History of Maui, Hawaii

Maui, Hawaii, was named after the son of the Polynesian navigator, Hawai'iloa, who is said to have discovered the Hawaiian Island. Maui was the name of the demigod who, according to legend, raised the islands from the sea.
Known history places the Polynesians - from Tahiti and the Marquese - the first to inhabit Maui. For years, a strict order, the kapu system, dominated as primary form of government. In modern times, mid-1700s, King Kamehameha I waged war, and, in 1790, Maui was conquered during the Battle of Kepaniwai, the capital then moved to present-day Lahaina.
November 26, 1778, Captain James Cook became the first European to see Maui, but French admiral Jean Francois de Galaup de La Perouse was the first to step ashore. Traders, loggers, whalers, and, especially, missionaries followed. Missionaries altered and preserved the Hawaiian culture: they clothed the natives, banned hula dancing, and instructed their new religion, Christianity; along with the natives, missionaries tried to keep sailors and whalers out of the brothels and bars.
Missionaries, in a brighter light, created a twelve letter alphabet, taught reading and writing, started a printing press in Lahaina, and began writing the islands' histories, which, before then, was exclusively of oral account. In 1831, they also began the first school in Lahaina, which is still functioning to this day. Lahaina Roads was a major whaling center in the mid-1800s. At the height of the season, over 400 ships visited Lahaina.
The whaling industry declined at the end of the 19th century with the introduction of crude oils. Descendents of Kamehameha reigned over Hawaii until 1872. Other chiefs, including Queen Lilioukalani, ruled till 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown. A year later Hawaii became the Republic of Hawaii, eventually annexed by the US in 1898, made a territory in 1900, and later became the 50th state of the US in 1950.
Maui, Hawaii, was of particular import during the Pacific Theatre of WWII. It was used for a staging center, training base, and R & R. 1943-44 saw over 100,000 troops stationed on Maui. As of 2000 Census, 117,644 lucky ones reside on Maui, Hawaii.