If you are driving too fast on the Hana Highway (which, by the way, is a real no-no), you will miss this garden entirely. Students or fans of botany or natural history will definitely want to keep an eye out for it. On the 123 acres of cultivated gardens, one can view an ancient stone structure thought to be a former king's residence, as well as the largest grove of breadfruit trees in the entire world. Many of the plants and trees in the garden, such as the taro plant and the breadfruit tree, served an important purpose in the day-to-day life of the ancient Hawaiian people. Reservations are required before visiting this beautiful place.
Bus tours take passengers to all of Maui's major attractions including Mount Haleakala, the Iao Valley, historic Lahaina, Wainapanapa State Park, Hana and Hookipa. A number of different tour combinations are available, departing from locations all over the island.
The full-day Magnificent Maui tour visits Haleakala, Iao, Wailuku and Lahaina. The "House of the Sun" tour is a half-day tour of Mount Haleakala and upcountry Maui. The price includes admission to the park. Other tours are available. Call or visit your hotel tour desk for information and reservations.
Towering in the sky above Iao Valley, this green-covered mountain peak is one of Maui's most famous sites. This historical and geological treasure, located within the scenic Iao Valley State Park, is renowned for the towering emerald Iao Needle, a lush, vegetation-covered rock pinnacle that rises 1,200 feet (370 meters) from the valley floor. It's the first picture that people take upon visiting the valley, even though most of them don't venture any closer than the parking lot. However, the base of the needle is an excellent spot for picnicking, splashing around, or hiking. Bring a lunch and a lot of mosquito repellent, and prepare to spend a few idyllic hours. Hikers should stay on the marked trails and follow basic safety rules at all times.
Known as the 'Valley Isle' for the lush vales etched between its towering volcanoes, the island of Maui is unlike any other. Verdant jungles sprawl across the landscape and meet the sparkling sea edged by sandy beaches. Flowers bloom in riotous color and their fragrance lingers well into the night, when stars litter the sky like so many fragments of sea glass. Here on the island of Maui, relaxation is a way of life - not simply a goal or idea. Visitors to the second largest Hawaiian island can indulge in walks along the beach, delicious seafood, and the pampering of a lifetime at one of the island's many spas. The more adventurous can explore the numerous hiking trails that wind through the jungle, clamber past lava flows, soar through the treetops on a zipline, barrel through waves on a surfboard, or dive to the depths of the crystalline ocean where awaits a forest of corals. There are also museums, fine dining, golf courses and some stellar beachfront resorts. Maui is a paradisiacal island that never ceases to astound.