What a lovely park. We only went to Ke'e beach due to slick trails. And a flash flood warning…read more Super easy to reserve a shuttle. Park visitor number ls are limited. Reservations open 30 days in advance.

If I had a chance to avoid visiting this place, I absolutely would have. Unfortunately, this park…read moreis home to the legendary Kalalau Trail, so there's really no way around it. Even if you're only hiking to the waterfall, you're still required to pay $40 per person just to enter the park. And I have a lot of questions about that. 1. We booked the earliest possible shuttle and paid for it, but we ended up leaving 15 minutes late because we were waiting for other people -- which meant we completely missed sunrise. 2. The park itself is dirty. The restrooms are in terrible condition, and there wasn't even toilet paper. You're charging $40 for entry and can't provide the absolute basics? Don't even get me started on the lack of water stations or hand sanitizer near the bathrooms. All of this is standard in California state and national parks, and they don't charge anywhere near this much. 3. On the way in, we were told about drop-off and pick-up locations along the route. In reality, the shuttles basically never stop there. We got off at one of those spots to grab coffee and then couldn't get back on -bus after bus just drove past us. After waiting for an hour, one shuttle finally stopped to drop off a passenger, but there wasn't enough space for the two of us. So yes, when leaving the park, they don't even plan to leave room to pick people up. Be prepared to walk 5 miles. Of course, the views are incredible, and even with this level of service, the park is still worth seeing. That said, I'd strongly recommend getting as close as possible to town or the beach before the park opens and then walking in on your own. Bring water, wet wipes, and refillable bottles. If you're worried about drinking the water, bring purification tablets -despite park staff insisting the water is absolutely not safe to drink. We drank it and were totally fine. Just go prepared and manage your expectations.

A group of coworkers and I hiked to Kalalau in September 2011 during the labor day weekend. The…read moreNapali coast is amazingly beautiful, but what an intense hike! I'm not a super avid hiker--I hike maybe once every 2 or 3 months. My coworkers are pretty experienced hikers, so I found myself out of my league on this advanced hike! You can do portions of the trail or the whole 11 miles all the way to Kalalau. The most common thing to do it hike to 2 miles into the beach, where the trail head for Hanakapiai waterfall is. These first 2 miles have pretty intense elevation changes, so pack lightly. The falls is an additional 2 miles in off of the main trail. If you keep going, you need to get permits from this site: https://camping.ehawaii.gov/camping/all,c-search.html At around the half-way point between the trailhead and Kalalau, you'll cross Hanakoa stream, which is the start of the trail to Hanakoa Falls. The trail was marked with pink flags when we went, but I don't expect those to last forever. There's also a camping grounds and composing toilet at this point, for those who want to hang around here. I'd recommend bringing some bug spay or at least a mosquito net if you're planning to set up camp. If you're hiking to Kalalau, grab at least a couple of liters of water at Hanakoa, because there's no guarantee of water sources beyond this. We crossed a few small streams, but they were pretty sparse and might not be flowing if there's no rain. Next is where the trail got INTENSE and my mettle was really tested. Up until this point, the trail was difficult but at least I would consider it totally safe. Beyond Hanakoa falls, you better be comfortable with heights, have some good hiking boots, and have a well-balanced pack. There are points where you're walking along a narrow ledge with nothing to hold on to with the wind whipping in your face. My coworkers were fine with this portion, but I found myself thinking, "if I die here, I'm gonna be PISSED!" My coworker appropriately named this portion "Mordor" because of the volcanic rock and impending sense of doom. After you cross Mordor, you're home free in terms of safety, but you still have a couple more miles to go. Once you get to Kalalau, you can set up camp in the trees, in the caves, or on the beach. There's a waterfall where you can shower (use only biodegradable soaps!) and a composting toilet. It was such a relief to finally get there! I set up tent and immediately crawled in for an hour nap before I arose to the smell of camp food and whiskey. I highly recommend this hike for those who are avid hikers, but definitely caution those who are just beginners like me. Do your research!

What a beautiful, secluded beach! My girlfriend and I paddled out with Kayak Kauai and spent the…read morenight sleeping under the stars. There are toilets and plenty of places to set up tents. Also, there is a small waterfall which is good for taking a quick shower in. You can also hike to this beach along the Kalalau trail, but we'd definitely recommend the kayak as you can bring more equipment and it's much easier on your body. The people arriving by foot looked completely exhausted. Make sure you get a recreational map and hike up to the pool in the valley. There are a few twists and turns in the trail, but just try to follow the stream...

Great secluded beach near Haena state park. The wet caves are amazing structures created by natureread more

It is permanently closed. We asked the coconut sellers at the dry cave how much further it was…read moredown the road and they said it was closed and is inaccessible.

Located on the north shore of Kauai, Hanalei Bay Beach consistently appears on top 10 beaches…read morelists, with a pinnacle of #1 beach in U.S. in 2009's list from Dr. Beach, and #4 in the U.S. by Trip Advisor. After my first visit, I understand why. It is an awesome beach. The entire bay is about 2 miles long, and consists of many smaller named parks, each with its own parking, green space, and facilities. To the far east is Black Pot Beach Park where the pier is located. Going west, there is Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park, centrally located with a large grassy area with a pavilion. Next is Wai'oli Beach Park, the largest of the parks with a big parking lot, sand volleyball courts, and ironwood trees. This beach will take you to the mouth of the Waioli Stream. There are more sandy areas beyond (Ines's secret beach and Waikoko) which are still on the bay, but would require walking on roads to get to. There is so much space that finding a spot to yourself is extremely easy, even on a busier day. The bay itself is protected and shallow, and has a very gently sloping ocean bottom. Depending on the tide, one can see people just hanging out far into the ocean, but still being able to stand up. And the frequent sand bars allow one to stand up as well. When we visited on a Saturday morning, the local surfing school was having a competition, using the large parking lot at Wai'oli Beach Park for gathering, and the nearby surf for the competition. One thing to note is that the main road to get to this area from the east is the Kuhio Hwy. On it, the Hanalei bridge crosses the Hanalei river and is only one lane with no traffic light. It wasn't so bad when when we came earlier in the morning, but it was pretty backed up trying to get to Hanalei Beach when we crossed back later that morning. I read later that the proper etiquette is to cross in a convoy of 5 - 7 cars at a time, giving a friendly wave to acknowledge that the other side is patiently waiting their turn.

Easy access beach. Not a whole lot of parking but there is also street parking…read more There is a pier you can jump off and lots of beautiful views. The bathrooms are clean.

We enjoyed checking out this side of the island this time. It was kind of tricky to find parking…read morebut just be patient and you'll find some. We ended up finding a spot on the street and walked down an alley to the beach. Didn't need an umbrella here as there are plenty of shade trees right on the beach. So beautiful and relaxing. It is very popular and busy, but you only really notice that in the water because of everyone wanting to snorkel. The snorkeling was really cool here! Some of the best I've seen! I spent a lot of time in the water, but tried not to go too far out as the tide can be a little tricky here in some parts as well. A must-see when on Kauai!

One of the secret, beautiful beaches in Kauai. This is the…read moreplace that is depicted in the musical " South Pacific" or the famous fictional place "Bali Hai". Use Makua Beach /hAena state beach park to park is the access you can use to get to tunnels beach! Once you get there it's super gorgeous! Definitely worth the 1 hour drive from lihue for a sunrise/sunset in Kauai!

Beautiful large beach which will have barely anyone there! Beware of the waves, there is no…read morelifeguard and there is a current. There are some spots in the shade if you don't want full sun. 10 minute walk to the beach which can get slippery. We did it in flip flops and walked back to the car barefoot since we almost slipped on the way down. Not a flat walk but doable. Parking lot isn't super tiny, but it isn't big! We went in the afternoon on a weekday and didn't have any problem finding a spot.

Small hike to get here, but it was well worth it! It is a large beach, so you won't have any issues…read morefinding a space to relax without being annoyed by other people. The water was rougher than other beaches I visited on my trip, but not too rough where you can't enjoy it. There was a beautiful view of the Lighthouse, which was cool to see since I had just visited it before coming here. All around, a very pleasant beach to hangout at. I didn't walk far enough down for the Lava Pools, but that's just something to look forward to next time I visit.

While staying in Princeville, we decided to check out Queen's Bath, and it was absolutely worth the…read moreeffort. Parking in front of the entrance is extremely limited, and the surrounding residential area doesn't allow non-permitted parking. I ended up dropping off my wife and her friend so they could start the trek while I parked at the nearby golf course, which added about a half-mile walk to the entrance. From the entrance, the hike down to Queen's Bath is about half a mile. It's not too long, but there are a few tricky spots that require some careful footing. It's definitely manageable for most people, including kids, as long as you take your time. Once you arrive, you're rewarded with a beautiful natural tide pool filled with seawater and fish. Some people were even jumping from the surrounding rocks into the water below. The spot was lively, with plenty of tourists and families making the hike down to enjoy the view and the experience. A little extra work to get there, but the payoff is huge. Queen's Bath is a must-see if you're in Princeville.

PSA: If the gate is closed, do not go in! This hike is not bad when dry, but quickly gets dangerous…read morethe wetter/muddier it gets. The gate is there for your protection. If you do get the chance to go in, you will be amazed by how beautiful the area is! The baths were soo pleasant to swim, snorkel, and relax in. Walking along the rocks between the baths was easy as long as you watch your footing as the rocks are not flat. I highly, highly recommend coming here if the weather holds up for you!

Went to a wedding here and it's beautiful. People camp here as well…read more You need an AWD vehicle to go and it's about a mile inward. Usually no signal inside. Lots of bird watching opportunities. We also saw huge boars run across!!!

I thought it would be an easy drive, but having a jeep would have been better. We were only able to…read moreget to the dirt road entering the beach, but were not able to actually hit the beach. If you want to visit this beach, it is strongly recommended to have a truck or jeep to make the ride in more feasible...

One of the most famous/ not so secret place to park when going to both Hā'ena beach park and…read moretunnels beach. This area to park is the access you can use to get to tunnels beach! Once you get there it's super gorgeous! Definitely worth the 1 hour drive from lihue for a sunrise/sunset in Kauai!

By far our favorite beach! The colors of the water were…read moremagical and snorkeling wasn't bad. The waves were stronger in front of the lifeguard station but there is a little inlet that was pretty calm. The beach was true beauty in all directions. We wanted a family picture in front of the water but when we stood there we realized greenery on the backside was even prettier! There is a quick stop near by at a dry cave. Was a wonderful stop. Wished we had more time there Parking is limited so get there early. We went at 2pm and circled a couple times before parking on the road side

We did this Kalalau trail in 2022 when visiting Hawaii and it was absolutely amazing! Please know…read morethis trail is HARD, and tough if you are not a major hiker, just know your limits! I think we ended up hiking around 8+ miles or so as we hiked down to the beach and checked and climbed a lot of boulders and did some rock climbing as well that was pretty tough but worth the adventure. Bring a lot of water and you have to make reservations in advance to take a shuttle to the base as you can't take your car there. We brought sandwiches and had a picnic at the beach, seriously bring a lot of water and snacks and food and be careful of the beach waves as they have signs all over that there are riptides and not to get in the water, basically follow all safety rules!! It was a difficult but an incredible hike; we got so much bursts of rain which felt magical and I am excited we crossed it off the bucket list

This is definitely for the adventurous and there's no part of this hike that's easy. There's a…read morebeach at the start, that's the only part that doesn't require some effort. It's worth it for the experience. If you want picturesque Nā Pali Coast views take a boat or air tour. During the hike at about 2/3 into the first 2 mile stretch there's a breathtaking stop of the coastline in one direction and beach in the opposite direction. We just did the 4 mile round trip (beach and back). It's a beautifully rustic secluded beach. Like the hike itself that final stretch to the beach is an effort (a path of many rocks and fast moving stream to cross). You'll get muddy. You'll sweat. At the end you'll be happy you did it. Pack a large (definitely large) bottle of water. A PB&J sandwich and banana holds up well. Start early too. For the 4-mile round trip we took the 9 AM shuttle and were back by 2 PM. For longer hikes, start earlier. You have to book the shuttle in advance. It's surprisingly well organized and so easy. Once we checked in (at Princeville) it was an express 30-minute trip to the park. The return takes you to Hanalei where you'll change shuttles to Princeville--but they knew where we were staying and took us directly there. Everyone is helpful, friendly, and they keep track of you (they don't want to lose anyone). All the effort goes into the hike not the logistics of getting to and from the park, they make it that easy.