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| County of Maui | |
|---|---|
| Name | County of Maui |
| Native name | Maui County |
| Settlement type | County |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Hawaii |
| Seat | Wailuku |
| Largest city | Kahului |
| Area total sq mi | 2398 |
| Population total | 167417 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
County of Maui is a county located in the State of Hawaii in the United States. It encompasses the islands of Maui, Lānai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, and the uninhabited Molokini, integrating communities such as Wailuku, Kahului, Lahaina, Kīhei and Hāna. The county is a hub for tourism, agriculture, and cultural heritage linked to figures and institutions like King Kamehameha I, Queen Liliʻuokalani, Bishop Museum, Hawaiian Renaissance and John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Maui's history traces through pre-contact Polynesian voyaging connecting Polynesia, Tahiti, Marquesas Islands, and Hawaii (island), with chiefs such as Maui appearing in oral traditions and alliances shaped by rulers including Kamehameha I and Kaʻahumanu. European contact involved encounters with explorers like James Cook and later interactions with missionaries from American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and figures such as Hiram Bingham I. The kingdom-era economy linked to Sandalwood trade, Whaling fleets and later to plantation-era entities like Alexander & Baldwin, C. Brewer & Co. and the Big Five influenced land tenure and labor migrations involving Japan, China, Portugal, Philippines and Korea. The overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii era, annexation by the United States and statehood in 1959 reshaped governance, while events such as the 1946 Maui tsunami and the 2018 Mauna ʻAla wildfire, together with modern disasters including the 2023 Lahaina wildfire, have impacted development, legal cases, and federal responses involving agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The county spans diverse physiographic regions from the windward Haleakalā crater on Maui to the leeward shores of Lahaina, the dry slopes of Lānai and the Molokai sea cliffs. Ecosystems include montane Koa-ʻŌhiʻa forests, coastal wetlands such as Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, coral reef systems near Molokini, and endemic species like the nēnē and the Hawaiian honeycreeper. Conservation efforts involve organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service overseeing Haleakalā National Park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protections for Haleakalā silversword, and community groups participating in ʻāina stewardship and Native Hawaiian cultural practices. Climate influences from the Pacific Ocean, El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and trade winds create microclimates around Hāna Highway, Upcountry Maui, and coastal zones.
Local administration follows a charter-based system with elected officials including a mayor and a county council seated in Wailuku, interacting with state offices in Honolulu and federal representatives such as members of the United States House of Representatives from Hawaii. Political history features figures like Linda Lingle, Mazie Hirono, Daniel Inouye, and issues tied to land use adjudicated through courts including the Hawaii State Judiciary and appellate review by the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. Policy debates often involve stakeholders like Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Native Hawaiian organizations, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, environmental nonprofits, and business groups such as Maui Chamber of Commerce over zoning, affordable housing, water rights, and disaster recovery funding under statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act and federal emergency statutes.
Population centers include Kahului and Lahaina with diverse ancestries stemming from Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, Japanese American, Filipino American, Chinese American, Korean American, Portuguese American and European American communities. Census data reflect shifts in age structure, household composition, and migration linked to work in sectors represented by Maui Memorial Medical Center and the hospitality industry associated with resorts like those by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt, and Hilton Worldwide. Cultural institutions such as Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Hale Mua, and festivals including Merrie Monarch Festival and Mālama Maui events showcase demographic continuity and change.
Economic activity centers on tourism driven by attractions produced by Haleakalā National Park, Road to Hāna, ʻIao Valley State Park, surf breaks like Jaws (Peʻahi), and historic districts such as Lahaina Historic District. Agriculture includes pineapple operations historically linked to Dole Food Company, ranching at Puu Kekaʻa Ranch, kāpala practices, and diversified crops including ʻuala, coffee, and macadamia managed by cooperatives and firms like Maui Gold Pineapple Company. The county engages with federal programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, investments from Hawaiian Electric Industries, and sectors such as real estate developments involving entities like Kamehameha Schools. Economic issues include housing affordability, water allocation controversies involving Department of Land and Natural Resources (Hawaii), and labor matters mediated by organizations like the Hawaii State AFL-CIO.
Transport hubs include Kahului Airport (OGG), harbors such as Lahaina Harbor and Maalaea Harbor, ferry services historically linking Molokai and Lānai, and roadways like the Hana Highway. Infrastructure projects have involved agencies such as Federal Highway Administration, Hawaii Department of Transportation, and utilities like Maui Electric. Public transit is provided by systems including Maui Bus and ride-share services regulated by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Coastal infrastructure faces challenges from sea-level rise, erosion at sites such as Keawakapu Beach, and federal funding streams from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for resilience projects.
Primary and secondary education falls under Hawaii Department of Education with schools such as King Kekaulike High School, Maui High School, and charter institutions connected to organizations like Kamehameha Schools. Higher education and training are available through campuses of University of Hawaii Maui College, cooperative programs with University of Hawaii at Manoa, and vocational programs tied to hospitality training by entities such as Institute of Culinary Education. Healthcare facilities include Maui Memorial Medical Center and clinics affiliated with networks like Hawaii Pacific Health and regulatory oversight by the Hawaii State Department of Health. Public health initiatives coordinate with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Native Hawaiian health organizations addressing endemic concerns and disaster response.
Cultural life intertwines with Hawaiian culture, hula perpetuated by halau connected to practitioners like ʻIolani Luahine, festivals such as Merrie Monarch Festival and Aloha Festivals, museums including Baldwin Home Museum and performing arts at Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Recreation features snorkeling at Molokini Crater, surfing at Honolua Bay, hiking on Haleakalā, golf courses by designers like Robert Trent Jones Jr., and conservation projects with partners like The Nature Conservancy and Sierra Club. Culinary scenes draw on Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, and Portuguese influences showcased at markets such as Farmers' Market (Kahului), and community resilience is evident in collaborations among Native Hawaiian leaders, faith communities like St. Anthony Catholic Church (Lahaina), and non-profits after events including the 2023 Lahaina wildfire.
Category:Maui County, Hawaii