Nestled in the lush greenery of the 'Iao Valley is the natural rock formation called the 'Iao Needle. The green-covered stone protruding from the valley floor is actually an old basaltic core (volcano remnant). The 'Iao Needle is 2,250 feet above sea level, or 1200 feet tall from the valley floor.
'Iao Valley Reservations Notice
A reservation system is in place to reduce congestion and manage parking and crowding issues.
Advanced reservations to enter ‘Iao Valley State Monument are now available online. All Hawaii State Parks day-use reservations can be made at https://gostateparks.hawaii.gov/iao-valley. The parking fee is $10 per vehicle. The additional non-resident entrance fee is $5 per person, with no charge for children under three years of age. There are separate fees for commercial vehicles.
Hawaii residents with a valid driver’s license or State identification will continue to access all of Hawaii’s state parks free of charge. However, entry may depend on parking availability. Out-of-state visitors entering the site with a Hawaii resident must still have a reservation.
The traditional name is Kuka`emoku and it's known as the phallic stone of Kanaloa (Hawaiian god of the ocean); thus the 'Iao Needle was once used as a natural altar. The name 'Iao is pronounced "EE-ow." The 'Iao Needle is surrounded by a very lovely walkway and garden of lush tropical plants. Surrounded on all sides by the Pu'u Kukui Crater, it was the site of one of the most famous battles in Hawaiian history.
⚠ Closed for safety work through June 26, 2026. Per Hawaii DLNR's April 20, 2026 notice, ʻĪao Valley State Monument is closed for safety improvements and will reopen June 26, 2026. The information below describes the park during normal operations.
In 1790 King Kamehameha I defeated the Maui army in his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands. It is said that when the battle was over, the stream was so damned with all the bodies that the water ran red with blood. The site was named Kepaniwai "damming of the waters." Nearby in the valley, you'll find the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens. Take Highway 32 (Kaahumanu Road) west out of Wailuku. This road turns into Highway 320 which leads directly to the 'Iao Valley State Park.
Park gates open from 7 am to 6 pm. Non-residents are required to pay $5 for walk-ins and $10 for cars. Plan to arrive by 5 pm to give yourself enough time to enjoy the short walk to the overlook before the gates close.
On your way back down the valley, the historic Bailey House Museum (Hale Hoʻikeʻike) sits on Main Street in Wailuku — a 19th-century missionary home turned into Maui's main historical museum, with Hawaiian cultural artifacts and Edward Bailey's paintings of pre-tourism Maui. It's a 10-minute drive from the Iao Valley parking lot and pairs naturally with the morning.
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