The ahupua’a of Papa’anui is located on the southwestern side of Maui in the district of Honua’ula. This coastal area on which the project area lies is currently referred to as “Makena”, which translates to the word “abundance” in Hawaiian.

One verbal tradition repeatedly used in historical and archaeological contexts concerns the use of Makena as a canoe landing in 1776 for the Hawaii Island chief Kalani’opu’u. The chief landed his army at Keone’o’io extending to Makena at Honua’ula. Although chief Kalani’opu’u and his army intended to defeat Maui’s paramount chief Kahekili to claim Maui, they were no match for Kahekili’s powerful army and the conquest was averted.

Even as traditional activities continued into the early post Contact period, historical documentation of Makena places an 1828 missionary intervention with the spread of western religious activities. Makena Church, built in 1828, was constructed as a missionary outstation. Established in 1932, Keawala'i Congregational Church was built of coral blocks from nearby reefs and named for the cove fronting the church.

King David Kalakaua was a regular visitor on Rose Ranch. Owner, James Makee, was a trusted friend of the King and would arrange for 150 horseman to lead an evening torch‐light procession for the king on the five‐mile trip up to the ranch.

Until 1923, an interisland steamer usually the Mikihala and LikeLike dropped anchor in the bay often. Before World War II, residents of the area would spread a net for a hukilau, or fishing by pulling ropes, on Saturdays. There was a one‐room schoolhouse on the Mauka, inland, side of the road. Until the 1930s, cowboys would swim cattle out into the bay, where they would be hoisted aboard ships.

Until World War II when the military improved a rough coast road to La Perouse, Makena was largely isolated, connected to the outside by the ocean, the King’s Trail to Kihei and a dirt road to Ulupalakua. The ranch road was closed to the public in the 1980s due to a maintenance dispute between the ranch and the county.

From the mid1800s through the early 1900s, ranching activities employed many Makena residents and as a result, lessened time for traditional activities. Makena Landing was utilized as a staging from where cattle were transported to ships awaiting offshore. Cattle walls are visible throughout the Makena area and today attest to the importance of ranching to the local economy, which continues today in areas such as Ulupalakua. Following the ranching period, the major focus of Makena became oriented toward the construction of residential homes and tourist destinations such as the Makena Resort and golf courses.