One of our favorite hikes is the Iao Valley river hike. You will see the Iao Valley needle on the way in, but then you will veer off to hike alongside the river. Iao Needle is Kuka'emoku or the phallic stone of Kanaloa, Hawaiian god of the ocean symbolized by the squid or octopus. Kuka'emoku was once used as a natural altar. A short hike will deliver you to a lovely river crossing with large smooth rocks to sit on and shallow pools you can float in or just go in for an invigorating dunk.
