The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has announced that out-of-state travelers who hope to visit Maui’s historic ‘Īao Valley State Monument will need advanced reservations for park entry.
The new system will go into effect May 1, 2023, the date on which the park reopens after being closed for nine months while crews perform slope stabilization work. With this move, ‘Īao Valley State Monument becomes Hawaii’s fourth state park to implement advanced reservation requirements for visitor entry.
Non-residents are already required to make advanced reservations to visit Maui’s Waiʻānapanapa State Park, Kauai’s Hā‘ena State Park, O‘ahu’s Diamond Head (Lē‘ahi) State Monument, and the City and County of Honolulu’s Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
The system will support some of the local community’s top priorities—improved tourism management and destination stewardship—articulated by residents in the Maui Nui Destination Management Action Plan (DAMP), a three-year roadmap for redefining tourism on the island.
“We have already seen the positive impacts of the State’s reservations systems at other parks across the state, and this new system at ‘Īao Valley State Monument will be instrumental in protecting the site’s natural and cultural resources while managing visitor capacity within the area,” Hawaii Tourism Authority’s (HTA) president and CEO, John De Fries, said in a statement.
“Together with our industry partners and Global Marketing Team, we are urging visitors to plan ahead when booking their trips and become familiarized with the new process. Mahalo to DLNR for their longstanding partnership as we work together to steward and protect our wahi pana (legendary places) and improve the experience for everyone who visits.”
Iao Valley State Park Maui. (photo via Claudette Covey)
Designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1972, the verdant ʻĪao Valley is an area of great historical significance and deep cultural importance to residents of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s home to one of Maui’s most recognizable landmarks, Kūkaʻemoku (ʻĪao Needle), which towers 1,200-foot above the lush tropical valley floor. This iconic emerald peak is intimately tied to Kanaloa, the ancient spiritual force that influences all life on the island, its creatures and the movements of the surrounding ocean.
In addition to its sacred status among the indigenous people, in 1790, the valley also served as the site of the Battle of Kepaniwai—a pivotal moment that changed the course of Hawaiian history and led to the islands’ unification into one kingdom.
‘Īao Valley State Monument’s new reservation system should help to mitigate environmental impacts occurring as a result of continuous heavy foot traffic, as well as to alleviate some degree of vehicle congestion in the park and surrounding neighborhoods.
Entry admissions for ‘Īao Valley State Monument are now reservable online. Day-use reservations for ‘Īao Valley and all other Hawaii State Parks can be made by visiting gostateparks.hawaii.gov.
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