West Maui Mountains

The West Maui Mountains, West Maui Volcano, or Mauna Kahalawai[2] which means "holding house of water,"[3] is approximately 1.7 million years old[4] and forms a much eroded shield volcano that constitutes the western quarter of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Since its last eruption approximately 320,000 years ago, the West Maui Mountains have undergone substantial stream erosion.[5]

West Maui Volcano
Mauna Kahalawai
The Īʻao Needle in the West Maui Mountains
Highest point
Elevation5,788 ft (1,764 m) [1]
Prominence5,668 ft (1,728 m) [1]
Listing
Coordinates20°53′37″N 156°35′22″W 
Geography
West Maui Volcano
Parent rangeHawaiian Islands
Topo mapUSGS Kilohana (HI)
Geology
Age of rock1.32 Mega-annum
Mountain typeMuch eroded shield volcano
Volcanic arc/beltHawaiian-Emperor seamount chain
Last eruption<320,000 years
Climbing
Easiest route?

The three moku or districts of west Maui are Lāhaina, Kāʻanapali, and Wailuku.[6] Wailuku is also known as Pūʻalikomohana, or Nā Wai ʻEhā which means the four waters. The 4 waters are the ahupuaʻa (smaller land division than district), which are Waikapū, Wailuku, Waiʻehu, and Waiheʻe.

The port of Lāhainā lies on the southwestern slope.

The summit peak is called Puʻu Kukui, at 5,788 feet (1,764 m) elevation. Pu'u Kukui translates into "candlenut hill".[7]

Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve

Established in 1988, the Puʻu Kukui Preserve is the largest private nature preserve in the State of Hawaii. Since 1994, the 8,661-acre (35.05 km2) preserve has been managed by Maui Land & Pineapple Company in participation with The Nature Conservancy and the State Natural Area Partnership. These groups work together to protect the watershed lands of the West Maui mountain.

Geological history

The West Maui Mountains were formed through at least three series of major volcanic eruptions during its shield building period.[5] Rocks from the latest major shield-building eruptions are called the Honolua volcanic series, which are roughly 500,000 years old. However, there were several rejuvenated stage eruptions more recently, the last dating to roughly 320,000 years ago.[5]

References
  1. "Puu Kukui, Hawaii". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  2. "Keawala'i Congregational Church, Kahu's Mana'o". www.keawalai.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  3. "Hawaii". Elope Maui. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  4. Basic Manual for Hawai'i's Tour Drivers/Guides v-6
  5. Sinton, John M. "Geologic History of Maui" (PDF). Hawaii Institute of Geophysics. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  6. "Native Hawaiian Land Division". Haleakalā National Park. U.S. National Park Service.
  7. Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H.; Mookini, Esther T. (1974). Place Names of Hawaii. University of Hawaii. p. 200.
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