The tropical island of Maui, with an area of 728 square miles, is the second largest in the Hawaiian chain, and was created by two separate volcanic eruptions. The first volcano, which became the West Maui Mountains, has been extinct for over a million years. The second, Haleakala, is considered by geologists to be inactive, because its last eruption occurred only about 200 years ago. Lava flows, wind and water erosion, plus sand dune deposition eventually formed an isthmus, or bridge, connecting the two volcanic land masses that now comprise Central Maui, hence the nickname “Valley Isle.”
Maui was originally settled by Polynesian voyagers traveling from the Marquesas and later Tahiti, who braved the seas in voyaging canoes with only the stars, currents and birds to guide them. These Haleakala Crater by Helicopter migrants settled and became farmers and fishermen building new lives, including places of worship (Heiau), fishponds and even used aqueduct irrigation systems to water their taro farms (Lo`i). While it is uncertain exactly when these first brave souls touched ground, archaeological evidence has been dated at about 700 or earlier.