::: MAPS OF HAWAII - Island of Maui :::
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Maui is nearly two islands connected by a low isthmus in the Wailuku District. It is
the largest of a small group of islands at the center of the chain. To the left of Maui
in this image, the eastern tips of Molokai and Lanai are visible. Usually uninhabited
Kahoolawe is below Maui. West Maui consists of the Lahaina District with a central
ridge of rugged mountains rising to 4,500 feet. The Districts of Makawao and Hana are
on East Maui. Haleakala dominates the East Maui landscape at over 10,000 feet in height.
The isthmus extends from Maalaea Bay on the south to Kahului Bay on the north. Lahaina,
the once famous whaling port and capital of Hawaii until 1846 had no port as such but
Lahaina Roads was a safe anchorage. Once the whaling days declined, Maalaea Bay was the
main landing for Maui until Kahului Bay was dredged for a deep-water port. Other main
landings were at Hana Bay, Huelo, Kipahulu, Makena, and Kihei.
Maui is 728 square miles in size. Travel on Maui was easy enough except for
the northern shore of East Maui and the extreme north coast of West Maui. A carriage
road connected the main town of Wailuku with Waihee, Maalaea Bay and Ulupalakua via
Makawao. The dark line extending between Wailuku and Paia is the Kahului Railroad.
Between West Maui and the isthmus, it was necessary to travel by horse across either end
of the West Maui Mountains. Getting to Hana by land was a horseback ride from Ulupalakua.
Through the wet and dangerous Koolau and Hamakualoa regions on the north coast of East
Maui, there was a horse trail but it was usually avoided if possible. In later years,
steamers ran regularly from port to port connecting the towns along the East Maui north
coast.
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West Maui
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Lahaina, the focal point of West Maui, is 72 miles east of Honolulu. North of Lahaina
are the villages of Honokawai (5.5 miles from Lahaina), Napili (9.3 miles from Lahaina)
and the small harbor at Honakahau (14.8 miles from Lahaina). Continuing past Honakahau
(often spelled Honokohau) the trail went on toward Wailuku via Waihee (24.1 miles from
Lahaina and 4.8 miles from Kahului). South of Lahaina is the hamlet of Olowalu (6 miles
from Lahaina). Just uphill from Lahaina and unmarked on this map was the school at Lahainaluna.
Along the coastal plain from Olowalu to the western edge of the Kaanapali region, travel
was a simple matter but the trail around the north end was difficult. Mountain
crossings to the isthmus were dangerous except at the southern end where a good horse
trail connected Olowalu and Waikapu, crossing the southern end of the mountains. By the
mountain road via Olowalu, Lahaina was 25.5 miles from Kahului. Going around the north
end via Honakahau, Lahaina was 29.3 miles from Kahului.
Central Maui and Wailuku Environs
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Maui's Isthmus Region
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Wailuku and Kahului Bay Environs
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From the 1840's, foreign settlement in Central Maui was active. Wailuku eventually took
the place of Lahaina as the administrative, social and business center of Maui. The
region from Wailuku to Makawao, taking in the northern isthmus and upland Kula, was the
second most densely populated of the entire chain. Distances were measured from Kahului
(3.1 miles east of Wailuku). Roads from Kahului and Wailuku went north, south and east.
The north road went to Waihee (4.8 miles from Kahului) and then a trail continued on via
Honakahau to Lahaina. A good carriage road went south via Waikapu (5.5 miles from
Kahului) to Maalaea Bay (9.9 miles from Kahului). At Waikapu the mountain trail to
Lahaina met the carriage road between Maalaea Bay and Kahului. The main carriage road
east from Wailuku and Kahului eventually ended at Ulupalakua via Paia and Makawao. The
Kahului Railroad ran from the port at Kahului west to Wailuku and east to Paia (5.5
miles from Kahului). The carriage road ran parallel to the railroad track until Paia,
passing the sugar plantation town of Spreckelsville (3.5 miles from Kahului). A branch
road headed for Hamakuapoko (8.6 miles from Kahului) and Haiku (10.2 miles from Kahului).
The main carriage road climbed uphill from Paia to the town of Makawao (10.5 miles from
Kahului). Continuing on the main carriage road along the western slope of Haleakala
through Kula one comes to Ulupalakua (18.5 miles from Makawao). A road descended
steeply from Ulupalakua to the landing at Makena (3.3 miles from Ulupalakua). A horse
trail went east from Ulupalakua into East Maui and on to Hana via Kaupo. A good horse
trail (or poor carriage road) ran from Makena to Maalaea Bay via Kalepolepo (later named
Kihei) and then to the main landing at Maalaea Bay. By this route, Ulupalakua was 25.6
miles from Kahului. By the main road via Makawao, Ulupalakua was 29 miles from Kahului.
East Maui
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Relatively unpopulated East Maui includes the town of Hana, at the eastern tip.
Travelers could enter East Maui by one of two overland routes. Both were difficult so
most people traveled by boat. The more popular of the two overland routes was along the southern flank of
Haleakala from Ulupalakua. This trail reached Kaupo in 15.5 miles across a quite arid
stretch of ranch land. After Kaupo, the trail reached Kipahulu in another 10 miles. At
Kipahulu, the sugar plantation region of East Maui begins. Hamoa is 7 miles past
Kipahulu and Hana is reached in another 3 miles. On the north coast going west from
Hana through a rain forest and steep canyons are the towns of Nahiku (unmarked on this
map but 9.6 miles from Hana), Keanae (15.1 miles from Hana), Huelo (26.3 miles from Hana),
Peahi and finally Haiku (32.1 miles from Hana and 10.2 miles from Kahului). By the
better road around the south slope of Haleakala, Hana was 61 miles. Going through the
wet and unpopular north coast trail, Hana was 42.3 miles from Kahului.
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