Located in central Maui, the Iao Valley State Monument is a historic site of the Battle of Kepaniwai, where King Kamehameha I defeated the Maui army in 1790 in his quest to unite all the Hawaiian islands under his rule. The Iao Needle, means “Cloud Supreme” in Hawaiian. This lush tropical valley is known for this picturesque landmark that is 1,200 feet from the valley floor. The Iao Needle was a lava remnant that is now covered with lush greenery and a botanical garden.
Unfortunately, the Iao Valley State Monument is closed till 4/15/23 due to parking lot improvements and slope stabilization projects due to erosion.
