The Birth of the Islands

At the northernmost corner of the Polynesian triangle, the Hawaiian Islands stand as a sentry for a collection of atolls, volcanic remnants, coral blocks and large islands that punctuate the region stretching to Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the south and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the east. Hawai‘i is the newest landmass in Polynesia and the most isolated settled area on the globe, rife with unique ecosystems.

Maui, sitting in the middle of the main Hawaiian island chain, is a geological youngster. Haleakala, still volcanically active in the 18th century, rises higher than 10,000 feet on the eastern end of the island.

The older and more eroded West Maui Mountains are 1.3 million years old. The tallest point at Pu‘u Kukui - 5,788 feet - is one of the rainiest spots on earth. Ka‘anapali sits in the leeward side of these mountains, on the slopes facing Lana‘i and Moloka‘i.

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