We’re out and about again today – choosing to visit the Iao State Monument park. It is one of our favorites. A short little loop around the once sacred Hawaiian burial grounds – there are just gorgeous scenic views everywhere – from the Kuka‘emoku (the ʻIao Needle) which is a peak that soars 1200 feet high and was caused by erosion – to the various plants and water features with helpful informational plaques explaining the varieties that were brought here by the Hawaiians who settled in ʻIao Valley.

The area also has a place in the history of the island as the location where Kamehameha I conquered the Maui army in the 1790 battle of Kepaniwai. It’s a sweet little walk around – just now a rather pricey one. What used to be free (and still is for locals) is now $10 per car and $5 per visitor for visitors. We get it, somebody’s got to subsidize all of us tourons walking around – might as well be the tourons themselves. We’re just here seeing the sites, whereas for local Hawaiians, it is definitely a historic, if not spiritual place to which they should have free access.

We spend a considerable amount of time, wandering the botanical garden and walking down by the stream, and snapping pictures as is evident from the slide show above. It might be small, but the park still packs a mighty punch!

Returning from the park, we thought about going into Kahului to try to figure out the Safeway gas station and rewards we have, but then decided we’ll just figure it out on Monday when we get gas before we leave. Saves about 45 minutes in wasted time getting there and getting back. Instead we head straight to the Maui Tropical Plantation, which is just a big tourist trap – albeit a beautiful one.

We had planned to just wander around the grounds, maybe shop a bit, but once there – while beautiful and fun to snap a few pictures – especially around the sugar mill gears and by the pond with the weird penguin-looking bird…

…but really, everything is so pricey (except for a t-shirt we did find for Ed), the tram ride that was once $14 each is now $25. We didn’t do it at $14, we sure aren’t doing it at $25. The food products in the “market” shop are expensive and we wouldn’t use most of it anyway, and Cafe O’lei is ridiculously overpriced with nothing really special on the menu. Oh well. It was a nice restroom break at least! And not unexpected, to be honest.

So, we head back home for a lunch of eggs and chorizo, our eponymous Hawaiian meal, take our afternoon stroll in Wailea then order out from the Havens restaurant/takeout place in the Shell gas station on Pi’ilani highway. They have a huge following of locals and tourists alike, and a reputation for their burgers – and oh boy, they don’t disappoint! Reasonable priced, excellent smash burger and fish “burger” of medium rare ahi tuna. Excellent meal on our Lanai in the nice cool evening breeze.