Over the past 120 years, under the names of various companies, surface water has been brought west from east Maui to feed what once was an ever expanding number of plantations. Mostly sugar, but pineapple to be sure, too.
For a volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific, central Maui is surprisingly dry. Ancient volcanoes to the northwest and southeast block the passage of rain heavy clouds, which deposit their lifeblood on the coastal faces of these great monoliths. Here we find lush, green, vibrant landscapes over incredibly rugged terrain, in sharp contrast to the drier central valley.
To the white settlers it was simple: cut ditches, channels, and tunnels into the volcanic rock; bridge ravines; bring that water around the peaks and into the central valley to irrigate their crops. While diverting natural waterways, decreasing the flow of amazing waterfalls, and undeniably altering the local and coastal ecosystems, it is nonetheless congruently an impressive feat of engineering, largely done 120 years with hand tools and manual labor.
These are the veins of development, carrying the lifeblood of clouds and mountain; clean, clear, fresh waters of the high peaks to the sugar and pineapple plantations.
*dwp-studios
These images are now available for sale as Fine Art Prints, Canvas, and Metals (as are all our Weekly Fine Art Series). Contact us for details, pricing, and to place an order! Driftwood Photography Studios is based in Orange County, CA.
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