Iao Valley State Park - Iao Needle

In the middle of the valley stands Iao Needle, a pointed lump of basalt, reaching 2215ft/675m above sea level - a monolith standing alone in the eroded valley.

This unique overgrown rock was apparently used as an altar in prehistoric times. A legend surrounds Iao Needle's origin. It is said that the demi-god Maui took captive an unwanted suitor (the water sprite Puukamoua, comparable to Triton, son of the Greek god Poseidon) of his beautiful daughter, Iao, and wanted to kill him. But Pele, the fire goddess, ordered Maui to turn him to stone - hence the needle!

The valley is said to be full of manas - the ghosts of Hawaiian gods.