Iao Valley

Hopping over to Maui, Iao Valley is a much gentler experience to book.

Reservations run up to 30 days out, entry is $5 a person with $10 for parking, and residents get in free.

The walk itself is short and paved under a mile-round trip, leading to viewpoints of the Iao Needle, that dramatic green spire rising out of the valley floor.

This is also the Battle of Iao in 1790, where Kamehameha I fought to unify the islands.

So there's real history under all that scenery, not just a pretty backdrop.

Lanikai and the Pillbox Trailhead show up a lot too.

On Maui, Iao Valley is a classic example.

There's high turnover, people are gone for a while, and parking is a little bit set back, and the pullouts along the Hana Highway get mentioned constantly too.

What I've noticed personally is that it seems to happen way more at beaches and trailheads than it does at, say, like, a booked tour or a more remote activity.