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MAUI VACATION GUIDE AND HISTORY: -
For many decades, Maui was divided into two separate kingdoms that fought for control. It was not until the early 15th century that the island was united by King Pi`ilani (pee-EE-lah-nee) under a single family of ali`i (royalty, pronounced ah-LEE-ee). Under King Pi`ilani’s reign, Maui experienced peace, prosperity, and the development of Fishponds, Irrigation and Roads. Construction of the Alaloa (King’s Highway) began under Pi`ilani King, and was finished by his son later. It became the only ancient highway to circle any of the Hawaiian Islands, and stretched more than 138 miles.
Business & Economy: The Boom and the Bust of Trees, Whales & Sugar Industries
The arrival of foreigners paved the way for new forms of commerce on Maui, three of which were established in the 1800s of which were Sandalwood Exports, Whaling and Sugar processing.
Under Kamehameha the Great, Hawai`i established foreign trade and began selling sandalwood to China. In 1821, some two million pounds of this fragrant wood were exported to Asia. Three years later, demand was so high that the royal family required their subjects to pay their taxes in the form of sandalwood.
At about the same time, the first whaling ship arrived at Maui from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Though whales were not plentiful in Hawaiian waters at that time, Lahaina served as a safe harbor from which ships would set off to hunt whales in the North Pacific. The town provided a place to anchor, restock supplies and get medical attention. In 1846, some 400 whaling ships visited Lahaina, sometimes as many as a hundred at a time. Ships often lay anchored for months.
Whaling boosted the island economy, but it also increased such social problems were noted as opposed to the the island's missionaries faith. By mid-century, Whaling began declined rapidly as whales became scarcer and the petroleum industry in Pennsylvania grew more successful.
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