Wind-rippled Turquoise Ocean, Volcanic Rock Coast, Tropical Trees, Distant Island Mountain, Maui, Hawaii
© Darrell Gulin/SuperStock
Blue water, blowing wind
In terms of shape, Maui is sort of a lopsided figure-eight: two roughly circular shield volcanoes separated by a narrow land strip. The active Haleakalā makes up three-fourths of the landmass, while the extinct Mauna Kahālāwai (better known as the West Maui Mountains) forms the western quarter. Except for the low-lying isthmus joining the two, as well as the broad Central Valley at Haleakalā's base, the island's population mostly lives in small cities hugging the rugged coast, connected by ring roads that circle the dual massifs. Our vantage point is in swanky Wailea, one of several resort towns along the Haleakalā side's southwest shore. Across the azure expanse of Māʻalaea Bay, we can see the Kaheawa Wind Power project's 34 wind turbines spinning on the West Mountains' gust-prone slopes.
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