~*~`HAWAII~*~`THE ISLANDS OF ALOHA`~*~

~*~`HAWAII – The Islands of Aloha:~*~    Geography:   Hawaii is made up of eight major islands, which include Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Kahoolawe, Molokai, Lanai and Niihau.   The tallest mountain in the world really is in Hawaii.  Called Mauna Kea, it has a total height of 33,476 feet.   From the bottom of the Hawaiian Trough it is 3,280 fathoms to sea level and another 13,796 feet to the very peak of the "white mountain".   Hawaii is considered the most isolated population center in the world.  It is 2,390 miles from California, and 3,850 miles from Japan.   Weather and Climate   Here is a weather page for all of Hawaii.~~   Hawaiian weather is very consistent the year around.   Moderated by warm sea surface temperatures which are also consistent, almost every day of the year is perfect for outdoor activities, sightseeing, going to the beach and making the most of every single day in Paradise.   Rather than four seasons in Hawaii, there are really only two: summer and winter.   Summer generally is from May to October and was named Kau by the Hawaiians.   Winter is known as Ho'olio and runs approximately from November to April.   Average daytime winter temperature: 78 degrees F. (25.6 C) Average daytime summer temperature: 85 degrees F. (29.4 C)   Remarkably there is little difference between daytime and nighttime average temperatures. Hawaii Weather Chart - 12 month climate summary -   State of Hawaii population: 1980 – 964,691 1990 – 1,108,229 1998 – 1,193,001     Language:   The official languages of Hawaii include both Hawaiian and English.   The original Hawaiian language is a Polynesian dialect.  Rather than a 26 letter alphabet there are only 13 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet:  A, E, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, U and W.  There are 18 sounds in the spoken language.  ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~   ~*~`The Official Flowers of all Eight Islands:~*~   ~*~`Hawaii –{ Red Lehua Ohia} ~*~`Maui – Lokelani {Pink Cottage Rose} ~*~`Molokai –{ White Kukui Blossom} ~*~`Kahoolawe –{ Hinahina (Beach Heliotrope} ~*~`Lanai – Kaunaoa {Yellow and Orange Air Plant} ~*~` Oahu –{ Ilima} ~*~`Kauai – Mokihana {Green Berry} ~*~`Niihau –{ Pupu Shell} ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~   ~*~`Island Colors:~*~   ~~Hawaii – Red ~~Maui – Pink ~~Molokai – Green ~~Kahoolawe – Grey ~~Lanai – Orange ~~Oahu – Yellow ~~Kauai – Purple ~~Niihau - White   ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ ~*~`History:~*~   ~~`Before its discovery in 1775 by Captain James Cook, Hawaii was discovered by Polynesians who came in canoes sometime in the first 1,000 years after Christ.   A kingdom until 1775, Captain Cook renamed the islands The Sandwich Isles after the Earl of Sandwich.  King Kamehameha did not appreciate the name change, and felt each island should have its own name.   He wanted the islands referred to as the Islands of the Kingdom of Hawaii.   Hawaii was a sovereign kingdom from 1843, when it was granted its independence from Great Britain, until 1893 when the government was overthrown.  The last queen was Queen Liliuokalani.  She also happens to be the composer of the famous Hawaiian song, Aloha Oe.   Hawaii officially became the 50th State of the United States of America on August 21, 1959.   ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~   ~*~`Hawaii State Symbol:~*~   The State Bird: The Nene, which is pronounced nay-nay, is often referred to as the Hawaiian goose.   Living in the rough lava has helped the Nene to evolve from being webbed footed into feet which are more claw shaped and more useful for its environment.   Its wing structure has also evolved to accommodate shorter flights.

` Nene, or Hawaiian Geese, are medium sized gray brown geese that somewhat resemble small Canadian Geese. The face, cap, bill, and feet are black. The buff colored feathers of the neck are so heavily furrowed that the neck appears to have wavy black stripes. ` Their feet have much less webbing than those of most other waterfowl. Sexes are very similar in appearance, though the males are slightly larger. `The native Hawaiian name, Nene, is derived from their distinctive "nay-nay" vocalization. The Nene is the official State Bird of Hawaii. `Distribution and Habitat: Nene are found only in the Hawaiian islands. The wild population was reduced in this century to two remnant populations on the big island of Hawaii. `Reintroduction is being attempted in the Haleakala Crater area on Maui and a small population that began with escaped birds is becoming established on Kauai. ` Nene are unique among geese in that they are not normally observed near water. The reduced webbing on their feet is an adaptation to their rugged upland habitat. ` They inhabit the rugged volcanic slopes of mountains such as Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, frequenting the small pockets of vegetation, called kipukas, that grow between the lava flows. Diet: ` Nene browse the sparse vegetation found among the lava flows. They eat a wide variety of leaves, fruits, buds, and seeds of the native plants. `The high altitude kipukas can be a very arid habitat. Much of their water intake in these areas comes from consuming juicy native berries. ` They have readily adapted to consume the fruits of many of the introduced species of plants but they also have to compete for these scarce resources with a variety of introduced upland birds. `Reproduction: ` They build their saucer-shaped nests in the concealment of the bushy pockets of vegetation at altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 feet. ` The female incubates her eggs for 29-30 days, while the male stands watch from a nearby vantage point. ` The young goslings grow far more slowly than the more northern species of geese. It may take them as long as three months to fledge. ` This extended flightless period increases their vulnerability to a host of introduced predators, most notably mongooses. ` The nests may be trampled by foraging feral goats and pigs. `Conservation: `The Nene has been brought back from the brink of extinction through heroic captive propagation efforts, but it is not yet self sustaining in the wild. `By 1949 a population that was once estimated at 25,000 had been reduced to a mere 20-30 birds in the wild, with another 17 in captivity. ` Extensive hunting, habitat loss, introduced predators, competition for scarce food resources, and degradation of habitat by introduced livestock all contributed to the population crash. ` Fortunately aviculturists have learned to propagate the species successfully in captivity. The wild population is being continuously augmented with released captive reared birds. `Predator control programs are ongoing, and scientists erect protective barriers around wild nests to protect them from trampling. The various wild populations total perhaps 400 birds. ` There is evidence to suggest that the population would once more begin to decline without the continuous recruitment from the captive rearing program. ` What habitat remains for the Nene may not be good enough to sustain the population independently. ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`MAY DAY`~*~

Link to: http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/leiday/index1.htm ~*~ "May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i"~*~ Celebrated the whole month of May. Also Happy Mother's Day (ah o na Makuahini) ~`The Hawaiian Islands have always been known for their open-armed friendliness, welcoming guests with garlands/necklaces made of flowers bestowed on the recipient with a traditional kiss. Visitors leaving the Islands, toss their leis onto the harbor waters. The leis eventually drift to shore symbolizing that the visitor will someday return. "May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i" -- it's a song and a custom and a festival. In Hawai'i on the first of May, everyone wears flowers, schools stage pageants and give prizes, contests are held for the most beautiful lei or garland, a Queen is crowned, competitions in both ancient and modern hula are held and popular entertainers give a concert or show for the locals. The festivities continue throughout the Islands for the month, with each island having its own style of lei: The first Lei Day was in 1927 and celebrated in downtown Honolulu with a few people wearing leis.  From that it grew as more people began to wear leis on May 1.   We were told that the first celebration and exhibit of leis was at the Bank of Hawaii. In 1928, Hawaii - lehua blossoms from the `ohi`a lehua tree which grows on the slopes of the volcanoes on the Big Island. The blossoms are red, white, yellow and orange, are said to be sacred to Pele, the goddess of volcanoes. Kauai   - mokihana, purplish berries with a scent of anise from a tree found only on Kauai, are strung like beads. Kaho'olawe   - hinahina, the stems and flowers of this silver gray plant found on the beaches of Kaho`olawe, are braided together to form a lei. Lanai - kaunaoa, light orange thread-like strands of this parasitic vine are twisted together to form the lei. Maui   - lokelani blossom known as the pink "rose of heaven" is used. Molokai   - kukui or candlenut tree leaves, white flowers and nuts are braided together to make the lei. Ni'ihau   - pupu shells found along the shoreline of this island are strung to make the lei. O'ahu -   `ilima, delicate, thin yellow-orange blossoms with a velvety texture traditionally thought of as the Royal Leis as at one time only high chiefs wore them. The origin of the festival is credited to a poet and artist named Don Blanding who in 1928 noticed that most of the flower lei were being distributed at the Aloha Tower pier where boatloads of tourists were arriving on what they called "Boat Day." Lei Day, a celebration of life with hula and song, is dedicated to the lei as a symbol of Hawaiian beauty and culture. With the spirit and special blessings of Aloha, the giving of a lei, accompanied by a kiss on the cheek, speaks of the island philosophy of kindness and love. A lei given sings of special relationships, deep feelings and emotions. A necklace of flowers that vibrate welcome, a precious thank you, and a magical gift from the heart. ~*~`Aloha Quotes`~*~: "Wildflowers don't care where they grow." ~   Dolly Parton " Flowers are angels rooted in soil." ~ Alexander Stoddard The Aloha Spirit Law

~*~`Flowers of the Hawaiian Islands`~*~

***~*~` Photographs of Flowers in Hawaii`~*~*** photographs courtesy: Philip Greenspun Copyright:1990~Philip Greenspan click here:  http://www.photo.net/photo/collections/flowers-hawaii.html   Photographs of Flowers in Hawaii by Philip Greenspun ~~~" Native Hawaiian flower species tend to be small and unimpressive. The climate is conducive to growing many stunning imported species, hence this exhibit. Many of these images are from the Nani Mau gardens in Hilo on the Big Island."~~~ ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ ~*~`Quote`~*~ on the Hawaiian Islands: "For me, its balmy airs are always blowing, its summer seas flashing in the sun, the pulsing of its surf beat is in my ears…[Hawaii is] the loveliest fleet of islands anchored in any ocean. " Mark Twain (1866) ` Nearly every type of climate and topography in the world exists in the islands, from sub-arctic conditions to lava-rock beaches, from verdant rain forests to arid deserts, from rich farmlands to swamp. Each island has a distinct climate and topography. ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`HAWAII~The Big Island`~*~       The largest island at some 4,034 square miles (and still growing), the big island is twice the size of all the other islands combined. Measuring 93 miles long by 76 miles wide, its home to every type of climate zone existing in Hawaii. It's not uncommon to see 12 feet of snow on Hawaii's two tallest mountain peaks, 13,796-foot Mauna Kea and 13,680-foot Mauna Loa. These mountains are the tallest in the state; what's more, when measured from their true base on the ocean floor, they reach 32,000 feet, making them the tallest mountains in the world. At 4,077 feet, Kilauea Volcano has been continuously erupting since January 3, 1983; it has added more than 600 acres of new land since then. Just a few miles from the cooled lava lies a pristine rain forest, while on the southern end there's an arid desert. The rest of the island contains tropical terrain; white-, black-, and green sand beaches; windswept grasslands; and farmlands and ranches generating tropical fruits, macadamia nuts, coffee, and flowers. ~*~` Big Island Map: click here: http://www.hais.org/images/new%20images/big_island_hawaii_map.jpg ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`KAUAI~The Garden Isle`~*~     ~~ Named the earth's wettest spot with more than 400 inches of rain annually, this island also hosts the Grand Canyon of the Pacific called Waimea Canyon. This Canyon was created by the collapse of the 10,000-foot tall Olokele volcano which formed a crater 3,600 feet deep by 14 miles long. Measuring 25 miles long by 33 miles wide Kauai has 137 miles of white-sand beaches and a high point of 5,000 feet. The beaches rim most of the island's coastline with majestic 2,700-foot cliffs creating the spectacular Na Pali Coast. Lush jungle envelopes the north side of the island while balmy, palm-lined beaches bless the southern coast. The Island of Kauai is also nicknamed the Garden Isle. It gets its' name because of all the lush beauty that is there. The Island of Kauai's flower is the Mokihana Berry and Kauai's color is purple. Some of the places to see when on Kauai are: The Menehune Fishpond (according to legend, constructed by menehunes between dusk to dawn), Prince Kuhio Park (Prince Kuhio was born here), Spouting Horn (a shoreline lava tube which has sea water compressed in it and pushes up like a geyser: a moaning sound exudes and legend says the legendary lizard, Lehu, was trapped here and we hear his cries), Waimea Canyon State Park, Koke'e State Park, The Fern Grotto, Sleeping Giant and many other fantastic and legendary sites. Over 5 million years ago, Kaua'i took its place as part of an island chain. Magma spewing from a hot spot beneath the floating Pacific Tectonic Plate formed Kaua'i as it did the other islands in the chain. The plate, bearing Kaua'i, moved on, as the destiny of these islands is to remain in motion, advancing in a northwesterly direction at the rate of about 3.5 inches per year while slowly eroding and declining. The tops of most of these islands no longer exist above sea level; many have subsided under the Aleutian Chain in Alaska. First came the plants. Over millions of years, every 10,000 to 100,000 years or so, a new plant arrived, until a total of about 270 colonizing species bloomed in these islands. They arrived without the aid of people, on wings and in the bellies of birds, or they rafted here on vegetation. These 270 or so colonists evolved over millennia to become significantly different so that by the time the first Polynesians arrived, they saw those 1,300 or so flowering plants mentioned earlier. The people adapted to life in their new land, where they thrived. Hundreds of years later, in succeeding migrations, the strong, fearsome Tahitians arrived and overpowered them, establishing the Tahitian religion and culture as the basis for Hawaiian society. Hawaiians built heiau, or temples, to worship their pantheon. Among the most famous in all Hawai'i are heiau they built in an arc starting at the Wailua River on the East Side, ascending to the top of the highest region of Kaua'i, Wai'ale'ale, and down to the West Side. They considered the entire Wailua region sacred. Royals from other islands came to Wailua to give birth to their progeny at Holoholoku, sacred birthplace of the chiefs. So special was this birthing place that it gave rise to a saying. Imagine setting out in a double-hulled outrigger sailing canoe from the Marquesas Islands, over 2,000 miles away, and coming upon the emerald spires of Na Pali— it means the cliffs—piercing the azure and cerulean skies. That's what early Polynesians who settled Kaua'i did. On at least one part of the island, they left behind evidence of their existence dating from as early as 200 A.D. to 600 A.D. And by about 1300 A.D., these people lived along Na Pali Coast. In hanging valleys and near shorelines along Na Pali Coast, they grew their staple crop—kalo, or taro—along with sweet potato, breadfruit and other plants that they brought with them in their voyaging canoes and used for food, clothing, shelter and medicine. They managed resources wisely, practiced masterful irrigation techniques that returned water to rivers, and fished, planted and harvested in season. When they arrived, early people found what modern-day botanists estimate were 1,300 or so native flowering plant species growing in these islands. Today, many of those plants are endangered, threatened and rare. Perhaps the ancients saw the only two native mammals found in all of Hawai'i—the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, or 'ope'ape'a, and the endangered Monk seal, 'ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua. The green sea turtle, or honu, now threatened, swam in abundance. Birds and fish were plentiful. "At least 1,000 creatures that once enlivened Hawai'i's landscape have vanished since Polynesian voyagers—and later European explorers—first set foot here…" —Elizabeth Royte "Hawaii's Lost World," National Geographic ~~` Kauai Map: click here: http://www.hais.org/images/new%20images/kauai_map.jpg ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`Molokai~~The Friendly Isle`:~*~    37 miles long and 10 miles wide, this island is roughly the size of Manhattan. The north shore on the west side of the island lines a desert-like landscape with miles of white-sand beaches. The protruding peninsula, Kalaupapa, is guarded by a fence of cliffs 2,000 feet tall, and lines the remainder of the north side of the island. Molokai can be divided into two areas: the dry west and south end, with a high point of 1,381 feet; and the rainy east and north ends where the high point is Mt. Kamakou, at 4,970 feet. ~*~` Molokai Map:~*~ click here: http://www.hais.org/images/new%20images/molokai_map.jpg ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`OAHU~~       Home to Honolulu, Oahu is 40 by 26 miles and hosts the most urban area of the islands with a population of nearly 900,000. Oahu has two mountain ranges which split it into three different environments, the Waianae Ridge in the west and the jagged Koolaus in the east, which form the backdrop for Honolulu. The windward side of the island has lush green ferns, tropical plants and waterfalls; the other side, between Waianae Ridge and the ocean, is drier, sparse plant life and a desiccated landscape; and in between lies the warm Ewa Valley buzzing with agricultural activity and bears lush plants and trees. ~*~` Oahu Map:~*~ click here: http://www.hais.org/images/new%20images/oahu_map.jpg ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`LANAI~~`The Pineapple Isle`~*~       Only 13 by 17 miles in size it rises out of the ocean like a turtle's shell, with cliffs on the west side that reach 3,370 feet shrouded in clouds, and slopes to sea level on the east and south sides. The only town on the island, Lanai City, hovers in the clouds at 1,600 feet. One area of the island that stands out just 7 miles from Lanai City is the Garden of the Gods. Here, oddly strewn boulders lie in the amber- and ocher-colored dirt, and bizarre stone formations dot the landscape. Hawaiians have yet to explain this enigma to satisfy modern-day scientists though they have formed romantic legends about the mystery.  ~*~` Lanai Map`:~*~ click here: http://www.hais.org/images/new%20images/lanai_map.jpg ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`Kahoolawe`~*~       Years of over grazing by ranchers and being used as a U.S. military bombing target (1945 to 1994) has left this island a flat and arid land void of top soil and greenery. Native Hawaiians recently reclaimed the island 7 miles southwest of Maui from the federal government and are trying to restore, reforest, and replant the island, therefore access is restricted. ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~`MAUI~The Valley Isle`~*~       This 728-square-mile island is the only place in the world where you can drive from sea-level to 10,000 feet in just 34 miles, crossing tropical beaches, sugar and pineapple plantations, rolling grassy hills, past the timber line, up to the particolored lunarlike ashes of Haleakala's lip. The "Valley Isle" was created when Mounts Kahalawai (5,277 ft) and Haleakala flowed together over a million years ago and created a range of climate from desert to rain forest. In addition to 33 miles of public beach on the south and western shores, Maui is home to the dry lands of Kihei, the bogs of west Maui, rain forest of Hana and the desert of Kaupo. ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~

~*~MAUI~~The Valley Isle`~*~

~~`Map of The Island of Maui`~~ West Maui | South Maui | Central Maui | East Maui | Upcountry

~*~`Maui~The Magic Island`~*~ ~`Nickname`~

Maui~The Magic Island Maui is actually two mountain tops joined by a low-lying central plateau, or isthmus. Shaped a bit like a distorted butterfly, its orientation is approximately northwest to southeast, with the western mountain considerably older, more weathered, and lower than Haleakala (House of the Sun), its massive neighbor to the southeast. Directions on Maui refer to: West Maui (where Lahaina and Ka'anapali are); South Maui (where Kihei and Makena are); Central Maui (the plateau area where Kahului/Wailuku are); and East/Upcountry Maui (which includes heavenly Hana and the slopes of Haleakala). | Nickname:~~The Magic Isle County Seat: Wailuku Color: Pink Flower: Lokelani Population: 91,361 Length: 48 miles Width: 26 miles Area: 729 sq. miles Highest Point: Haleakala (10,023ft.) About Maui... ~~The whalers were a rowdy group when they laid over in Lahaina. This was probably why the proprietors of the old Pioneer Inn felt obliged to write the House Rules on the wall: "Women is not allow in you room. If you wet or burn you bed you going out. You are not allow in the downstears in the seating room or in the dinering room or in the kitchen when you are drunk. You must use a shirt when you come to the seating room." The whalers are only a memory now, but the Inn and the Rules are still here, and so are the whales. Around about November they begin to appear in the warm waters off the west coast of Maui, spouting, and breaching and sliding their great bulk through the water with the grace of dancers.

~*~`How Maui Came To Be`~*~

~*~`Maui No Ka Oi`~*~   ~`Maui no ka oi is a phrase you'll hear often in Hawaii. It means "Maui is the best." And who's to argue? From the spectacular scenery of Haleakala (House of the Sun), where pilgrims from around the world congregate just to experience the sunrise, to picture-postcard perfect Hana and the former whaling port of Lahaina, Maui does seem to have it all. The Island of Maui is nicknamed the Valley Isle. It gets its name because the central planes area, when viewed from the air, looks like a big valley sitting between the two volcanoes that formed this Island. Out of all the Islands here in Hawaii, Maui is known as "No Ka Oi" or Maui is "The Best". The Island of Maui's flower is the Lokelani rose and the island's color is pink. Some of the places to see here when on Maui are: The Hana Coast Line ( a beautiful drive through Maui's rainforest area is filled with lush greenery and waterfalls). Iao Valley State Park. The town of Lahaina (the town itself was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962. Lahaina was once the capital of the Hawaiian Islands). For the more adventurous, lots of hiking trails. And Haleakala, Maui's Volcano (watching the sunrise from Haleakala is one of the most spectacular things to see here while on Maui). Approximately five million years ago, an undersea eruption created two volcanic mountains, Mauna Kahalawai and Haleakala. Mauna Kahalawai, now an extinct volcano, became the rugged West Maui Mountains.  Majestic 10,023-foot Haleakala, meaning "house of the sun," last erupted in 1790 and is now considered a dormant volcano.   Centuries of lava flows and erosion created an isthmus between the two mountains.  This vale composed of rich volcanic soil gave Maui the nickname "Valley Isle."  According to ancient legend, the Hawai'ian islands were created by Maui, the "god of a thousand tricks," who pulled the islands from the ocean  with his magic fishhook.   This mythical demigod also lassoed the sun god "La" from atop Haleakala, releasing it only after it promised to move slowly through the sky, thus providing abundant daylight and warmth for the islands.  Maui County, now four islands, was originally one land mass called "Maui-Nui."  ~~~~ During the polar ice age, the glaciers thawed and the oceans swelled to separate the mountain peaks into the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kaho'olawe.   According to legend, Hawai'i-loa and eight navigating seafarers from the Marquesa islands, 2,000 miles to the south, discovered the Hawai'ian islands in the eighth century A.D.   The first inhabitants developed a simple agrarian culture, growing taro plant and grinding the root into their food staple, poi.   They also built canoes and fished, constructed grass huts for dwelling, erected crude stone temples and wove tapa cloth.   Around the twelfth century A.D, the Tahitians arrived in Maui.  They were led by chiefs who became the ali'i, the Hawai'ian ruling class.   The Tahitians established the "kapu" system, the rigid social order that became the foundation of ancient Hawaiian culture.  Additionally, they introduced their religion with its  many goddesses.   Haleki'i and Pihana, two archeological sites in the Iao Valley, are religious structures built by Tahitian ali'i. The full name of Pihana is actually Pihanakalani, meaning " a gathering place of the ali'i."  For several centuries, warfare raged among competing ali'i on Maui and between chieftains from the neighboring islands of Oahu and Hawai'i.  In 1550 AD the Ali'i Pi'ilani unified all the Maui districts, and after he died his two sons battled for control of the island. ~~` With the help of warriors from Hawai'i, Kiha-a-pi'ilani prevailed to become the supreme ruler of Maui. During the late 1700s, Kamehameha I, ruler of the big island Hawai'i, invaded the adjacent islands to establish the Hawaiian Kingdom.  One of his armies, led by Kalani'opu'u, attacked Maui in 1776. He was soundly defeated by the warriors of King Kahekili, who surprised the invaders by hiding behind the sand dunes at Maalaea Bay.   However, in 1790, Kamehameha I invaded Maui once again, this time with a fleet of war canoes so large it is alleged to have filled the bay from Hana to Kahului.   Kamehameha finally conquered Maui in the brutal battle of Wailuku, where after two days of intense fighting he unleashed a cannon operated by two European soldiers.  The Maui army, commanded by Kalanikapule (King Kahekilis son), was forced to retreat into Iao Valley, where they tried to escape by scaling the steep cliffs.   This historic battle is now known as Kauwaupali ("clawed off the cliff") and Kepaniwai ("the damming of the waters").   In 1802 Kamehameha I built the "brick palace" in Lahaina, where he lived for a year. The British explorer Captain James Cook landed in Kahului Bay on November 26, 1778, an event that began the influx of Western influence.  French explorer Captain Jean-Francois La Pérouse, the first Westerner to settle on Maui, established a village in 1786.   Probably the most significant influence was that of the Christian missionaries, who founded the first mission under Reverend Richards in Lahaina in 1823.  In 1824 Kaahumanu, Mauis regent under Kamehameha II, issued a code of laws based on the Ten Commandments.  ~~ During this time, whaling had begun to boom in Lahaina, a development that swiftly introduced some of the more unsavory Western elements to the port town.   A riot broke out in 1825 when a law was passed prohibiting the sale of alcohol.  Whalers attacked the Richards' home, but were unsuccessful in squelching the Christian presence. Meanwhile, the missionaries established their instrumental role in educating the local population.  Since the Hawaiians had no written language, the missionaries developed a written language based on a twelve-letter alphabet. The Lahainaluna Mission School was opened in 1831 and a seminary for girls was founded in 1836.  In 1835, the governor of Maui ordered all children over four to attend school.   Missionaries taught reading, writing and Bible studies in Hawaiian, and by 1850, Hawaii had the worlds highest literacy rate!  Unfortunately, the Westerners also brought diseases that over the next century would obliterate the native Hawaiian population.   Viruses such as measles that were endemic in Westerners had a devastating effect on the previously unexposed Hawaiians.   Soon the ratio of Hawaiians to immigrants began to drastically decrease. As Western traders and seafarers flocked to Maui, commercial growth expanded. Lahaina became a major port during the whaling era, and by the 1840s, hundreds of ships anchored there.  Merchants, prostitutes, saloons, and gambling establishments prospered, although tensions between the whalers and missionaries created social unrest.  The discovery of oil in 1850 signified the decline of whaling.  Agriculture also flourished because of foreign influence.  In 1828, Kamehameha III built the first sugar mill in Maui, a water-powered mill designed by two Chinese technicians.   George Wilfong, an entrepreneurial whaler, established Mauis first sugar plantation in Hana. During 1853-1854, a smallpox epidemic killed many native Hawaiians, resulting in a depleted work force.   Immigrants from China, Japan, the Philippines, and even Europe flocked to Maui to work in the sugar cane fields.   American businessmen began to invest in pineapple and sugar plantations, and in 1875 negotiated a reciprocity treaty with the governor of Maui to protect their investments.   The expansion of foreign power and influence ultimately led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.   In 1894, American pineapple tycoon Dole became the governor of the Republic of Hawaii, which was annexed to the United States in 1898 and made a U.S. territory in 1890.  During the early 1900s, Japanese immigration swelled; Mauis population was forty percent Japanese by 1925.   The American military presence in Hawaii was also expanding during this time, and the U.S. Navy established its Pacific headquarters in Pearl Harbor.  The opening of the Pioneer Hotel in 1901 signaled the beginning of tourism in Lahaina. Visitors Mark Twain and Robert Lewis Stevenson praised Maui, and Lahaina became a vacation hot spot for the rich and famous. After World War II, sugar production declined and tourism experienced phenomenal growth.  Mauis first resort hotel, Hotel Hana, was opened in 1946.  ~~`After Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, investment capitol poured in for development of vacation resorts.  Kaanapali, dubbed the worlds first "master planned resort," and site of such mega-resorts as the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel and the Hyatt Regency, was built in 1961, followed by the development of the Ritz Carlton and Kapalua Bay resorts in West Maui.   In the 1970s, sunny South Maui, with its great snorkeling beaches and constant sunshine, was discovered.   Over the next few years, several plush resorts and championship golf courses were developed in Wailea.   Most recently, the opening of the magnificent  Maui Prince resort signified the spread of commercialization to the very southern tip of Maui, Makena Beach. This article is:  Copyright © 2004 Islands Multimedia. All rights reserved.   ~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~ ~~ www.mauionline.com ~~ check out this video: http://www.mauionline.com/?service=Maui+Came+To+Be ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ click here for pic of : `IAO NEEDLE` http://www.hawaiipictures.com/pictures/maui_2.html --