We did a sunset hike at the awa'awapuhi trail and it was wonderful! It's 3 miles down hill and back…read more3 miles essentially uphill. I thought it was an easy-moderate hike for someone who likes to hike/exercise. The parking lot was not super crowded for a sunset hike. It's a generally safe/mapped out trail, on the last mile, there are small stretches of a thin path so be careful! You cannot really see the amazing views till the end. You're in a dense forest and once you complete the 3 miles you will open up to a gorgeous view! It started to rain, so we didn't go down the last little bit to the edge, it's a very thin path to the edge with little to no buffer so be safe! If you go for the sunset hike, bring some headlights for the hike back. It was def worth it!

This Awa'awapuhi Trail was recommended to me by a lifeguard I randomly chatted with at one of the…read morelocal beaches in Kauai. He swore by the hike, saying the ending viewpoint would be the highlight of my Hawaiian vacation! But, the lifeguard left out details. And I'm here to fill you in on the real Awa'awapuhi Trail and what to expect and be prepared for! Right away...this hike must be attempted FIRST THING IN THE MORNING! There you go, there you have the answer to everything! Because, at any moment in time, throughout the day, clouds can roll in while standing high above the Na'Pali Coastline and the dense covering can hang around for a while, no matter how long you wait for the skies to clear up. So...if you hike here early, early morning, the probabilities of you confronting that picture perfect setting is greatly enhanced. It's like the common law of physics (but I believe I failed physics in high school, lol)...when the sun rises, the air is cool and crisp, and there's no heat rising from the ground to create moisture early on. Grrr...that's why this lifeguard, he needed to warn me that if I hike this Awa'awapuhi Trail....MORNING TIME. MORNING TIME. MORNING TIME!!!! Instead, I arrived at 11am because I had a few other sights and overlooks I wanted to check out before trying out this hike and using up at least 4 - 5 hours of the day here. This is also important...I visited Kauai in the middle of August. The sun rises about 6:30am and fades in light about 6pm. You only have 12 hours of the day to make the most of your explorations. Depending on the amount of time you have visiting Kauai, whether 3 - 4 days, or maybe you're island hopping for a total of 10 days - 2 weeks, point is...you'll at least need half the day to hike this Awa'awapuhi Trail. Also, be prepared for it to be a strenuous hike too. It's 6 miles roundtrip. The hike down to the overlook vista point is a cakewalk. All downhill! Well, you know what that means. The trek back uphill to the trailhead is quite difficult. Along these 6 miles in total to and from the overlook, there is nothing to see. Basically, the hike is boring! I found myself daydreaming about the next activity, lol. You walk through the jungle each way. There's no glimpses or peaks through the forest of the coveted Na'Pali Coastline that you're easily afforded at roadside overlooks throughout Koke'e State Park. If you're short on time I'd suggest stopping at Kalalau and Pu'u o Kila Lookouts. If you have no time limits and are more adventurous, then this Awa'awapuhi Trail is for you. Remember, lol, it gets dark at 6pm! When arriving at the observation point, I briefly had a clear moment to enjoy the views. The Pacific Ocean was blue. The coastline was certainly evident. You could see helicopter tours flying in the distance. You definitely get a 180 panorama. But once the fogginess rolled in, it never left. And I waited 30 minutes, actually sitting down and praying for the the dreary cloudy covering to dissipate. But, it never did and it wasn't meant to be. That's why I'm reiterating...hike here in MORNING TIME. Like, 7am if possible! Some last things to mention. The parking lot at the trailhead was very small. When I arrived at 11am, it was full but I managed to squeeze my car into a space, though it was a makeshift job. I'd say the lot holds spaces for about 15 cars. And there's no shoulder area along Koke'e Road to park. Lastly, when making it to the Awa'awapuhi Overlook Point, there's a very tight pathway that'll lead down even lower alongside the cliff's edge. It appeared like a sheer drop down on either side of you as I watched others bravely venture on. If you have a fear of heights, there's no way you can attempt going past the primary viewing platform. I could understand, people like to push the limits or boundaries of risk, but I know when enough is enough, especially I was only hiking in casual tennis sneakers. It wasn't worth it to continue past the point of comfortability. Overall, this Awa'awapuhi Trail is just average and can be greatly disappointing if you have high expectations. Am I sour about my experience and the ending I left with? Absolutely! Lol Just warning...there could be clear skies at the trailhead, but when you show up at the overlook it could be a whole new narrative. Then you're held hostage to the conditions and since there's only 12 hours in the day, you sort have wasted half of it. And within Koke'e State Park and Waimea Canyon right next door, there are many quality stops, alternative hikes, places to explore and magical instances to be had. But if you're convinced about attempting this Awa'awapuhi Trail and you're not hiking it first thing in the morning, I believe you're doing yourself a disservice.

This is a must do lifetime bucket list. If you make it to this point two things are for sure. 1)…read moreYou are on the wettest place on earth. Fortunately it was not raining in this spot the 15 minutes I was here but chances are it will be 99 percent of the time. Its the most stunning view Ive ever seen in my life. 2) You will be inspired to the depths of your soul. It just looks unreal. If you can go to Kauai!

There are 2 ways to get there. By Nualolo Trail (between cabins and Kokee Lodge), or Awaawapuhi…read moretrail near 17 mm (past Kokee Lodge). We have been doing the Awaawapuhi trail when we come here. Awesome view of Na Pali and Forest reserve. You find mile markers by each quarter mile, that seems to make the hike easier for us. YELP 365 - 244/365

What a magnificent journey and place! Nicknamed Secret Falls...I don't think it's much of a secret…read moreanymore. However, our afternoon tour kicked back and took our time and we ended up being the only group at the waterfall when we got there! Two mile kayak trip down the river, then about a mile hike to the falls. The hike isn't too bad. Some places you're crossing in knee-high water (it changes depending on conditions), mud, some bouldering, and some slick spots. The wooden planks for most of the trail are nice and make it way easier. My daughter and I both hiked in our water shoes and it wasn't too bad. The waterfall is secluded and gorgeous! The water is cold but so refreshing after that journey to get to it! Great spot to hang out, relax, have a snack, swim and just enjoy! Rest up for the mile hike and two mile kayak journey back home!

This is great. Took the Paddleboard on a trip down the river to see the falls. It's a bit of a…read morewalk from the area that you "park" your kayak or paddleboards, but it is also an easy well prepared hike. It was great for 2 kids that were 8 and 10 years old. The waterfall was nice, and you can def go swimming in it. Be prepared that the water in cold. We did the hike with water shoes, that wasn't ideal. I think I would have probably just worn sandals for the walk. You do need to cross through a couple small rivers, but it was nothing crazy. Glad we did this little excursion in Kauai on Father's day. It was great exercise, and being outside in paradise. It makes it even more special that you need some sort of water vessel to get there, or I guess you an take a helicopter. Good times!

The Puʻu o Kila Lookouts is located at the mile marker 19, the end of highway 550, within Kauai's…read moreKoke'e State Park, and it offers panoramic views of the Kalalau Valley and the Na Pali Coast. I think it's a better stop compared to the nearby Kalalau Lookout if you're running short on time.

The views were breathtaking!! We were treated by a full rainbow. My only complaint is the cost to…read morepark your car and see the amazing view. It's $10 per car and $5 per person for a spot you're probably going to spend 15-20 minutes.

This trail was perfect! Loved that it was not on the side of a cliff or just completely up an…read moreincline. I felt like I was walking through Jurassic park. There's an amazing swing that give such a fun experience to the trail. It was very wet I recommend having spare clothes but it was great. As you walk you see the mountain with a giant waterfall. To me it was a perfect track through the trees. The bridge is at the very end and there is a water area you can traverse down to right past it.

Very nice if it wasn't consistenty muddy after rain which is almost daily. There are also too many…read moremotorized vehicles like ebikes, skateboards, and even smaller motorcycles on it. Nobody enforces the no motor signs as they all speed on the path. Someone will get seriously injured eventually.

One of our favorite things we did on the island! So simple but enjoyed it so much! Rented bike from…read morehele on kauai and their store is right by the path which was so convenient. Beautiful area and beautiful flowers along the way!

Beautiful. You absolutely have to take a boat ride down the coast if you are in Kauai at least…read moreonce in your life.

I'd like to be transparent, I'm a little bit confused about a few things…read more.. I had reservations made ahead of time to hike the famed Kalalau Trail 2 miles to Hanakapi'ai Beach and another 2 miles to Hanakapi'ai Falls. Upon driving to the Kalalau Trailhead, I entered Ha'ena State Park. I thought to myself, "oh, wow, cool, I didn't even know Kalalau Trail was within a state park!". Now, lol, after parking my car and reviewing the Kalalau Trail hiking guidelines, it was time to venture over to Hanakapi'ai Beach. Not even 1 minute into the trail, there was a clear sign stating I was now entering Na'Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. What??? But I thought Kalalau Trail was part of Ha'ena SP?! So both? What's the difference between Ha'ena SP and Na'Pali Coast SP? I guess the only thing to do is venture over to Google and search for the answer... The only reasonable solution I discovered on Google is Ha'ena SP hosts the parking lot for Kalalau Trailhead. But, once you start hiking on Kalalau Trail land, you're officially now entering and located within Na'Pali Coast boundaries. And with this info...I believe there are more options for activities within Ha'ena State Park, although I never got around to do any exploring. Now, if you're specifically visiting here for the Kalalau Trail, I'm convinced it's Na'Pali Coast territory, lol. Finally, trying to get to the bottom of this strange mystery, is when visiting Kokee State Park on the opposite side of the island of Kauai, most of the overlooks and lookout points there showcased the Na'Pali Coast. But I guess for Kokee SP, you're not actually inside Na'Pali Coast State Park land, you're just admiring the views and sceneries of the Na'Pali Coast from high above. Lol, yes...maybe I should have been better prepared ahead of time. With all this said...let me quickly return to the Kalalau Trail and provide a few highlights about the experience and what you can expect inside Na'Pali Coast State Wilderness Park... - While hiking to Hanakapi'ai Beach, a lot of the beautiful Na'Pali Coast setting will be revealed. There were moments to take a break from the trek to appreciate the landscape. - When the clouds went away and the sun shined, the coastline illuminated the Pacific Ocean waters. - You'll also capture a vantage point of Kauai's lush green island vegetation and rain forest appearance. In total, that's what I believe made Na'Pali Coast State Wilderness Park rewarding. It's hiking among nature until Kauai's colorful coast comes into appearance. The surroundings exude that vintage, tropical, Hawaiian image that tourists anticipate when visiting. At the time of visiting Kauai, I found it difficult to understand whether I was hiking Kalalau Trail within Ha'ena SP or Na'Pali SP. After completing some detailed internet research, I'm confident the popular hike is connected with Na'Pali. And with that understanding, Na'Pali Coast is a winning state park.

Breath Deep! Relax...you've entered a special place…read more At the top of Kauai in the wettest place on earth. It doesn't get any better than this.

Would absolutely LOVE to camp here... Unfortunately arrived…read moreafter the museum and restaurant closed (-after 4). But this looks like a great place to camp. Did go into the lodge for a bit ( where the restaurant is), saw some beautiful trees and flowers. Did not explore the nature trail this time.... Drive a bit more to the Kalalau Lookout where one can see the Napali coastline and Ni'ihau in the distance. And did I mention chickens? A must see!!!