Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kepaniwai Park & Heritage Gardens
PARK
MAP
(
www.mauicounty.gov
;
870 ʻIao Valley Rd; 7am-7pm;
) Two miles west of Wailuku, this
family-oriented park pays tribute to Hawaii's ethnic heritage. Sharing the grounds are a
traditional Hawaiian
hale,
a Filipino farmer's hut, Japanese gardens and a Chinese pavil-
ion with a statue of revolutionary hero Sun Yat-sen (who, incidentally, briefly lived on
Maui). ʻIao Stream runs through the park, bordered by picnic shelters with BBQ pits.
A lone pine tree, or
matsu
, was planted atop the small hill overlooking the gardens. A
symbol of longevity and perservance, it honors the victims of the devastating Japanese
earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
JFK Profile
LANDMARK
MAP
(ʻIao Valley Rd)
At a bend in the road a half-mile after Kepaniwai Park, you may see a few
cars parked and their occupants staring off into Pali ʻEleʻele, a gorge on the right where a
rock formation has eroded into the shape of a profile. Some legends associate it with a
powerful kahuna (priest) who lived here during the 1500s; today it bears an uncanny re-
semblance to former US president John F Kennedy.
If parking is difficult, continue to ʻIao Valley State Park, a short walk away.
TOP OF CHAPTER
ʻIao Valley State Park
The ʻIao Needle, rising above a mountain stream in Maui's lush interior, is a landmark
scene of singular beauty. This sensuous rock pinnacle is the focal point of
ʻIao Valley
3 miles west of central Wailuku. This rainforest park extends up to Puʻu Kukui (5788ft),
Maui's highest and wettest point.
History
The park's breathtaking beauty hides a tragic past. In 1790, Kamehameha I, who sought
control over all of the Hawaiian islands, battled Mauian warriors who had retreated here
following a barrage from his cannons, which were provided by westerners. The conflict
was called the Battle of Kepewani, or the 'damming of the waters.' According to legend,
the streams were clogged with the bodies of warriors killed during the final fight.
