Just offshore of McGregor Point on west Maui, the numerous gullies and smaller streambeds that drain the southermost flanks of the West Maui Mountains can be seen as dark-green veins of vegetation standing out against the sparser, lighter-colored vegetation of the dry parts of the slopes. In this photo, the south-facing slopes of the West Maui Mountains are unusually green after a long spate of winter rain storms. The rest of the year, this part of the volcano is in the rain shadow of the leeward side of the island, and the slopes are a dull brown color. - Footprints in Paradise: Photos of Maui & the Hawaiian Islands

This part of the island is dominated by the cloud-capped heights of the West Maui Mountains, the other member of the pair of volcanoes (which includes Haleakala) responsible for the formation of Maui.

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Michael Garrison > The shaded area is what I refer to as "West Maui" in the West Maui galleries. Open this map in the ORIGINAL format to see a more detailed view.

Michael Garrison > A landward view of the West Maui Mountains volcano, its peaks obscured by a low-hanging bank of clouds. This photograph was taken from a boat just outside Ma'alaea Bay, west Maui, offshore from McGregor Point.

Michael Garrison > Just offshore of McGregor Point on west Maui, the numerous gullies and smaller streambeds that drain the southermost flanks of the West Maui Mountains can be seen as dark-green veins of vegetation standing out against the sparser, lighter-colored vegetation of the dry parts of the slopes. In this photo, the south-facing slopes of the West Maui Mountains are unusually green after a long spate of winter rain storms. The rest of the year, this part of the volcano is in the rain shadow of the leeward side of the island, and the slopes are a dull brown color.

Michael Garrison > The wind turbines situated on a prominent ridge of the West Maui Mountains overlooking McGregor Point, west Maui. The McGregor Point light can be seen as a small, white triangular pylon near the shoreline in the bottom-left quadrant of the photograph.

The 20 wind turbines are part of the 70-million-dollar Kaheawa Wind Farm that produces energy for 10,000 homes on Maui. There are plans to expand the wind farm by 18 more turbines in the next few years. Shell Oil plans to develop a wind farm at Ulupalakua Ranch, where it already has wind speed monitors situated. The project is expected to cost more than $200 million and take 3-5 years to complete. In 2008, the Kaheawa Wind Power facility generated more than 125,000 megawatt hours of electricity in 2007. UPC Wind (the company that runs the wind farm) announced that it generated enough electricity to power more than 11,000 Maui homes each year.

Michael Garrison > The ubiquitous cloud bank that crowns the West Maui Mountains has retreated enough to reveal the wind turbines of the Kaheawa Wind Farm, west Maui.

In 2008, the Kaheawa Wind Power facility generated more than 125,000 megawatt hours of electricity in 2007. UPC Wind (the company that runs the wind farm) announced that it generated enough electricity to power more than 11,000 Maui homes each year.

Michael Garrison > A closer view of the wind turbines upslope from McGregor Point, West Maui Mountains. The 20 wind turbines are part of the 70-million-dollar Kaheawa Wind Farm that produces energy for 10,000 homes on Maui. There are plans to expand the wind farm by 18 more turbines in the next few years. Shell Oil plans to develop a wind farm at Ulupalakua Ranch, where it already has wind speed monitors situated. The project is expected to cost more than $200 million and take 3-5 years to complete.

Michael Garrison > Looking northward up Ukumehame Valley, just offshore from Olawalu, west Maui. The deep ravines cut into the caldera of the now-dormant volcano that is the West Maui Mountains. Basalt rocks that crop-out in the valleys and ravines are associated with the volcano's main magma chamber.

Michael Garrison > The neighbor island of Lana'i as seen from the shoreline near Ukumehame, west Maui.

Michael Garrison > A calm day in the Au'au Channel, just off the coast from Olawalu; the West Maui Mountains form a backdrop for the calm waters.

Michael Garrison > Happyface chute of a parasailer flying over the surf off Lahaina, West Maui. The "Big L" on the slope behind the parasail is maintained by the denizens of Lahainaluna Highschool. Click on the "Map this" link to see the "L" in a satellite image of the slope.

Michael Garrison > A parasailer being towed through the calm waters offshore from Lahaina, west Maui. The West Maui Mountains volcano rises in the background.

Just offshore of McGregor Point on west Maui, the numerous gullies and smaller streambeds that drain the southermost flanks of the West Maui Mountains can be seen as dark-green veins of vegetation standing out against the sparser, lighter-colored vegetation of the dry parts of the slopes. In this photo, the south-facing slopes of the West Maui Mountains are unusually green after a long spate of winter rain storms. The rest of the year, this part of the volcano is in the rain shadow of the leeward side of the island, and the slopes are a dull brown color.