Editing Iao Valley

{{Short description|Valley in the West Maui Mountains}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox valley
|name = ʻĪao Valley
|other_name = {{okina}}Īao Valley
|photo = Iao Valley panorama cropped.jpg
|photo_caption = 
|photo_alt = Mountainside seen from within Iao Valley
|photo_size = 300
|map      = United States Maui#USA Hawaii
|label    = {{okina}}Īao Valley
|elevation = {{convert|1000|ft|m|-2}}
|coordinates = {{coord|20|52|51|N|156|32|42|W|type:landmark_region:US-HI|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|location = [[West Maui Mountains]]
|footnotes={{Infobox designation list |embed=yes |designation1=NNL |designation1_date=1972}}
}}

'''ʻĪao Valley''' ([[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]]: ''{{okina}}Īao'': "cloud supreme", pronounced similar to "EE-yow") is a lush, stream-cut valley in West [[Maui]], [[Hawaii]], located {{convert|5|km|mi|1|order=flip}} west of [[Wailuku, Hawaii|Wailuku]]. Because of its natural environment and history, it has become a tourist location.  It was designated a [[National Natural Landmark]] in 1972.<ref name=nnl>{{cite web|title=I'ao Valley|work=National Natural Landmark|url=http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/site.cfm?Site=IAVA-HI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016091240/http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/site.cfm?Site=IAVA-HI|archive-date=2011-10-16|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=12 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== ʻĪao Valley State Monument ==
[[File:2011 Oct 01 Iao Needle (Crop).jpg|thumb|right|upright|The ʻĪao Needle. Rising {{convert|1200|ft|m|abbr=on}} from the valley floor, it is taller than the [[Eiffel Tower]].|alt=Photo of vegetation-covered lava promontory]]
The state park is located on {{convert|6.2|acre|ha}} at the end of ʻĪao Valley Road (Highway 32). The ʻĪao Needle (Kūkaʻemoku), a landmark in the state park, is a vegetation-covered lava remnant rising {{convert|1200|ft|m}} from the valley floor or {{convert|2250|ft|m}} above sea level. The "needle" is a sharp ridge that gives the appearance of being a spire when viewed end-on.<ref>{{cite web 
| url = http://www.waialeale.org/text/pohakupele_ridge.html 
| title = The trail of the Ancients - the Iao Needle effect 
| publisher = Waialeale Base Camp 
| access-date = 2012-10-30 
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130515172150/http://www.waialeale.org/text/pohakupele_ridge.html 
| archive-date = 2013-05-15 
| url-status = dead 
}}</ref> The needle is an extension of and surrounded by the cliffs of the [[West Maui Mountains]], an extinct [[volcano]]. There is a short trail (ʻĪao Needle Lookout Trail and Ethnobotanical Loop) to a windy overlook.<ref>
{{cite web
 |title       = Iao Valley State Monument
 |work        = Hawaii State Parks; Maui
 |publisher   = Department of Land and Natural Resources
 |url         = http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/maui/Index.cfm?park_id=36
 |access-date  = 2009-03-14
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090524222822/http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/maui/Index.cfm?park_id=36
 |archive-date = 2009-05-24
}}</ref>

== Rainforest ==
ʻĪao Valley is covered in dense [[Hawaiian tropical rainforests|rainforest]], most of which consists of [[invasive species|introduced]] vegetation on the valley floor. The [[Puu Kukui|Pu{{okina}}u Kukui]] summit area at the valley's head receives an average {{convert|386|in|m}} of rainfall per year,<ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/hydro/pages/data_tbl_12.html 
|title=NOAA Hawaiʻi rain gauge summary 
|work=Pacific Islands Water Science Center 
|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] 
|access-date=2009-02-20}}</ref> making it the state's second wettest location after [[Big Bog, Maui|The Big Bog]], slightly wetter than [[Mount Waialeale|Mount Wai{{okina}}ale{{okina}}ale]].<ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/hydro/pages/may10sum.php 
|title=May 2010 Precipitation Summary |work=National Weather Service Forecast Office Honolulu, HI |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] 
|date=June 7, 2010
|access-date=2010-11-15
|quote=Most of the gages in Maui County had below normal totals for 2010 through the end of May. Puu Kukui’s 99.90 inches (57 percent of normal) led all totals county wide and ranked second highest in the state.
}}</ref> Much of this rainfall ends up flowing into the ʻĪao Stream. Trails in the State Park run alongside ʻĪao Stream and through the forest.

Above the ʻĪao valley at the Puʻu Kukui watershed is a native cloud forest of ʻ[[Metrosideros polymorpha|Ohiʻa]] and [[Acacia koa|Koa]]. This forest is home to many native species including birds like the  [[ʻIʻiwi]], [[ʻApapane]], and [[Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi|ʻAmakihi]].

== History ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2022}}
The Hawaiian god [[Kane Milohai|Kāne]] is considered to be the procreator and the provider of life. He is associated with wai (fresh water) as well as clouds, rain, streams, and springs. [[Kanaloa]], the Hawaiian god of the underworld, is represented by the [[phallic]] stone of the ʻĪao Needle.

Kapawa, the king of Hawai{{okina}}i prior to Pili, was buried here. Maui's ruler [[Kakae|Kaka{{okina}}e]], in the late 15th century, designated ʻĪao Valley as an [[Alii|ali{{okina}}i]] burial ground. The remains were buried in secret places. In 1790, the [[Battle of Kepaniwai]] took place there, in which [[Kamehameha I|Kamehameha the Great]] defeated [[Kalanikupule|Kalanikūpule]] and the Maui army during his campaign to unify the islands. The battle was said to be so bloody that dead bodies blocked ʻĪao Stream, and the battle site was named ''Kepaniwai'' ("the damming of the waters").

== Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens ==
Established in 1952, the Heritage Gardens in Kepaniwai Park recognize the multicultural history of Maui. Tributes and structures celebrate the contributions of Hawaiian, American missionary, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, and Filipino cultures. The gardens had become overgrown and were restored in 1994.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Kepler
 | first = Angela Kay
 | title = West Maui: A Natural History Guide
 | publisher = Mutual Publishing
 | year = 2007
 | edition = 1st
 | isbn = 1-56647-823-5
}}</ref> The Hawaii nature center, just outside the gardens, has a museum and children's education about Hawaii and conservation.<!--<ref name=naturecenter-museums>{{cite web |url=http://www.hawaiimuseums.org/mc/ismaui_Hnature.htm |title=Hawaii Museums - Hawaii Nature Center |access-date=January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513125228/http://hawaiimuseums.org/mc/ismaui_Hnature.htm |archive-date=2013-05-13 }}</ref>--><ref name=naturecenter>{{cite web|url=http://www.hawaiinaturecenter.org/ |title=Hawaii Nature Center |access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
 | last = Kyselka
 | first = Will
 | author2 = Ray E. Lanterman
 | title = Maui: How it Came to Be
 | publisher = University of Hawaii Press
 | year = 1980
 | location = Honolulu
 | isbn = 0-8248-0530-5
 | url-access = registration
 | url = https://archive.org/details/mauihowitcametob00kyse
 }}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline}}

{{Protected areas of Hawaii}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Valleys of Hawaii]]
[[Category:State parks of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Landforms of Maui]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Maui]]
[[Category:National Natural Landmarks in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1972]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in Hawaii]]