The hidden meanings behind Maui’s beautiful place names

Hawaiian place names are more than geographic labels — they’re a rich cultural archive that showcase ecological, historical, and spiritual knowledge. These place names contain practical, poetic, and symbolic information about the land while also reflecting the deep relationship Native Hawaiians have with their environment.

South Maui

Wailea

Wailea combines wai (water) and lea (pleasing or exhilarating), meaning “waters of pleasure” or “pleasing waters”. This name likely references the calm, clear ocean conditions often found along this coastline. The name’s connection to water highlights the importance of this resource in Hawaiian culture and the positive associations with areas where water was plentiful and pleasant.

Makena

Makena translates to “abundance” or “plenty,” though some interpretations suggest it means “the gathering place”. This name might reference abundant marine resources, fertile land, or the gathering of people in this area.

Central Maui

Kahului

Kahului translates to “the winning” or “the victory,” though some interpretations suggest it means “the protected sea.” The name likely references a significant historical event or victory that occurred in this area.

Wailuku

Wailuku literally means “water of destruction” or “destroying water,” referencing the powerful streams that flow from the West Maui Mountains through this area. This name likely refers to the converging streams of Iao Valley or possibly destructive flooding events in ancient times. Wailuku was also the site of the Battle of Kepaniwai in 1790, when King Kamehameha I defeated Maui’s forces.

Ma’alaea

Maalaea means “red breath” or “red vapor,” possibly referring to the reddish appearance of dust or mist in the area when illuminated by sunlight. The name might also reference the strong winds that characterize this area, known as the “Ma’alaea winds” that create challenging sailing conditions.

Upcountry

Kula

Kula translates to “plain,” “field,” or “open pasture,” which describes this upcountry region’s gently sloping, open landscape. Historically, Native Hawaiians cultivated sweet potatoes in lower Kula, while upper elevations were largely forested.

Makawao

Makawao means “forest beginning” or “edge of the forest,” reflecting its location where Maui’s upland forests once began. The name accurately describes its geographical position at the edge of what was once a much larger forest ecosystem.

Pukalani

Pukalani translates to “heavenly gate” or “hole in the heavens,” possibly referring to the break in the clouds or and often dramatic cloud formations that sometimes form over this upcountry area.

Haleakalā

Haleakalā, meaning “house of the sun,” refers to both the massive shield volcano that forms eastern Maui and the national park protecting its summit and crater. In Hawaiian mythology, the demigod Maui snared the sun here to slow its journey across the sky, giving people more daylight hours.

North Shore

Pāʻia

Pāʻia translates to “noisy” or possibly “fence,” though some interpretations connect it to a type of fish. The “noisy” interpretation may refer to the persistent trade winds that make this area a world-famous windsurfing destination.

Haiku

Haiku means “sharp break” or “sharp point,” possibly referring to the jagged cliffs or steep terrain in this verdant area. The name might also reference a “abrupt speech” or “poem” in modern usage, though this meaning developed later and is unrelated to the place name’s origin.

West Maui

Ka’anapali

Ka’anapali means “the rolling cliffs” or “the cliffs for amusement,” referencing the dramatic landscape of this coastal area. Once the playground and retreat for Maui ali’i (royalty), this area was later used for sugar cultivation and cattle ranching. The name might also reference the ridgeline above the coast that resembles rolling hills.

Kapalua

Kapalua translates to “arms embracing the sea” from kapa (shell) and lua (two), referring to the two half-moon-shaped bays embraced by lava peninsulas. This appropriate name describes the geography of the northwest coast area with its crescent-shaped bays nestled between protective headlands.

Olowalu

Olowalu means “many hills” or according to some sources, “of many gullies,” describing the geography of this West Maui coastal area where numerous gulches and valleys descend from the mountains to the sea. Olowalu was once a pu’uhonua (place of refuge) in ancient Hawaii,  and is know known for its fringing reef, which is one of Maui’s most extensive and ecologically important coral reef systems.

Launiupoko

Launiupoko combines laui (leaf), niu (coconut), and poko (short), essentially meaning “short coconut leaf”. This may reference coconut trees with unusually short fronds that once grew in the area or possibly describe a specific variety of coconut palm. The name reflects Hawaiians’ detailed observations of the natural environment, where even variations in common plants were noted and incorporated into place names.

Image credits: Richard de Vries, Luke Richardson,