15 locations to explore Maui's historical narrative

This article is adapted from an essay by Savannah Rose Dagupion featured in the Maui guidebook set to release in August 2024.

Maui's early history reflects that of the rest of Hawaii, marked by conflicts between chiefs, the influence of missionaries, colonization, and the sugarcane industry. Recently, tourism has emerged as a major economic driver for Maui and the state at large.

Approaching your visit with respect and responsibility is crucial, especially in Hawaii. The islands' intricate history of colonization, occupation, and development has led many Native Hawaiians and locals to feel ambivalent about tourists.

The Kingdom of Hawai'i was recognized as an independent nation, united under the Hawaiian monarchy for many years. However, on January 17, 1893, a coup led by 13 white businessmen forced Queen Lili‘uokalani to surrender her government, with threats of US military intervention. Following the successful overthrow, President Grover Cleveland condemned the actions as an 'act of war' and urged the restoration of the monarchy. Congress, however, dismissed his recommendation, leading the coup leaders to establish a provisional government that sought annexation, thus ending the lineage of Native Hawaiian monarchs.

In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaii, intensifying the exploitation of its people and resources. Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959 through popular vote, yet by then, the majority of its residents were non-native, with Native Hawaiians comprising only 17% of the population. Since then, Native Hawaiians have faced ongoing challenges in reclaiming autonomy over their homeland.

Discover more about Maui during your visit with this concise historical overview of the island across 15 notable sites.

1. Mauna Kahalawai and Haleakalā

Maui was shaped by two volcanoes, Mauna Kahalawai and Haleakalā, approximately 1.5 million years ago. As these volcanoes erupted, layers of lava accumulated, eventually forming the island as the summits emerged from the ocean. Today, these dormant volcanoes create two distinct peaks on either side of the island—Mauna Kahalawai to the west and Haleakalā to the east. This geological formation contributes to the island's flat central region, earning Maui the nickname, the Valley Isle.

2. Maʻalaea Harbor 

Around 1000 CE, Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands and Tahiti navigated to Hawaii using outrigger and double-hulled waʻa (canoes), settling across the islands. These skilled navigators arrived near Ma‘alaea Harbor, guided by the stars, clouds, birds, wind, and wave patterns. Their arrival laid the foundations of what we now recognize as Hawaiian culture. To experience paddling an outrigger canoe, check out this list of top cultural experiences on Maui.

3. La Pérouse Bay

In 1786, Captain Jean François de Galaup, Comte de La Pérouse, became the first European to step onto Maui's shores. His legacy continues at La Pérouse Bay, also known as Keoneʻōʻio, located beyond Kihei and Wailea—the southernmost drivable point on the island. The area is characterized by rugged lava rocks, though some spots allow for beach access. Hiking is popular here, and goats are often spotted among the rocks. With favorable conditions, swimming and snorkeling can also be enjoyed.

4. ʻIao Valley

In 1790, Kamehameha I, also known as Kamehameha the Great, journeyed to Maui to continue his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands. With Maui’s king, Kahekili (Kahekilinuiʻahumanu), away on Oʻahu, Kamehameha confronted Kahekili’s son, Kalanikupule. The ensuing battle raged for days, ultimately culminating in ʻIao Valley, where Kamehameha and his forces emerged victorious. The conflict resulted in so many casualties that the streams of ʻIao Valley were dammed by the bodies of fallen warriors, leading to the event being referred to as the Battle of Kepaniwai, or the 'Damming of the Waters.' Kalanikupule fled to Oʻahu, allowing Kamehameha to press on with his conquest of the islands.

5. Lahaina, the seat of the kingdom

After Kamehameha I unified the islands, he ruled from Hawaiʻi Island until his death in 1819. In 1820, his wife Keopuolani relocated with their children to Lahaina, which was designated the capital of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. At this time, the kingdom maintained prosperous relations with Europe and America, attracting missionaries and sailors to the capital. American missionaries established Lahainaluna High School, introduced the first printing press, and published the first newspaper west of the Rockies, Ka Lama, on February 14, 1834. Lahaina served as the capital of Hawaiʻi until 1845, when Honolulu took over that role. Learn more about the devastating fire that destroyed much of Lahaina.

6. Waiola Church

Waiola Church, situated in Lahaina, is where Christianity first took hold on Maui. Founded in 1823 as Ebenezer Church, it later became known as Waineʻe Church ('moving water') and was renamed Waiola Church ('living water') in 1953. That same year, Queen Keopuolani expressed her interest in the missionaries' teachings, meeting with the church's reverends for prayer. Tragically, she fell ill later that year, and her wish to be baptized was granted just an hour before her passing. She is interred in the Royal Tomb located in the Waiola Church graveyard, alongside other royal family members.

7. Whalers Village

Constructed in 1970, Whalers Village serves as a tribute to the thriving whaling industry of the 1800s. Whaling in Lahaina began in the 1820s when captains and their crews would stop to rest on their voyages back to North America, often restocking supplies and hunting whales in Hawaiian waters. Lahaina remained a whaling hub until the industry declined in the 1850s. Fortunately, the whales have not diminished; thousands of humpbacks migrate to Maui every winter to mate and give birth.

8. Wailuku

Since the arrival of the first Polynesians in Hawaii, Native Hawaiians have cared for the land. The concept of private property was non-existent; instead, regulations were established to prevent the misuse and desecration of resources. Everyone had a right to share in the bounty provided by the land and sea. However, when Westerners began settling in Hawaii, they introduced the idea of land ownership. In 1848, Kamehameha III faced pressure from foreign interests to change land distribution, leading to the Great Māhele, or land division. Although intended to safeguard Hawaii’s land, the Great Māhele was confusing for Native Hawaiians, who were unfamiliar with ownership, allowing many families who had farmed the land for generations to be displaced by foreigners.

9. Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum

Following the Great Māhele, foreigners seized their newly acquired land to form the Big Five, the largest agricultural and sugarcane companies in Hawaii. The sugarcane industry quickly became the backbone of Maui's economy, drawing migrant workers from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Portugal. This influx contributed to Hawaii's identity as a melting pot, and the development of Hawaiian pidgin. However, the sugarcane industry declined as Hawaii shifted to a tourism-driven economy after being annexed by the US. In 2016, Alexander & Baldwin’s last sugar mill in Hawaii closed its doors. Explore this chapter of Maui's history at the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum.

10. Kahoʻolawe

Kahoʻolawe is a sacred, uninhabited island located off the coast of Maui. In 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US Army imposed martial law and took control of Kahoʻolawe. This island, revered by Native Hawaiians, was used for military target practice during WWII. Native Hawaiians protested fiercely, and some tragically lost their lives at sea while trying to protect Kahoʻolawe. After the bombing ceased in 1990, Congress voted to return the island to the state, but the damage was extensive—the blasts had cracked Kahoʻolawe’s water table, rendering it even less habitable. Currently, various organizations and crews are engaged in efforts to restore the island.

11. Kula

In 1867, axis deer were gifted to King Kamehameha IV and released on Moloka‘i. They were introduced to Maui in 1959, and since then, their population has exploded, exceeding 60,000 deer primarily in Upcountry areas like Kula. These deer are now considered a significant invasive species, wreaking havoc on once-abundant forests and disrupting the native ecosystem. The loss of forests has diminished Maui's capacity to retain fresh water, exacerbating aridity and drought conditions. Here is more information on the effects of drought and water rights.

12. Wailea

As the economic significance of sugarcane and agriculture waned, business owners and political leaders shifted their focus to making Maui a premier tourist destination. This shift led to the emergence of resort communities like Kaʻanapali and Wailea in the 1960s. These bustling towns are densely packed with hotels, resorts, shopping centers, golf courses, and upscale homes. Today, tourism remains a cornerstone of Maui’s economy.

13. Honokahua

In 1987, when developers began excavating the Honokahua area for the Ritz-Carlton Resort, they uncovered an ancient Hawaiian burial ground containing around 1,100 ʻiwi kūpuna (ancestral bones) that dated back from 950 CE to the 1700s. In Hawaiian culture, ancestors are deeply revered and typically laid to rest in meaningful locations, underscoring the significance of ʻiwi kūpuna as symbols of the indigenous community's bond with the land. The excavation led to widespread desecration of this sacred site, igniting protests among Native Hawaiians against the resort's development. Ultimately, the resort agreed to relocate and restore the area. In 1990, unmarked burials in Hawaii were afforded the same protections as modern cemeteries.

14. Kihei

Since the 1970s, Maui has experienced a real estate development surge. As visitor numbers swelled from the 1970s through the 1990s, the number of hotel units expanded, attracting a global workforce to the island. This growth spurred the creation of new subdivisions and housing, which resulted in a rising cost of living and the displacement of the indigenous population. A notable example of this demographic shift was the opening of a new high school in Kihei in 2023.

15. West and Upcountry Maui

On August 8, 2023, devastating wildfires swept through Maui, one in West Maui and another in Upcountry. Fueled by strong winds from a nearby hurricane, the fires rapidly consumed thousands of acres. The confirmed death toll reached 115, with the search for victims concluding on August 28, 2023, despite many individuals still unaccounted for. This disaster is among the deadliest in American history, prompting numerous organizations to offer assistance to those displaced.