La Perouse Bay facts for kids
La Perouse Bay, also known by its Hawaiian name Keoneʻōʻio Bay, is a special place on the island of Maui, Hawaii. You can find it at the very end of Mākena Alanui Road, south of the town of Wailea, Hawaii. This beautiful bay is famous for its unique history and amazing natural features.
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Discovering La Perouse Bay
La Perouse Bay gets its name from a French explorer. His name was Captain Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. In 1786, he explored and mapped this large bay. It is located near the southern tip of Maui, across from the island of Kahoʻolawe.
Maui's Volcanic Past
This bay is very interesting because it shows Maui's most recent volcanic activity. A rounded area of land that sticks out into the ocean was formed about 900,000 years ago. This happened when hot, melted rock, called lava, flowed from the Haleakalā volcano. You can still see small hills, called cinder cones, that show where the lava came from.
Protecting Nature at the Bay
La Perouse Bay is right next to the ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu Natural Area Reserve. This reserve is a protected area where fishing is not allowed. It helps keep the ocean healthy and safe for many creatures.
Home to Amazing Wildlife
The reserve is a home for many different kinds of fish. Some of these fish are found only in Hawaii. You can also see marine mammals and green sea turtles swimming in the clear waters. Many special coastal plants also grow here.
Ancient Trails and History
The area around La Perouse Bay is full of history. You can find many old sites from ancient times. These include places where people used to fish and make salt. There are also heiau, which are old religious platforms.
The King's Highway
The road ends at a parking lot near the bay. This spot marks the start of a very old path called the King's Highway. This trail once went all the way around the island of Maui. It was first built by a chief named Piʻilani. Later, Governor Hoapili improved it. Sometimes, people call it the Hoapili trail.
