West Maui Volcano

The West Maui Mountains or West Maui Volcano, known to the Hawaiians as Maui Komohana and to geologists as Mauna Kahalawai, forms a much eroded shield volcano that constitutes the western one-quarter of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Since its last eruption approximately 320,000 years ago, the West Maui Mountains have undergone substantial stream erosion. The three moku or districts of west Maui are Lāhaina, Kāanapali, and Wailuku. Wailuku is also known as Pūalikomohana, or Nā Wai Ehā which means the four waters. The 4 waters are the ahupuaa (smaller land division than district), which are Waikapū, Wailuku, Waiehu, and Waihee. The port of Lāhainā lies on the southwestern slope. The summit peak is called Puu Kukui, at elevation. Pu'u Kukui translates into "candlenut hill".