Iao Needle, Central Maui

The Iao Needle is a natural rock formation covered by gorgeous greenery in the Iao Valley State Park, located in western Maui. It is 1,200 feet high, rising from the bottom of the valley that surrounds it. The West Maui Mountains, a dormant volcano, encompass the area.

The Needle is a historic site, for in 1790 a battle took place which made a mark in Hawaiian history. At Iao, King Kamehameha I defeated the Maui army in a pivotal battle in his quest to unite the islands under one rule, a feat that had never been accomplished prior. During past battles, the Iao Needle was an ideal spot to observe enemy movement. The monument, which was known as Kuka`emoku in Hawaiian, was supposed to have been used as an religious altar generations ago. There is a stone honoring the God of the ocean, Kanaloa, located upon the top of the needle.

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