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The Island
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In Hawaiian mythology, it was demigod Māui to lift the Hawaiian Islands from the depths of the sea by lassoing the sun from the island’s highest peak, Haleakalā, bringing daylight to the islanders.
In the centuries that followed, Hawaiian culture was largely determined by the customs of Polynesian tribes until the rule of the House of Kamehameha, which lasted until the late 19th century. The island had also seen many explorers and missionaries during this extended period, with James Cook being the first European to set foot here.
Besides being the Kingdom's capital, Lahaina also served as the hub of the remarkably successful whaling industry. At the industry’s height between 1840 and 1865, as many as 500 ships would anchor in Lahaina harbor. The sugar industry too flourished during that time, and the installation of the first sugar mill in 1828 gave way to a massive influx of workers from China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal, and other European nations, further increasing the cultural diversity of Hawaii, the 50th state of the U.S. today.
A wildfire engulfed Lahaina in August 2023, destroying most of the city, especially the historic center. The conflagration caused widespread devastation across the island of Maui.
Other significant places include Kahului, the commercial hub of Maui, Kihei, and Makawao. Today, tourism has become its main economic sector, and with the warm tropical climate that prevails on the island, Maui welcomes its visitors all year round.
In the centuries that followed, Hawaiian culture was largely determined by the customs of Polynesian tribes until the rule of the House of Kamehameha, which lasted until the late 19th century. The island had also seen many explorers and missionaries during this extended period, with James Cook being the first European to set foot here.
Besides being the Kingdom's capital, Lahaina also served as the hub of the remarkably successful whaling industry. At the industry’s height between 1840 and 1865, as many as 500 ships would anchor in Lahaina harbor. The sugar industry too flourished during that time, and the installation of the first sugar mill in 1828 gave way to a massive influx of workers from China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, the Philippines, Portugal, and other European nations, further increasing the cultural diversity of Hawaii, the 50th state of the U.S. today.
A wildfire engulfed Lahaina in August 2023, destroying most of the city, especially the historic center. The conflagration caused widespread devastation across the island of Maui.
Other significant places include Kahului, the commercial hub of Maui, Kihei, and Makawao. Today, tourism has become its main economic sector, and with the warm tropical climate that prevails on the island, Maui welcomes its visitors all year round.