'Iao Valley and the West Maui Mountains
Just inland from Wailuku, the West Maui Mountains fold into 'Iao Valley — one of the wettest, greenest places on the island. Its centerpiece is the 'Iao Needle, a vine-covered lava pinnacle that rises some 1,200 feet from the valley floor.
The Needle
Known in Hawaiian as Kuka'emoku, the 'Iao Needle is the eroded remnant of an ancient volcanic ridge, often wreathed in mist. A short paved path from the 'Iao Valley State Monument car park leads to the main lookout; side trails drop to the cool stream below.
A place of history
In 1790 the valley was the site of the Battle of Kepaniwai, when Kamehameha I's forces defeated Maui's army in his campaign to unite the islands. The fighting was so fierce that, as the name records, the stream was said to be dammed with the fallen. It is a beautiful place to walk and a solemn one to understand.
Good to know
Non-resident visitors need to reserve parking and entry online for the state monument. Mornings are clearer; afternoons cloud up and rain is common. The trails are short and family-friendly, but the stream rocks are slick.
On the way back, the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens honor the many cultures that have called Maui home, and Wailuku town has good coffee and local lunch spots to round out the morning.
Photo: Larry D. Moore / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
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