When the south shore of Maui was first visited by Captain George Vancouver it was dotted with small fishing villages and was said to be a retreat for Hawaiian royalty.

Captain Vancouver was not the first European visitor to Maui, however, a landing site was erected in the form of a large totem pole.

On the south Kihei shore the remains of the totem pole monument are present with inscriptions from the Canadian Prime Minister from 1969.

[3] in March 1793 Vancouver's "ships entered Maui waters on the island's eastern coast, sailed along the Southern side and up the east where, at Ma'alaea Bay.

Kamohomoho, a brother of Kahekili, the ruler of Maui, appeared in a canoe and came on board to pilot the British ships to a safe anchorage at Lahaina."