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State park · Kahului, Hawaii
ʻĪao Valley State Monument
Green valley of cliffs in west Maui’s mountains, a few kilometers from Wailuku, with the ʻĪao Needle, a peak rising 366 meters above the valley floor, and the site of the 1790 Battle of Kepaniwai.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About ʻĪao Valley State Monument
ʻĪao Valley cuts into west Maui’s mountains, about 5 km from Wailuku center. The cliffs, covered in vegetation, receive rain almost daily and feed the ʻĪao stream that runs through the valley floor. The state monument protects the lower valley and has been a national natural landmark since 1972.
Rising from the landscape is the ʻĪao Needle, called Kūkaʻemoku in Hawaiian, a rock pinnacle covered in vegetation that soars about 366 meters above the valley floor. It is what remains of a harder ridge spared by erosion.
In 1790 the valley was the scene of the Battle of Kepaniwai, in which the forces of Kamehameha I, arriving from the Island of Hawaiʻi, defeated Maui’s warriors. Accounts say the bodies dammed the stream, and the name Kepaniwai means "the damming of the waters."
A short paved path with steps leads from the parking area to an overlook of the ʻĪao Needle and to a garden of plants used by Hawaiians. Visitors from outside the state may enter only with a scheduled time booked online.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From one hour to one and a half hours for the walk to the overlook and the garden.
Best time
Early morning, when clouds are usually higher and the needle appears whole. In the afternoon fog and rain are more common.
How to get there
Via Highway 32, which leaves Wailuku, about 10 km from Kahului and roughly a 20-minute drive. Non-residents must buy entry and a timed parking reservation online beforehand; check Hawaii’s parks reservation system before you go.
Tip
Combine the valley with a stop in Wailuku, the county’s old town. Do not enter the stream: water levels can rise quickly after rain in the mountains.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about ʻĪao Valley State Monument
Do you need a reservation for ʻĪao Valley?
Yes, for out-of-state visitors: a timed entry and parking reservation must be made online. Check before you go.
What is the ʻĪao Needle?
A rock spire covered in vegetation, called Kūkaʻemoku, that rises about 366 meters above the valley floor.
How long does a visit to ʻĪao Valley take?
About one hour to walk the paved path to the viewpoint and garden.