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What are those islands out there?
View of Moloka‘i from Kapalua Beach. Hawai‘i Tourism Japan photo.
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he islands seen off the coast of Maui — Moloka‘i, Läna‘i, Kaho‘olawe, and the tiny islet of Molokini (from top to bottom on facing page) — were all part of Maui Nui, the largest island of the chain before Hawai‘i island was formed. Overview of Kalaupapa Maui Nui consisted of six or National Historic Park seven volcanoes that coalesced on Moloka‘i into one island. Between 300,000 to 400,000 years ago, Maui Nui subsided into two islands, Moloka‘i and Läna‘i were one island and Kaho‘olawe, Molokini and Maui formed another. Within the last 300,000 years, the islands all separated. Scientists expect that Haleakalä and West Maui will become separate islands in the next 15,000 years. Molokini and Kaho‘olawe The islet of Molokini off Maui’s south shore is the tip of a submerged volcano. It is one of the top dive spots in the world and many of our tour advertisers offer snorkel cruises to the site. Molokini is also a state seabird sanctuary and landing on it is prohibited. Just beyond Molokini is Kaho‘olawe (photo below), a sacred island that was inhabited by Hawaiians for over a thousand years. It was where kahuna (priests) and navigators were trained and played a role in early Pacific migrations. Kaho‘olawe was a penal colony from 1826 to 1853, then, after Dec. 7, 1941, came to be used as a target island by U.S. armed forces until discontinued by President George Bush in 1990. A large-scale, but not complete, removal of unex-
Spotlight’s Maui Gold Magazine
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority/Ron Garnett, AirScapes
Molokini and Kaho‘olawe