Maui is part of Maui Nuishield volcanoes that once used to form one BIG island. At its largest point 1.2 million years ago Maui Nui probably had a maximum size of about 11,000 square km (6,200 square miles), some 4,000 square km (2,150 square miles) larger than present-day Hawaii island!
How did Maui get stuck on the island?
Background. After stealing the heart of Te Fiti and losing his fish hook, Maui was banished to this desolate spit of land by the lava demon Te Kā as punishment for his crimes. The island lacks any material capable of being used for escape, being completely inhabited by boulders, sand, and weak flora only.
How and why Maui got so big?
Did Maui really lasso the sun?
Restraining the SunHis mother Hina complained that her kapa (bark cloth) was unable to dry because the days were so short. Māui climbed to the mountain Hale-a-ka-lā (house of the sun) and lassoed the sun's rays as the sun came up, using a rope made from his sister's hair.
Who owns the island next to Maui?
The island's only settlement of note is the small town of Lanai City. As of 2012, the island is 98% owned by Larry Ellison, co-founder and chairman of Oracle Corporation; the remaining 2% is owned by the state of Hawaii or individual homeowners.