The Iao Needle
The ‘Iao Valley, is the site of one of the most famous battles that occurred in 1790 and changed Hawaii history forever when King Kamehameha I destroyed the Maui army in an effort to unite the Hawaiian Islands. But now it is a state park found at the end of Highway 32 in Central Maui. The lovely, deep valley of ‘Iao features the ‘Iao Needle, a natural rock pinnacle presiding over the ‘Iao stream and surrounded by the walls of the Pu’u Kukui Crater. Once used as a natural altar, the 2,250-foot stone pillar covered in green, is a basaltic core that has survived eons of swirling water.
And it is breathtaking. On a clear day you can see all the way to the ocean. For the perfect view of the ‘Iao Needle (Iao means supreme light), follow the paved pathway along the stream leading from the State Park parking lot. But don’t forget to bring mosquito repellant (I got bit a few times) and get their early because the top of the ‘Iao Needle is often hidden behind clouds so the earlier the better in regards for the best view.
I could honestly say this experience was almost…magical in a weird way. Following the path around the stream gives you a sacred feeling since it was once the scene of a bloody battle. But more than that the scenery is beautiful and lush… and peaceful. We left BabyTravels in the car with Grandma since she was a wee bit fussy and tired (BabyTravels not Grandma) and walked around this beautiful state park. Towards the end it started to rain. Not really rain as it was more of a mist. It was enough to give you goose bumps. The air was warm and the rain was so light and refreshing and just a few degrees cooler than the air so it beaded on your skin and tingled. It’s one of the best feelings ever. I closed my eyes to try to soak in the moment and forever ingrain it in my memory so I could relive it time and time again. And because this was just the first day of our Maui vacation, it put me in a great mood- excited for the experiences yet to come.
Tags: Hawaii, Iao Needle, Iao Valley, Maui
January 27th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Maui is one of my favorite places to visit, and the two times I went to the Iao Needle…I was not disappointed. My other favorite thing on Maui is watching the sun rise over Haleakala, then taking the bike ride, back and forth through the windy roads to the ocean.