Maui Remembers: A Local History

While renowned worldwide for its luxurious resorts and as a vacation playground, the island of Maui also has a fascinating history. At times mirroring events that shaped all of Hawaii’s saga, much of Maui’s history is unique, and certainly there is a distinct local flavor to the happenings played out on Hawai‘i’s “Valley Isle.”

Through words and archival photographs as well as rare items of memorabilia, this book comprehensively covers Maui’s history from Polynesian origins to contact with Westerners, through the arrival of non-Polynesian settlers up to the modern era.

Maui has a proud past! The island of Maui earned ancient glory through wise and courageous chiefs such as Pi‘ilani, who ruled over what was considered a model kingdom. Because of Maui’s preeminence among its island neighbors, the saying “Maui no ka ‘oi,” or “Maui is the best!” has been passed down for hundreds of years.

Maui’s people created its colorful story, such as the ruthless chief Kahekili, the powerful ruling queen Ka‘ahumanu, and Hawai‘i’s longest reigning monarch, Kamehameha III, who made Lahaina the capital of his kingdom. The outside world first encroached when French explorer La Perouse landed in 1786, followed shortly by sandalwood traders, boisterous whalers, and fervent missionaries. The development of thriving sugar and pineapple industries brought ethnic groups of every hue to Maui’s shores. Other sojourners to Maui were tourists, such as Mark Twain who, upon leaving, admitted he had never “bad any place good-bye so regretfully.”

Maui Remembers clears a window into the past by providing details of island traditions such as surfing, hula, polo, rodeo, horseracing, and the Maui County Fair. Narratives of World War II, the post-war social and political transformation, and the recent flowering of Hawaiian culture brings the reader up to date.

Carefully researched, this book is a treasured reference of Maui’s colorful history for residents and visitors alike. Most of all, it is a good read and a visual treat.

 

About the Contributors

Gail Bartholomew has always been fascinated with island history, even before her arrival in Hawai‘i. After receiving a B.A. at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Hawai‘i, she moved to Maui in 1972 and began to focus on the Valley Island’s colorful past. Gail has spent 20 years as a librarian at Maui Community College, many years as a volunteer, staff member, and board member of the Maui Historical Society, and can claim to have read (and indexed!) 50 years of The Maui News. She lives in Makawao with her two daughters.

Bren Bailey, a long-time Maui resident, has spent 20 years as a Hawaiiana photo and memorabilia dealer through her business, Makani, Ltd. She is a collector herself, maintaining an extensive collection of the best Maui photos, as well as other vintage Hawaiiana. Bren studied the fine arts at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland and has paintings hanging in private and corporate collections throughout the United States and England. She lives Upcountry with her husband, and they have three sons and a grandson.

Authors: Gail Bartholomew and Bren Bailey