West Maui Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Maui Volcano |
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|---|---|
| Mauna Kahalawai | |
The Īʻao Needle in the West Maui Mountains
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,788 ft (1,764 m) |
| Prominence | 5,668 ft (1,728 m) |
| Geography | |
 West Maui Volcano
Location in Hawaii
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| Parent range | Hawaiian Islands |
| Topo map | USGS Kilohana (HI) |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 1.32 Mega-annum |
| Mountain type | Much eroded shield volcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain |
| Last eruption | <320,000 years |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | ? |
The West Maui Mountains are also known as the West Maui Volcano or Mauna Kahalawai. This name means "holding house of water." These mountains are about 1.7 million years old. They form a large, worn-down shield volcano that makes up the western part of the Hawaiian island of Maui. The last time this volcano erupted was around 320,000 years ago. Since then, rivers and streams have carved out many valleys.
The West Maui Mountains are home to the highest point on West Maui, a peak called Puʻu Kukui. Its name means "candlenut hill."
Contents
Exploring the West Maui Mountains
The West Maui Mountains are a fascinating place. They show us how powerful nature can be, especially with volcanoes and erosion.
What is a Shield Volcano?
A shield volcano is a type of volcano that looks like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It has gentle slopes because its lava flows easily and spreads out far. Over millions of years, rain and wind can wear down these volcanoes. This process is called erosion. The West Maui Volcano is a great example of an old, eroded shield volcano.
Districts of West Maui
West Maui is divided into three main areas, or moku:
- Lāhaina
- Kāʻanapali
- Wailuku
Wailuku is also known as Pūʻalikomohana. Another name for it is Nā Wai ʻEhā, which means "the four waters." These four waters come from special land divisions called ahupuaʻa. These are smaller areas of land that stretch from the mountains to the sea. The four ahupuaʻa in Wailuku are:
- Waikapū
- Wailuku
- Waiʻehu
- Waiheʻe
The famous port town of Lāhainā is located on the southwestern side of these mountains.
Puʻu Kukui: The Highest Peak
The highest point in the West Maui Mountains is Puʻu Kukui. It stands at about 5,788 feet (1,764 meters) tall. This peak is very important for the island's water supply.
Protecting Puʻu Kukui's Nature
The Puʻu Kukui Preserve was created in 1988. It is the largest private nature preserve in Hawaii. Since 1994, the preserve has been managed by the Maui Land & Pineapple Company. They work with The Nature Conservancy and the State Natural Area Partnership. These groups work hard to protect the land around the West Maui mountain. This land is vital for collecting and holding water for the island.
How the West Maui Mountains Formed
The West Maui Mountains were formed by many huge volcanic eruptions. These eruptions happened during the time when the volcano was actively growing. The rocks from the most recent major eruptions are called the Honolua volcanic series. These rocks are about 500,000 years old.
However, there were also some smaller eruptions more recently. These are called "rejuvenated stage" eruptions. The very last eruption happened around 320,000 years ago. This shows that even after a volcano seems quiet, it can still have some activity.
