Maui was named for the demi-godMaui. In Hawaiian legend, he raised all theislands from thesea. Maui is also known as the "Valley Isle" for the large fertile isthmus (narrow land connection) between two volcanoes.
Maui is avolcanic doublet: an island formed from two volcanic mountains that are joined. The older volcano,Mauna Kahalawai, is much older and has been very worn down. In common talk it is called the West Maui Mountain. The larger volcano,Haleakala, rises above 10,000 feet (3,050 m). The last eruption of Haleakala happened over 200 years ago, and this lava flow can be seen between Ahihi Bay andLa Perouse Bay on the southeast shore.
