece is the wooden statue of Hawaiian Demi God Kamapucia, half man and half pig. This work of art was created prior to the island wide ban of religious art and expressions. The Demi God was hidden away in an island cave for over a century, even surviving the 1819 purge of indigenous religion ordered by King Kamehameha II. This grand statue is the only wooden statue to survive the ban and the purge alike, standing tall in all of its glory in its now Home of the Bailey House.