The Aliûi nui of Maui was the supreme ruler of the islands of Maui, one of the four main Hawaiian Islands as well as the smaller island of Lanai. The title is the same as that of the Alii nui of the other islands. The title or phrase Mà Âûë is sometimes used for the title of the monarchs of Maui; however, it is not an ancient word in the Hawaiian language and has origins in the mid 19th century. The only monarchs to officially hold the title of Mà Âûë are KalÃÂkaua and his sister Liliûuokalani.
The monarchs of Maui, like those of the other Hawaiian islands, claim descent from WÃÂkea and Papa. They were sometimes referred to as Mà Âë beginning in the mid 19th century, and would later become commonly translated from the Hawaiian language into English as the word "king". Paumakua, the first ruler of Maui, was thirty-first in line of descent from Wakea. In the beginning, from about Paumakua of Maui down to Kawaokaohele's reign, the Alii nui of Maui only controlled the much larger western portion of the island while the chiefs of Hana remained independent. Mauiloa had tried to unite the island once, but troubles with the Hana chief continued. It was under Piûilani's reign that he conquered the east and united Maui for the first time.
Kahekili II expanded his empire by conquering the neighbouring island of Oahu in 1783 and through marriage of his brother allied himself with the Queen of Kauai. However, his son Kalanikà «pule was the last of his line. Maui was weakened when Kalanikupule and his uncle, Kaeokulani, fought over the succession to the throne. Maui along with Oahu fell to Kamehameha I in 1795 and ushered in the Kingdom of Hawaii.
During the early years of the Kingdom of Maui the island was divided in half. The much larger western side was under the rule of the descendants of Paumakua, and East Maui, comprising the districts of Koûolau, HÃÂna, Këpahulu, and Kaupo, was at times under independent rulers. The monarchs of HÃÂna, like those of the other Hawaiian chiefdom, probably claimed descent from Wakea and PÃÂpa. These monarchs were in some sense district chiefs and vassals of the Western rulers of Maui. From Eleio to Hoolae the aliûi of HÃÂna remained mostly free from West Maui under Kakaalaneo to Kawaokaohele. The sixth Aliûi Nui of HÃÂna, Hoolae, became a subject of Piûilani and even allowed his daughter to marry Piûilani's son Kiha-a-Piûilani. The aliûi of HÃÂna's allegiance to the West Maui Mà Âûë were always precarious, even in later times after Piûilani's conquest. The main strategic advantage of the aliûi of HÃÂna was their command of the fortress of Kauwiki, considered impregnable.