5 Things About Iao Valley
Iao Valley State Park was a great place to spend a few hours on our Maui vacation. Here is 5 things about ʻĪao Valley that you may, or may not, have known.
1. ʻĪao Valley Is A Burial Ground For Maui Royalty.
The importance of ‘Īao Valley stretches back across the centuries.
During the fifteenth century, Maui ruler Kaka’e declared ‘Īao Valley would be a burial ground for the āli’i, or the Hawaiian nobility. It’s thought that the bodies were buried in secret places across the 4,000 acres of the valley that now form the state park.
Visitors to the area should take the opportunity to soak up the unique atmosphere that led to ‘Īao Needle and the valley becoming such a sacred place.
To show proper respect to the land, make sure to keep to the designated paths, and don’t attempt to form your own trail.
2. It’s Seen Warfare
The towering height of ‘Īao Needle was once employed as a lookout spot during the days of interisland warfare. One of Maui’s most famous battles actually took place under the watchful eye of the Needle.
In 1790, legendary Hawaiian King Kamehameha I bought his battle to unite the islands to Maui. The two sides clashed at the Battle of Kepaniwai, one of the most ferocious fights to ever occur on Maui soil.
Despite the local Maui people having the ‘Iao Needle as a lookout point, it was Kamahameha’s forces who triumphed, and changed the course of Hawaiian history.
3. It’s Hard To Miss
The ‘Iao Needle towers 1200 feet above the floor of the ‘Iao Valley, and 2,250 feet above sea level.
It isn’t the highest spot in the valley, but the sudden jutting shape stands out against the sharp cliffs and sloping sides that surround the Needle.
Covered in the lush vegetation of the rainforest, ‘Iao Needle is a remarkable sight from the lookout post, and still pretty impressive from the parking lot. However, if you visit on a really damp day, you might find that even this impressive structure can be hidden in a veil of cloud.
4. Iao Valley State Monument park will be closed for repairs from August 1st to January 15th.
Yeah, Itʻs closed to help reinforce the grounds of the park. It may have hindered your vacation this year, but Itʻs for safety reasons. So, go visit Kepaniwai, the park you first drive by to the closed gate.
5. Ke Kula ʻO Piʻilani – A Hawaiian Immersions School.
Ke Kula ‘o Pi‘ilani is an independent Hawaiian school founded in 2016 with the purpose of providing a well-rounded education with equal focus on ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, mea Hawaiʻi, and academic rigor. Education is delivered from a Hawaiian perspective and through a Hawaiian lens.
This is no longer the Hawaii Nature Center, but an actual school. That being said, school property is private property, thus you cannot park and access the walk ways within the school property. Thereʻs signs and gates saying the same thing, so please respect the learning process for the keiki (children) of the school.
It is a great place to collect yourself, meditate, and just jump into a mountain stream to cool down. Thereʻs restrooms, public grills, and pavilions for your family use. Either way, enjoy your time and create those memories that youʻll be able to share for years to come.
Five Tips For A Haleakalā Sunrise
Sunrise on Haleakala is one of those things where youʻll have it ingrained in your memories till the day you die. From the whole adventure of leaving your hotel/accommodations at 2am to drive up and witness the stars 10,000 feet above the ocean. Sitting around in darkness, with many strangers, in 30 degree fahrenheit and wind gust going 20 mph. That view though, it was all worth it for the view of the sun rising.
This, is something you need to plan for, so here are our tips for you to plan a sunrise at Haleakala:
Get the Reservations
As of 2017, You NEED to have a reservation to go and see the sunrise up on Haleakalā. This method was implemented to help control the parking, safety, and wildlife of the summit due to overcrowding the prior years before. If youʻre not able to get one, donʻt try to just show up at the gate, you will be asked to pull on the side and wait till the sun rises to head up.
Needless to say, if you’re able to get the reservation, it’s a view worth all the confusion, early morning drive, and running out of hot coffee before you get to park. Youʻll also have some Native Hawaiians (Kanaka Maoli) or the park rangers doing some ʻoli (chants) that welcomes the sun, but itʻs an experience youʻll never forget.
Full Tank Of Gas
This may seem like a “duh” thing to suggest, but its a real thing people take for granted. You really donʻt want to be stuck 9,000 feet up on Haleakalā and run out of gas. Now it doesnʻt take a full take to make the trip, but you donʻt want to be stranded up 9000 because you saw it at a quarter tank and thought “yeah, I think we got this.”
Thereʻs a Safeway gas station, Costco, and a few local gas stations on your way to the park. You’ll also want to pack up some snacks and water at these locations as they also donʻt have stores, vending machines, or food/drink trucks up there too.
Bring Jackets/Blankets
You will be heading up to a high elevation, so be prepared and pack layers. Yes, it’s Hawaiʻi, but you’ll be 10,000 feet above sea level, with a high wind shear that can drop the temperature to a personal low of 31°F (0ºC). Hats, gloves, blankets, jeans, sweatpants, long sleeve shirts, jackets, all of that! Trust me, youʻll be grateful you bought all that with you.
Plan Your Drive Time
If you’re not staying in the Kula, Makawao, Pukalani, or Haiku area, youʻll need to plan out your drive time. Make sure youʻre going to give yourself plenty of time to get there to stretch out and relax, and not miss the sunrise.
Depending on the time of year and where youʻll start driving from, youʻll need to plan for a 2-2.5 hour drive time to reach the summit. To give you a better idea of what to plan for:
Kahului: 2 hours drive time
Wailea/Kihei: 2 hours drive time
Lahaina: 2:15 hours drive time
Kapalua: 2:30 hours drive time
Hana: 3/3:30 hours drive time
Remember that these are just suggested guidelines of travel time. Weather, road conditions, your driving skills, bathroom breaks, etc… are all x-factors in calculating your drive time.
To save you some time and hassle, you could always book one of the tours we have available. One of the tours we would recommend would be the Sunrise Haleakalā Experience. You will experience the sun’s energy, as it rises while you stand 10,023 feet above sea level. You’ll be picked up at your hotel or condo and experience a fully narrated tour by your knowledgeable guide, who will, among other very interesting facts, relate the story of the Demigod Maui. This is by far a “can’t miss” attraction, especially now, with this awesome special offered by MauiActivities.Com.