“One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are.”
-Edith Wharton
February 14, 2024
I wasn’t sure what to expect while traveling on Valentine’s Day, but it turned out to be just like any other day. I began my day with some free heart-shaped chocolate chip pancakes from the hostel. After that, I went for a hike with 12 people whom I had just met that morning.
Iao Valley State Monument is a short drive from the hostel. Thirteen of us piled into the excursion van provided by the hostel around 8:45 a.m.
Non-residents of Hawaii must reserve entry and parking. Entrance fee is $5 per person and $10 per non-commercial vehicle. Reservations can be made online.
To reach the viewpoint, you need to take a 0.6-mile walk on a paved path. From there, you’ll be able to witness Kuka’emoku, also known as Iao Needle. This valley is incredibly significant, as it holds great cultural and spiritual value. It was also the site of a historic battle known as Kepaniwai, where Kamehameha I’s forces conquered the Maui army in 1790.
During our tour, Kara, a volunteer from the hostel, led us up the valley where we could swim and relax in the river pools. She took us to her favorite pool, and even though it had started to rain and the sun had disappeared, everyone was slowly enticed to hop in the refreshing water. Although it was quite cold, it didn’t faze anyone, and we all had a great time talking about our travel experiences and taking pictures. It was definitely a memorable experience.
It was raining heavily. Despite that, our spirits were high as we walked with 12 new friends in Hawaii. It is hard to be upset in such a beautiful place. We walked down the valley to Kepaniwai Park to wait for the van to pick us up.
Kepaniwai Park’s Heritage Gardens were created in 1952 to honor Hawaii’s varied immigrant population. The gardens were restored in 1994 and are now in their present-day condition. The park features several themed pavilions, gardens, and statues, each representing a different cultural group, including Chinese, Japanese, New England, Portuguese, Native Hawaiian, Korean, Puerto Rican, and Filipino.
Garrett On The Go 
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