All of us want to do and see as much as we can of Maui while we have the opportunity. Our tour books recommended going to Iao Valley State Monument, specifically to view the Iao Needle, but we had to make a reservation first. We chose Monday at 10:30. Off we went -- from our house in Kihei, we drove north to Wailuku and then three miles into the mountains to the Iao Valley.
This is another area of the island that gets a ton o' rainfall; hence, the land is as green as the desert is brown. Easy on the eyeballs. Real easy.
Several rivers drain the mountains.
I tested the water and it was cold.
A 0.6 mile walk UP leads to a scenic viewpoint of Kuka‘emoku (the ʻIao Needle), which rises abruptly 1200 feet from the valley floor. Lots of stairs, too. You can see the ocean in the vee of the mountains.
Was the wind blowing like stink up here? Yes. But the needle wasn't covered in clouds, as it very often is. We picked a beautiful day to be Out and About.
This park has a lot of history to it. During periods of warfare, warriors used the pointed peak of basalt as a lookout. "This unique overgrown rock was apparently used as an altar in prehistoric times. A legend surrounds Iao Needle's origin. It is said that the demi-god Maui took captive an unwanted suitor, the water sprite Puukamoua, of his beautiful daughter, Iao, and wanted to kill him. But Pele, the fire goddess, ordered Maui to turn him to stone. Hence the needle. The valley is said to be full of the ghosts of Hawaiian gods, known as manas."
Once you view The Needle from the scenic overlook, there's nothing else to do but head down. The rest of the 4,000 acre park seemed to be closed.
A path led down to the river. There we encountered a massive, awesome tree, so big it would take four or five of me to encircle the trunk. I didn't recognize the bark or the tree, and still don't know what it is.
It likes being close to the river.
To call this park lush is an understatement.
Tom and Diane -- nice to have a seat, with a view!
Seems as though this handsome fella is saying,
"What are you looking at?"
Now where? It was decided we'd drive around the peninsula. Looking East, the top of Haleakala is visible, though clouds were building below the peak.
Maybe a map will help? OK, today: From Kihei (circled), we drove north to Wailuku, and then west to Iao Needle (in black letters) located in the West Maui Mountains. Then it was over to Lahaina (further west on the ocean), and from there, we circled that whole western peninsula. See the red check mark, top left? We followed that road all the way around ("stunning, rugged, untamed coastline"), and back down to Kihei. Whew, what a trip!
We'd hoped to find a place to eat lunch in Kapalua, but didn't even find a town! Talk about the Road to Hana? This was just as bad, possibly worse, with it's one-lane stretches, hairpin turns on cliffs ("honk your horn") and single-lane bridges, geez, what a thrilling drive if you have the stomach for it. We had to back up a couple of times (yield) and pull over, nearly grazing rocks, to allow other vehicles to pass.
It was, however, spectacular!
We did pass a tiny hamlet in a cove.
A neighborhood church, but no restaurant!
Took a long time to traverse this road, 'cause you couldn't go fast ever!
We stopped here, hoping for food, but it was a gallery with nice local arts and crafts. We saw the word, "refreshments," but it turned out to be a Coke machine and packaged cookies (which were delicious, BTW). We did buy some things, too.
Switchbacks.
Well, we finally got back to civilization, and ended up eating lunch at Fred's Mexican Cafe in Kihei (yummy). Heck, it was almost dinner time ... or at least 3pm. Glad we had cookies to sustain us till then!
After being in the car for so long, everyone wanted to dip in the pool. Fabulous. Love the infinity pool.
Watched this family of Gray Francolins crossing the driveway. They'd just visited the backyard, Mom 'n Dad and the three kids, so cute.
And we ended the day with one more absolutely magnificent sunset.
Another day in paradise!
