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Maui is comprised of four islands that are referred to as Maui Nui or Maui County. The outer lying islands Lahaina, Kahoolawe, and Molokai - are separated from Maui proper by the natural landscape, which served as kingdom boundaries in the days of island monarchies. Maui gets its name from the legend of a Polynesian navigator Hawai'iloa. The legend states that he named the island after his son, Maui, who was named for the demigod Maui, who is said to have raised all the islands of Hawaii from the sea.

Maui's history is rooted in the conflicts between warring kings. In early times, there were three kingdoms on the island - Hana, Waikulu, and Lahaina. In the sixteenth century, Maui's saving grace came in the form of Hana ruler Piilani, who united all of Maui's kingdoms. Piilani's rule was a time of peace and prosperity in Maui. He constructed irrigation ponds and began work on a paved road that was to circle the newly harmonious island. Piilani's decendants continued to work on his vision until it was complete and are also credited with building Hawaii's biggest heiau (temple) to Piilanihale, which still stands today.

By the mid-eighteenth century, Maui was once again thrust into the throes of turmoil as neighboring rulers resumed pushing boundaries on the island. It was a roundabout turn of events that led to establishing Maui as one kingdom. In 1759, Hana was captured by Kalaniopuu while its ruler, Kahikili, was away warring with neighboring Moloki. Fearing for his life, Kahikili escaped to Hana with his family and was welcomed by Kalaniopuu who had just stolen it for himself. Kahikili's wife gave birth to a daughter, Kaahumanu, who would eventually marry Kamehameha.

The arrival of James Cook to Kauai in 1778 signaled the beginning of disastrous times for Maui. Settlers, prospectors, merchants, and missionaries converged on the islands, bringing with them disease and strange customs. The natives endured many startling changes during the missionaries' attempts at their salvation. Nudity and the sacred hula dance were banned and the natives were forced assimilate to westernized ways of life. To their credit, the missionaries invented the twelve letter Hawaiian alphabet, allowing the history of the native people to be documented and preserved.

In 1819 the first whaling ship docked in Lahaina. At the height of the whaling era, Lahaina was a
premiere stop on the whaling route. As many as 500 ships a year would dock on its shore. But, as with most prosperous times in

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