Pu'u Pahe'ehe'e (Pahe'ehe'e Hill), once the site of Oahu's longest holua sled runs, stands on the other side of the valley. 

Ma'ili means "eyes on my beloved" referring to Pu'u Maili "eyes on the twin sisters". At one time the Ma'ili plains were covered entirely with algeroba trees and had a river, Ulehawa, which was named for a chief. Races were held on these plains, the upper section being Halona and the mountain behind, Ma'ililii. Ma'ili lies between two hills, Puu o Hulu and Pu'u Ma'ililii. 

Remains of pre-contact houses have been found near a dried swamp on Ma'ili Beach Park along the shore's edge. Near these sites were ancient petroglyphs (picture writings) of human figures found on sandstone slabs. These slabs are now at the Bishop museum.