What an amazing place. This is really beautiful. I will strongly recommend to go up the trail from the parking lot and also go all the way down to the stream. Going down to the stream is way easier. We noticed that there are leaves there which have black seed attached to them. I never even imagined that this is even possible. There is an entrance fee but if you park on the side of the road just before the entrance.

It's been a few years since we visited Iao Valley State Monument and there have been improvements to the parking area and the trails seem to be better maintained. Some guests park outside the gates and hike in but that actually takes funding away from upkeep. I know it costs a lot ($10/car, $5/person), but the fees really do help maintain the park. The park still has a nice casual feel to the trails and the plant areas with many opportunities to swim and lounge around. We enjoyed the park and hike up the creek. Though the signage could probably use some updating, they do share a good story about the cultural significance of the area. It's a must-do on any visit, but not every time you visit Maui.

Wear shoes that can get wet if you plan to go up the trail to the soaking pools. Remember this is literally a major battle site so imagine the warriors fighting hand to hand in this terrain... Be respectful as it is sacred for that reason and others. The clouds never seem to leave this area. One of the wettest places on the planet. Water is cold, but I got in during November for a soak. Bring a sack lunch and go to the restroom before you hike.

The needle is cool. We took the nearby trail and hiked along a stream. You do need to get a permit to enter the area. We drove back down the canyon where we had some bars on our phone. We registered and turned around to drive back up the canyon to the iou needle

The view of the "needle" in the park is impressive. The walk to it is paved and short. The botanical gardens at the site seemed in a poor state when we were there (Feb.). Going to the needle and seeing the botanical garden took about 30 minutes. One needs a timed ticket to go Iao Valley State Monument now. We purchased a timed ticket for entrance and also for parking. I believe the parking was $10. When we got there, we realized many smart people were parking on the road just outside the park entrance (no charge) and walking in (short distance). I wish we had known to do that.

Be sure to make reservations, you can park inside the park there is also some street parking while it looks like you can just walk in there is a fee. We parked street side and I made a reservation while standing at the gate they were kind enough to let us in right away. It was just a short walk from the gate. We are not agile enough to climb stairs but there was a wheelchair ramp and port a pottys on site as restroom was out of order. The views here are great we were able to get quite a few nice photos before we resumed our journey. I would recommend getting a state park pass especially if you will be visiting more state parks during your visit.

This is a very beautiful valley. Mountains are dramatic and majestic. The paved path was a simple hike/walk for our family including adults, teens and young children. It did feel a little underwhelming (paved hiking area is only about 200 yards) for the price of admission and parking. Apparently you can circumvent the fee by parking outside the gate but it wasn’t that pricey and ultimately you’re supporting a state park which is worth it. For the more adventurous there are non-paved trails that extend much farther and are worth the effort.

We had planned to visit this place but wasn't sure what to expect upon our visit. Well we were blown away when we arrived and realized that this place was worth our time. We had made a reservation to enter but when we got there the girl working the gate didn't even bother to check. When you first get there you can't help but notice the Iao Needle rising majestically out of the ground. It truly is a sight but there is more to see as you have the river running through the monument and the fact there are trails that can take you deeper into the mountains should you choose to continue on your way. It was well worth our time while in Maui.

This is very sacred and amazing part three accessible easy to walk wheelchair festival. Even if you can’t get out of the car you can drive around and you can see the monuments in a tribute to lotta Polynesian culture center visited the silent statues places of worship waterfalls, picnicking areas it’s just simply gorgeous to drive alone is breathtaking. A great thing about being a Maui is everything here is just only a couple miles away. This is well worth visiting.

We made a timeslot reservation online the night before. It was an easy entry process with the QR code. There were signs saying no dogs, but there were people with dogs. It is definitely possible to get lost on the side trails. We had fun exploring, walking around, and looking for chameleons. We didn’t find any, but it was fun. We were glad we brought sweaters, raincoats, and backpacks with snacks and water.