History of Maui
The "needle" of ʻĪao Valley
Polynesians, from Tahiti and the Marquesas, were the original peoples to populate Maui.
The Tahitians introduced the kapu system, a strict social order that affected all aspects of life and became the core of Hawaiian culture.
Modern Hawaiian history began in the mid-18th century. King Kamehameha I, king of Hawaii's "Big Island," invaded Maui in 1790 and fought the inconclusive Battle of Kepaniwai, but returned to Hawaii to battle a rival, finally subduing Maui a few years later.
On November 26, 1778, explorer Captain James Cook became the first European to see Maui.
Cook never set foot on the island because he was unable to find a suitable landing.
The first European to visit Maui was the French admiral Jean-François de La Pérouse, who landed on the shores of what is now known as La Perouse Bay on May 29, 1786.
More Europeans followed: traders, whalers, loggers (e.g., of sandalwood) and missionaries.
The latter began to arrive from New England in 1823, settling in Lahaina, which at that time was the capital. They clothed the natives, banned them from dancing hula, and greatly altered the culture.
The missionaries taught reading and writing, created the 12-letter Hawaiian alphabet, started a printing press in Lahaina, and began writing the islands' history, which until then was transmitted orally. Ironically, the missionaries both altered and preserved the native culture.
The religious work altered the culture while the literacy efforts preserved native history and language. Missionaries started the first school in Lahaina, which still exists today: Lahainaluna Mission School, which opened in 1831.
Japanese laborers on Maui harvesting sugar cane in 1885.
At the height of the whaling era (1843–1860), Lahaina was a major whaling center with anchorage in Lāhainā Roads; in one season over 400 ships visited Lahaina with 100 berthed at one time.
Ships tended to stay for weeks rather than days, which explains the drinking and prostitution in the town at that time, against which the missionaries vainly battled.
Whaling declined steeply at the end of the 19th century as petroleum replaced whale oil.
Kamehameha's descendants reigned until 1872.
They were followed by rulers from another ancient family of chiefs, including Queen Liliuokalani who ruled in 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown.
One year later, the Republic of Hawaii was founded.
The island was annexed by the United States in 1898 and made a territory in 1900.
Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state in 1959.
Мауи - второй по величине остров Гавайев и 17-м самый крупный остров Соединенных Штатов (площадь 1883 км2).
В 2010 году, Мауи имел население 144 444 - третий по количеству жителей остров на Гавайях.
Две основные отрасли экономики - сельское хозяйство и туризм.
Крупные туристические центры включают Дорогу к Хана (Hana Highway),
Национальный парк Халеакала (Haleakala National Park) и Лахайна (Lahaina).
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