What is the Iao Needle?

Iao Valley lies west of Wailuku. In the middle of the valley stands Iao Needle, a pointed lump of basalt, reaching 2,215 feet above sea level. 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, 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 the ghosts of Hawaiian gods, known as manas.