Maui in World War II-- Part 4

From Wikipedia.

This last week I have been writing about the Hawaiian island of Maui during the war. Here is a general overview of its role in the war.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Maui airfields were militarized. In 1942, the military determined that Pu-unene airport was unsatisfactorty so condemned it and began building a new NAS. Even so, they continued to use Pu'unene and expanded it during the course of the war.

Maui served as a staging center, training base and point of rest and relaxation during the war. At the island's peak use in 1943-1944, 100,000 military personnel were stationed there.

Maui was the home base of the 4th Marine Division in Haiku. Its beaches were used for practice landings and for training in marine demolition and sabotage. The Maui Agricultural Company converted its kiln facility to a cement plant for the duration of the war.

After the war, thousands of ex-GIs settled in the Hawaiian islands, including Maui, and many returned as tourists which became a basis of Maui's modern economy.

An Island At War. --GreGen