WAILUKU

city, seat of Maui county, northern Maui Island, Hawaii, U.S. It is situated on an isthmus at the mouth of the valley of Iao and the base of the western mountains. With Kahului (east) it forms a contiguous area that is the most densely populated and busiest on the island. Iao Stream flows through the western part of the city. Wailuku (Hawaiian: "Water of Destruction") recalls the Battle of Kepaniwai (1790) that added Maui to the kingdom of Kamehameha the Great. Wailuku's economy depends chiefly on tourism, sugar, textiles, woodworking products, shoes, and hula supplies. Products are shipped from the port of Kahului. Pop. (1990) 10,688.