Visit Iao Valley on Your Maui Vacation

Need a break from the hot beaches? Looking for misty jungle without a long drive? You need to visit Iao Needle in Wailuku. Located in the lush West Maui Mountains, Iao is about 40 minutes from Lahaina and 25 minutes from Kihei. The weather is usually cool and mist or drizzle is common.

Iao's crowning jewel is the Needle, a pointed rock formation which rises to 1200 feet above the floor of the valley. This geological oddity is hard to miss, and lends a majestic beauty to the already scenic valley. The steep mountain slopes are covered in a blanket of bright green jungle all year round. The park's lush, tropical landscaping is set with little trails for an easy walk to needle viewing-points, or to Iao river, which snakes along the valley floor along the park's edge.

The beauty of this destination attracts a diverse group of both visitors and local residents alike. The river is great for cooling off and the picnic tables and grills draw groups for gatherings and family parties. For the more ambitious hikers, there are challenging trails to be found leading out from the center of the park. The park is open from 7a.m. to 7p.m. every day and there is no entrance fee.

If you have not yet secured your vacation rental accommodations for your trip to Maui, have a look at our vacation rental specials. Call (800) 676-4112 if you have any questions that are not answered on our website. We hope to see you soon. Mahalo for reading this week!