On the morning of Friday, May 17th we visited the Iao Valley State Monument where a paved, 0.6 mile walk provides access to a scenic viewpoint of Kuka’emoku (the Iao Needle), an erosional feature that abruptly rises 1200 feet from the valley floor. Another paved walk down below this point weaves through a botanical garden where visitors can learn about the plants brought by the Hawaiians who settled in this valley.
This 6.2 acre site is rich in cultural and spiritual values and is the site of the battle of Kepaniwai where the forces of Kamehameha I conquered the Maui army in 1790.
Battle of Kepaniwai (Damning of the Waters): Many died in the bloody battle, but none of Maui’s major chiefs were killed. Many, including chiefess Kalola and her granddaughter Keopuolani, escaped through the mountains to Olowalu and Lahaina. After Kamehameha’s victory, Kalola accepted Kamehameha’s protection and promised Keopuolani to him as a future wife (she was only 11 years old).
Despite the defeat of his forces, Kahekili refused to relinquish control of the island; Kamehameha returned later to reconquer the island in 1794. The importance of the is battle was great. When Kamehameha I conquered Maui, he saw that his plan that was thought to be impossible to unify the islands was finally coming together.
Then we moved on to the Heritage Park, where Marissa Alcala, Emily Kase, and David Uwajeh led the class in a discussion the influence of faith and spirituality on health and healing…
This marks “mid-term” for this May Term course, so everyone has the weekend off for rest, relaxation, and individual exploration. More posts starting Monday when we visit Molokini and Turtle Town!
