Iao valley state monument wailuku 2020 all you need to. Learn about the cultural history and geological history of iao valley. The needle was formed as part of a volcano remnant and is known as the phallic stone of kanaloa, hawaiian god of the ocean. Take in the tropical scenery and expansive views before driving on to the next piece of eye candy.
The north coast is an undeveloped series of bluffs and bays, made for whaleandwave watching, or hiking grasslands toward the jungly interior. The forest here is dense and lush, and it is regarded as a place blessed by the local people. A short drive from the maui tropical plantation is the iao valley, home to the iao needle. A guide to lahaina, kaanapali, kapalua and iao valley. There is a wellmarked, paved pedestrian path leading from the parking lot to view iao needle and the ridgetop lookout provides incredible views of the valley. Because of its natural environment and history, it has become a tourist location. The best time to go to iao valley state park depends on a few factors. This famous landmark in maui in iao valley state park rises 1200 feet above the floor of the valley. The only part of iao valley which could be considered a hike is the 10minute, paved walking trail leading up to a lookout peering out at iao needle. Visiting mauis iao valley state park by kevin whitton, author of moon hawaii, and kyle ellison, author of moon maui iao is not a onestop destination, but an outing in which the journey is the highlight of the trip.
The iao needle is one of those places in hawaii that knocked my socks off the first time i saw it. Take a walk on the iao needle lookout trail and ethnobotanical loop. Visiting mauis iao valley state park hachette book group. This is widely considered a lookout for warriors of maui and the view from the bottom is quite impressive. The heart of the iao valley surrounds you with sheer volcanic cliffs carpeted with tropical greenery. Hikers will be drawn to west mauis tropical mountains and streams, like iao valley and waihee ridge. There is no question that the iao valley is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. At 2,250 feet above sea level, the iao needle isnt the tallest volcanic remnant around, but its unique shape, separation from the surrounding cliffs, and history give it special significance and beauty. Iao valley is a lush, streamcut valley in west maui, hawaii, located 3. One of the top places to visit in maui, hi marsha ingrao. Yearly rainfall there is an incredible amount of rainfall in the iao valley and it is a pretty good spot of the rest of maui is getting a little to hot and you want to cool off. I hestitate to call this a hike since its more of a walk up a paved trail and loop around a somewhat maintained botanical garden.
Maui loved her very much and as he watched her grow up, he vowed that only the most worthy king in all the islands would marry her. The focal point of the valley if the kukaemoku or iao needle. Iao valley was set apart as an alii roylty class burial ground in the 15th century by the islands ruler at the time, kakae. Nearby is the hawaii nature center and bailey house museum. There is a 686meter rock spike iao needle standing between the mountains, like a green spire towering into the clouds, is one of the famous. The fascinating origins behind 7 famous hawaiian place. For easy to moderate hikes, hike maui 8088795270 or 8663246284, 6am8pm daily offers knowledgeable guides who will take you to some of the islands most scenic locations. Kepaniwai park and heritage gardens is an interesting and lowkey spot with small pavilions made by various cultural groups on. Iao valley state park maui hawaii hawaii travel guide. Iao valley state park iao needle see it all on tour. Make a point to visit mauis iao needle go visit hawaii. At iao, king kamehameha i defeated the maui army in a pivotal battle in his quest to unite the islands under one rule, a feat that had never been accomplished prior. If you plan to go to the park find a way to make sure it is open before driving there. The needle is a historic site, for in 1790 a battle took place which made a mark in hawaiian history.
The park at the end of the road is where youll see the. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Iao valley state park is a beautiful stop on our maui volcanoes tour. A clear creek ambles beside a skinny peak, the iao needle. A vintage 1940s plein air painting of iao needle, and showing the valley, stream and a waterfall down in the corner. Hawaiian native plant genera, univeristy of hawaii, department of botany. A great battle took place at iao valley in which kahekilis maui army. It was designated a national natural landmark in 1972. Drive right up and see landscape youve only seen in jurassic park. The iao needle is 2250 feet above sea level, or 1200 feet tall from the valley. When you are in iao valley, you are surrounded by steep green mountains 3000 to 5700 feet high. Even though the drive into iao valley goes deep into mauna kahalawai, the valley itself doesnt have very good public hiking. Iao valley state park is closed until further notice.
The name may have originated with the verdant valleys nearomnipresent cloud cover, largely provided by. Bloggers adam hammond marta balcewicz of the website portsie recently cruised from sydney, australia, to vancouver, canada, and chronicled their journey. The iao needle and stream are located in central maui. Group sizes are usually fairly small, and again, what makes these hikes. Located on the island of maui, iao valley state monument contains the kukaemoku iao needle, a geological feature created by erosion. Over many years, wind and rain have eroded this skinny, attention grabbing mountain that stands some 2,250 feet above sea level one of mauis. Since we stayed in west maui and had to leave the condo by 11am, we had a whole day to drive around before our 9pm flight so we did both haleakala and iao valley that day.
Apr 01, 2011 iao valley becomes a cool, verdant retreat. Jan 23, 2018 the iao needle is one of those places in hawaii that knocked my socks off the first time i saw it. Even with iao needle serving as a lookout point, kamehameha defeated mauis forces in a ferocious battle that ultimately changed the course of hawaiian history. Jan 14, 2015 a comprehensive guide to the iao needle. Iao needle lookout trail and ethnobotanical loop this is a good activitiy to do if you are visiting maui and want an easy hikewalk away from the beach. Iao valley state park and our hike to see the famous. If youre looking for the very best view of the iao needle, then youre better off going to the park in the morning, as the iao needle is less likely to be cloud covered at this time. Its amazing to me the variety of landmarks that those volcanoes can create. Iao valley state park the park in the center of west. Maui ancient history stories, myths and sites valley isle excursions. The word iao, on its own, means cloud supreme in hawaiian. I had never seen anything like this solid green, needle like mountain shooting straight up to the sky. Once in old hawaii, in the days when anything was possible, maui, the most powerful god, had a beautiful daughter. Apr 12, 2010 this is first of two posts about exploring iao needle and iao valley.
We tried to go today and there is a police officer at the road to ensure that no one goes in. Once you round the corner to the entrance of the iao valley state park, the thinnest cliff, the iao needle, captures your attention as it juts skyward to an elevation of 2,250 feet above the sea level considering that the ocean is probably less than five miles away as the crow flies, that. Known as an important political center in ancient hawaii, it was the site of many battles and the bones of hundreds of warriors were scattered here. Read and watch a video on the iao valleys needle and stream. Reaching 2,250 feet above the valley floor, the iaoneedle is a remnant from past volcanic eruptions thats been carved by years of erosion. Explore the nearby river on one of many gentle trails that traverse the park. Once inside, the trail within the park is a paved, semicrowded walkway which winds its way up 3 steps to a lookout for 2,250foot kukaemoku. During past battles, the iao needle was an ideal spot to observe enemy movement. Because of its natural environment and history, it has become a tourist. Today, iao valley is recognized as a very special place for both its spiritual value and spectacular scenery.
If youre measuring from sea level, the iao needle is 2250 feet high. Iao valley state parkfamous battleground where king kamehameha defeated mauis warriors and ruler in his quest to unite the islands and is now also home to a beautiful botanical garden. A needle book is a little cloth book that you can take on. During periods of warfare, warriors used the peak as a lookout. When you finally reach iao valley state park, return visitors will be shocked to find a parking lot attendant collecting fees. Iao valley guide maui, hawaii maui information guide. A needle book is a little cloth book that you can take on the go. Iao valley is a favorite visitor attraction because of its convenient admission. Iao valley state park the park in the center of west maui.
Iao needle see left, a volcanic monolith 2,250 feet 686 m high, soars nearly straigt up 1200 feet from the valley floor. Haleakala, iao valley and central maui day tour usa. The needle is a fascinating erosional pinnacle rising 1,200 feet 366 meters. A brief history of the hawaiian trail and mountain club from 1910 1950, r. Iao valley is deep, narrow gorge 5 miles 8 km long and flanked by heavily forested walls almost a mile in height. Waikiki, the koolaus, honolulu, lahaina, the seven pools of kipahulu, kaanapali, iao valley state park, waimea canyon, kalalau valley, the na pali. Imagine calling at lush, tropical islands, isolated beaches and bustling fruit markets as you cruise across the pacific ocean. The cultural gardens are located approximately one mile from the parking entrance gates of iao needle state park. Iao needleoil painting by ivan muncysigned in the painting and titled on the back. There is a wellmarked, paved pedestrian path leading from the parking lot to view iao needle and. The stream is warm and shallow and a favorite for locals to cool off in on hot days. On our last day there she told me about iao valley state park where we had not visited. The name may have originated with the verdant valleys nearomnipresent cloud cover, largely provided by the equally emerald surrounding west maui mountains.
If it has rained recently, there are sometimes very long narrow waterfalls coming down the mountains. Maui tropical plantation 35minute narrated tram tour through flower fields and fruit orchards. The landmark iao needle, a vertical rock peak, looms 1200 feet above the lush forests of iao valley state park. Maui ancient history is an incredible story of conquest and survival. I had never seen anything like this solid green, needlelike mountain shooting straight up to the sky.
The fascinating origins behind 7 famous hawaiian place names. Sarah vowells unfamiliar fishes, a quirky history of. It rises abruptly from the valley floor and stands 1,200. Book your tickets online for iao valley state monument, wailuku. Maui loved her very much and as he watched her grow up, he vowed that only the most worthy king in all the islands would marry her but without her father knowing, the beautiful maiden fell in love with puuokamoa, a merman god. Buy iao needle canvas prints designed by millions of independent artists from all over the world. Summit mauis 10,023foot 3,007meter dormant volcano while learning about its geologic history on the driving ascent. The valley was once a center of death according to hawaiian history. Iao is not a onestop destination, but an outing in which the journey is the highlight of the trip. Iao valley is a lush, green, beautiful state park in the center of the west maui mountains. Both are worth a stop and these are great places to enjoy on your last day on maui as checkout is usually around 11am in most resorts and condos. Iao valley state park in wailuku needle lookout trail. Iao needle 40s hawaii large vintage oil painting maui.
Central maui hiking options are varied enough that while most hikes arent exactly challenging, there are opportunities for a good workout. Apparently there was major floodinga few weeks ago and the cop says it will not open for a few months. Walk along the paved trails and up the 100 or so steps for great views of the iao needle and wailuku. Travel to wailuku town, and youre only minutes away from iao. But really, it was designated a burial grounds for the ruling alii and is not really a place for traipsing around.
Iao valley state park can easily be seen in less than a 12 day. Mauis history along the road to hana ancient hawaiians were a people without writing who preserved their history in chants and legends. In stark contrast to that violent past, mauis iao valley is now a quiet, lush valley with easy access and several nice nature trails. An enchanting area for maui visitors and locals alike, iao valley has endless opportunities to capture the perfect photo, connect with nature, and learn more about hawaiis culture, history and spiritual relationship with the outdoors. Iao valley state park climbs iao needle to watch the fourth largest mountain springs on maoyi island. Many warriors died here and for hawaiians it is a spiritual and sacred place that is rich in ancient history. It is a great spot to visit on your way to or from the airport, since it only takes a few minutes to get there. Reaching 2,250 feet above the valley floor, the iaoneedle is a remnant from past.
Iao valley state monument also has historical relevance as the site of the battle of. A guide to lahaina, kaanapali, kapalua and iao valley kepler, angela kay on. The history of this area is the bloodiest of the island of maui, hawaii. Once the site of an alii hawaiian royalty burial ground, iao valley is now a national natural landmark visited by thousands of nature enthusiasts. Mauis ancient history, as with all the islands, was passed down through close to 100 generations by the kahuna priests of old hawai. So before we went to the airport we spent an hour or more hiking around this park wondering how in the world the ancient warriors ever hid behind this needle. This is first of two posts about exploring iao needle and iao valley. This beautiful state monument is among the rainest in the world, receiving an inch of rain a day. An update on the closed iao valley for maui travelers. I met a wonderful woman while battling the hawaiian surf oldlady style. All iao needle canvas prints ship within 48 hours, include a 30day moneyback guarantee, and arrive readytohang with preattached hanging wire. A practical guide to the most scenic walks on the major hawaiian islands of maui, molokai, lanai, hawaii, kauai and oahu. The iao valleys colorful past makes it almost impossible to not enjoy a lesson in ancient hawaiian history while being wowed by its stunning display of exotic plants, footpaths, picturesque waterfalls and pools.
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