Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Using wooden spears and clubs spiked with shark's teeth, Kamehameha's forces
chased Kalanikupule's warriors deep into the valley in an evenly matched battle.
After two days of fighting neither side could claim victory. It's said that on the third
day of battle Kamehameha employed two cannons he had acquired from Western
explorers. The spears and stones of the Maui warriors were no match for the explos-
ive cannons, so by the end of the third day Kamehameha's forces had gained a hard-
fought victory. Over the course of the battle, not only did the waters of 'Iao Stream
run red with the blood of the vanquished, but the bodies of the deceased formed a
natural dam which blocked much of its flow. This eerie history lives on today in the
name
Kepaniwai,
a word which translates as “the damming of the waters.”
When you finally reach 'Iao Valley State Park, return visitors will be shocked to find
a parking lot attendant collecting fees. Instituted in 2010, parking is now $5/vehicle for
nonresidents. Once inside, the “trail” within the park is a paved, semi-crowded walkway
which winds its way up 133 steps to a lookout for 2,250-foot Kuka'emoku, better known
as the 'Iao Needle. This erosional structure erupts 1,200 feet from the valley floor below
and was once used as a lookout point by native Hawaiian settlers. While the Needle itself
is worthy of a photo, the towering cliff faces which form the photo's backdrop are even
more dramatic. The center of the West Maui Mountains is virtually untouched by modern
culture, and it's believed that the bones of Hawaiian royalty are buried in caves back here
which are so remote they will never be disturbed.
On the walk back down to the parking lot there are a few short spur trails worthy of a
look. One leads down toward the waters of 'Iao Stream, whereas the trail right next to the
bridge leads to an ethnobotanical garden highlighting plant species introduced by Polyne-
sian settlers. This loop trail will only take about 10 minutes to explore thoroughly, and
there's a nice example of taro irrigation. Overall, 'Iao is a tame adventure, but it's a site
that each Maui visitor needs to experience at least once.
Maui Tropical Plantation
The
Maui Tropical Plantation
(1670 Honoapi'ilani Hwy., 808/242-8983,
www.mauitropicalplantation.com
,
9am-5pm daily, free admission) is a 60-acre working
plantation that grows everything from coconuts to star fruit and apple bananas to coffee.
Although it mainly caters to the old and the young, the plantation remains an informative
stop for anyone interested in Hawai'i's agriculture. Some additions have recently been
put in as a way to attract a more active crowd, so the
Maui Zipline
(808/633-2464,
