Explore Iao Valley State Monument on Maui
Maui offers some very diverse landscapes. One side of the island is similar to the mountain deserts of Utah. The other is lush and green as far as the eye can see. Iao Valley State Monument is so beautiful that you’ll want to hang out for days just enjoying the steep, towering mountains and lush trees. While there isn’t a large geographic space to explore like what you’ll see at national parks, spending an hour in this wilderness is something I recommend.
Iao (pronounced EE-ow) Valley State Monument was the final stop on our visit to Maui. After our visit, we headed to the airport to fly home. The monument was recommended to us by a local tour company and we’re so glad we checked it out.
Here are a few tips to help you know what to expect and plan an amazing visit to Iao Valley State Monument.
Getting to Iao Valley State Monument, Parking and Entrance Tickets
Iao Valley State Monument is on the southeastern side of the West Maui Forest Reserve. There’s only one road up into the Iao Valley, and you can access it from the city of Wailuku. Follow Main Street west and it will become Iao Valley Road. It’s a pretty straight shot along the road, which heads west into the Iao Valley.
The monument is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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The parking area for Iao Valley State Monument is found at the end of the road – so you can’t miss it. When we arrived, we had to circle the lot a few times to find a spot to park. Once parked, you’ll need to head to the Payment Machine found near the trailhead, restroom and interpretive signs about the area. It’s here where you need to pay your fee as follows:
- Hawaii residents are free – both for parking and entrance fees
- Non-residents must pay $10 per vehicle and $5 per person (children under 3 are free)
So it was $20 for my wife and I to visit the park. While there isn’t enough there to spend more than 30-60 minutes, I do think it was worth making a stop and seeing how green and beautiful the mountains are.
Take a Hike for a Beautiful View
The one hike established at Iao Valley State Monument is a short 0.6 mile paved hike. It’s a little steep, so they’ve put some stairs in for convenience. You can see a photo of the stairs further down in this article). The elevation climb is 200 feet.
From the top of the trail, which includes a small structure, you can see the main feature of this trail – Kuka‘emoku (a.k.a. the ʻIao Needle). The formation is unique to the area in how narrow it is, towering 1,200 feet above the valley floor. As you look west up the valley’s, you’ll be looking further into the West Maui Mountains.
Spend some time at the top to take in the beauty. You can see west up the mountains, but you can also look east out to the valley floor between the West Maui Mountains and Haleakala.
On your way back down, you can explore the next area of Iao Valley State Monument I describe below.
Stroll through the Ethnobotanical Garden Loop
I’m familiar with botanical gardens. But I’d never heard of an ethnobotanical garden until I was researching for this article. The difference is that ethnobotanical gardens feature culturally-relevant, native trees and plants. Along the paths, there’s also a few benches. So if you want to take a moment to get off your feet and take in the beauty, then take advantage of them.
Near the garden, there’s a little off-shoot trail that will take you down to Iao stream. There are some dirt paths that go alongside the creek. If it’s been raining uphill, the water levels may be a little higher or can rise unexpectedly. So be mindful of that while hanging out along the stream.
The Details
Address: 54 S High St, Wailuku, HI 96793
Cost: $10 per vehicle parked, plus $5 for each person. Island residents get free parking and free admission. Payment is made at the parking kiosk near the trailhead.
Hours: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/iao-valley-state-monument/
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