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Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park is a small roadside park in Keokea (makai) between mile markers 18 and 19. It is about 2,400 feet above the south Maui coast and scenic views here are excellent. Who was Sun Yat-Sen? Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) was a revolutionary in China and a political leader who was often referred to as the father of modern China. Yat-Sen served as the first provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912, after the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty a year before. The 'Ulupalakua ranch donated the land for the park in 1989. Today the park features a bronze statue of Yat-Sen along with a few other memorial statues.
From this location you can get some spectacular scenic views, including an excellent view of the surrounding Hawaiian Islands offshore: Kaho'olawe (the larger one to the left), uninhabited after decades of use as a bombing range and Molokini (the smaller one in front of Kaho'olawe), a semi-circular island. Its deep cove is a very popular snorkeling spot. Off to your left, near the shoreline, is the Pu'u Ola'i cinder cone in Makena State Park. Directly ahead of you on the horizon is Lana'i and to your right are the West Maui Mountains, likely draped in clouds. One last great thing about this vantage point is the incredible sunsets. If you are lucky enough to be at this location late in the day before the sun sets, you will get a color show unlike anything you've ever seen.
