Maui - the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands at 727 sq. mi. (1,883 sq. km). Each volcanic cone in the chain of the Hawaiian Islands is built of dark, iron-rich/quartz-poor rocks, which poured out of thousands of vents as highly fluid lava, over a period of millions of years. Several of the volcanoes were close enough to each other that lava flows on their flanks overlapped one another, merging into a single island. Maui is such a "volcanic doublet", formed from two shield volcanoes that overlapped one another to form an isthmus between them. The older, western volcano has been eroded considerably and is cut by numerous drainages, forming the peaks of Mauna Kahalawai (West Maui Mountain) or Volcano, with Puʻu Kukui the highest of the peaks at 5,788 ft. (1,764 m). The larger (comprising 77% of Maui, but younger volcano to the east is, Mauna Haleakalā, rising 10,023 ft. (3,055 m) above sea level, but measures 5 mi./8 km from seafloor to summit, making it one of the world's highest mountains. Maui's last eruption (originating in Haleakalā's Southwest Rift Zone) occurred around 1790. History: Polynesians, from Tahiti and the Marquesas, were the original peoples to populate Maui. The Tahitians introduced the kapu system, a strict social order that affected all aspects of life and became the core of Hawaiian culture. Modern Hawaiian history began in the mid-18th century. King Kamehameha I, king of Hawaii's "Big Island," invaded Maui in 1790 and fought the inconclusive Battle of Kepaniwai, but returned to Hawaii to battle a rival, finally subduing Maui a few years later.

Regions of Maui:
Northeast Maui: Puohokamoa Falls - Honomanu Bay - Nua'ailua Bay - Ke'anae Peninsula - Kalaloa Point - Waikani Falls - Makapi'pi Falls - Honolulu Nui Bay - Opuhano Point - Pakaulua Point - Pa'iloa Bay - Honokalani Beach
Southeast Maui: Ka'uike Head - Kaihalulu Beach - Alau Island - Waioka Pond (Venus Pools) - Koki Beach - Wailua Falls - O'he'o Gulch (7 Sacred Pools) - Kuloa Point - Makahiku Falls - Waimoka Falls - Lelekea Bay - Alele Falls - Mokuia Point - Huakini Bay
Upcountry: Haleakala National Park (1916), a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (1980) - Haleakala Crater and cinder cones, with the Ko'olau Gap and Kaupo Gap
Central Maui: Iao Needle - Mauna Kahalawai Volano - Pu'u Kukui Creater
South Maui: La Perouse Bay - Cape Kina'u - Molokini Creater - Kaho'olawe Island - Ahihi Bay - Makena Beach - Oneloa Beach - Wailea Point.
West Maui: Papawi Point, Ma'alaea Bay - Ukumehame Beach - Ka'anapali Beach - Makaluapuna Point - Honolua Bay - Kanounou Point - Honokohua Bay - Nakalele Point - Poelua Bay - Kahakuloa Bay and Head - Hakuhe'e Point.