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

I'd like to be transparent, I'm a little bit confused about a few things... 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. read more

See all

Amazing! After driving a bit off road, we parked on an ocean side cliff. Walked down to see the tortoises and the cave. Ended up on a pristine beach. read more

See all

Such a beautiful experience. Id love to go again. Must see if you're here on Kauai. The beach was breathtaking. Lots of people but we loved it read more

Condé Nast calls it the most beautiful place in the entire state of Hawaii. Now that's saying something. It really does take your breath away! I can't wait to come back to just be, and take in all that this gorgeous spot on earth has to offer. xoxo read more

We wanted to view the Na Pali Coast from land. We got up early from our rented condominium in Kapaa, and drove northward, past the light house, and botanic gardens, and through at least a dozen one way bridges in Northern Kauai. We went past several spectacular beaches, such as Tunnels Beach, and the cliffs at Princeville, finally reaching the end of the road at Ke'e Beach. Parking was almost full at Ke'e Beach by mid morning, as this is a very popular snorkeling area. We had to make a U turn, and turn back and park on the road approaches, along the narrow road. You need to get there early, or park a considerable distance from Ke'e beach. There are bathroom and shower facilities at Ke'e beach, along with picnic tables, and vendors selling refreshments and food. The Kalalau Trail starts from the west side of the entrance to Ke'e beach. The first half mile is very rugged -a steep uphill climb over big, slippery round boulders. No running shoes, let alone flip flops here, or you may turn an ankle. You must wear only high top hiking boots -I brought a pair of old one way boots, to donate to the Goodwill store in Kapaa on our day of departure back to California. Since we were going to be here most of the day, I also brought a day pack, with water bottles, trail snacks, and a sun visor -the tropical sun is very intense - with sun screen covering my arms, legs, and exposed neck. Beautiful scenery once we got to the top of the crest of the mountain overlooking Ke'e beach to the east. Deep blue water with green water, and then the magnificent tan colored sands of the crescent shaped beach in the background, surrounded by palm trees and lush tropical vegetation. As we hiked onwards, we could see the Na Pali cliffs in the background way to the west, along the coast. More spectacular scenery with the clear blue deep tropical waters intersected by incoming waves of white surf plunging against the shoreline, filled with green vegetation. Tall mountains in the background rising thousands of feet above the shore. We must have hiked about two hours, through areas where fast moving streams intersected the pathway, turning the trail into mud. Another reason to bring throw away high top hiking shoes. Hike far enough, and you will be rewarded with a view of another spectacular beach below. The trail starts to go downhill, and finally a steep descent to Hanakapi'ai Beach. Another spectacular white beach, contrasting to the green palm trees and deep blue waters of the ocean. We turn right and go on an offshoot trail inland another mile and a half, and reach Hanakapi'ai falls, one of the few falls and pools reachable on the north shore from the Kalalau trail. One can continue on the trail to see Hanakoa falls, and eventually to the Kalalau Beach and caves, Honopu beach and Honopu Arch. It's at least 11 miles one way over rugged terrain, and requires overnight permits to camp. One day of hiking here is one of the highlights of our trip to Kauai. We will be back -I'm saving another pair of worn out hiking boots for my return trip! Saw another hiker with a very wet brown bottom -apparently she had been wearing sneakers and slipped onto the mud on her bottom! Good thing she wasn't wearing white pants! BTW if we look slimmer and younger in the pictures than recent pictures of us, we didn't find the fountain of youth, but made the trip in February 2010! read more

See all

There's only three ways to see the dazzling Na Pali Coast and driving in isn't one of the choices. You can only view Na Pali by flying over in a helicopter or plane, taking a boat tour or hiking in via Ke'e Beach on the northwest corner of Kaua'i. Kaua'i resident and guidebook author Andrew Doughty said Kaua'i is the only one of the Hawaiian islands where he recommends an air tour. So much of the island is inaccessible by car that it makes an overhead view worth it, he writes. I took a one-hour air tour offered by Jack Harter Helicopters out of Lihue to see Na Pali up-close. Harter is the only company that offers a doors-off option that is essential for the best photographic experience. The coast is absolutely stunning and combined with a hiking trip to Waimea Canyon, they were the viewing highlights of my eight-day stay on Kaua'i. read more

See all

Gorgeous place with indigenous plant and marine life. Depending on the kind of experience that you want, plan accordingly. First, make sure that you park in an actual parking spot because the police will ticket you and that alone will ruin your visit. Second, you have a few hike options, including deciding not to hike and just sitting at the beach park at the entrance. If you do, bring your snorkel gear. If you stay all day, then wait for sunset, this location has one of the most beautiful sunsets in Hawai'i. If you decide the hike, bring water, snacks, toilet paper, a towel, a rain jacket, and shoes with good grip. This hike can get muddy. Respects the plants as many of them are indigenous. The amount of water you bring depends on the length of the hike. The shortest option is a 2-mile hike up and down the side of the mountain to a small beach. You may not decide to swim there because the current can be quite strong. At this point you can decide to climb upwards to the waterfall hike and or continue walking for another few miles along the coast. That was our original plan but since we started our hike around lunch time, we opted for the 2-mile hike just to make sure that we had daylight time to travel back and sit on the beach. read more

Na Pali is one of the most beautiful places in the world!! Every time I go on a boat tour to Na Pali I'm always surprised by her beauty. I am very blessed I'm able to call Kauai home. No place else I would want to live. Do yourself a favor and take a boat tour to Na Pali you won't be disappointed. A must see for your bucket list!!(August 2020) read more

See all

Your Trip to Kaua'i Is Not Complete Without Seeing This Colorful Coast Line The Na Pali Coast is spectacular! The deep valleys covered with lush vegetation are accentuated by flowing waterfalls. The colors are stunning, especially against the setting sun. The seclusion of this natural wonder makes the experience even more wonderful! No roads access the coast, limiting the possibilities to view the 17-miles of ocean cliffs. The first option is by sea. There is a large variety of boat tours that sail along the Na Pali Coast, and some even offer lunch or dinner during the trip. My wife and I spent a lot of time researching the different boat tours: companies, boat sizes, times of day, and port locations. We highly recommend Na Pali Experience! This tour was the best way to see the coast close up, including the sea caves. The Na Pali Experience cruise and snorkeling tour was the highlight of our week on Kaua'i! See my review of Na Pali Experience on Yelp for more information. The second opportunity to see the Coast is by hiking the Kalalau Trail from Ke'e Beach. My wife and I hiked a portion of the trail, and were rewarded with spectacular view of the coast line! However, the trail is very strenuous, and only accesses a small portion of the Na Pali Coast. This is the only trail along the Na Pali Coast. The final way to view the Na Pali Coast is by air. Again, there are numerous air plane and helicopter tours. We did not take a tour by air, so I will let others comment on this option. By any or all of the methods, make sure you experience the Na Pali Coast! read more

See all

Awesome scenery and crazy trails weaving through the jungle and cliffs! Bummer you have to get nearly impossible to get permits when you visit and didn't know you had to book months in advance for the park.... We went pirate and went without the permit since it would have been a waste of a trip. Do the 11 mile hike to the beach but bring a water purifier so you can refill at each River. Don't carry anything extra, this is a long hike! Parts are pretty washed out, muddy and a few sketchy!!! Worth the effort! This is the greatest thing you can do on this island! read more

See all

I love this place. A must visit. Magical, mystical, amazing.

The most beautiful hike in Kauai, in my opinion. Get there early, or parking will be extremely hard to find. There are a few trails you can take; the longest is 11 miles one way. We did the 2 miles one way (4 mi round trip), which led down to a river crossing and the beach. You can go 2 additional miles as well. The hike took a long time due to the muddy conditions and slippery rocks. The trail also gets congested as you wait for people to climb down a narrow path. 2 miles typically takes me about 50 minutes; 2 miles this time took over an hour. Bug spray is a MUST - I didn't have any and got about 13 mosquito bites from this hike along. I'd also bring a change of clothes in case yours gets very muddy; strongly recommend a different pair of shoes as well. read more

Na Pali Coast State Park - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

My husband and I ended up hiking only one mile of the Kalalua Trail because it was raining heavily. By the time we got to the 1-mile marker, our shoes were completely soaked through. There were some small rushing streams/waterfalls because of the intense amount of rain. It was very slippery and muddy. We recognize that it wasn't the smartest hike to take considering the weather. We had walking sticks with us and plenty of water. The hike is strenuous, even at the beginning. It takes about an hour per mile. Wear proper shoes and have ample water and food. On a rainy day, it's still very hot and humid in September. With our rain jackets on, it was hotter. Despite all of that, the hike was beautiful even though we didn't make it all the way to the beach or the falls. Once the clouds broke for a little while, we could see down to the ocean. It's a pretty spectacular place, if you can do at least a mile of it. I wish the rain had held off but that's Mother Nature for ya. I can't wait to come back and finish what I started. read more

Na Pali Coast State Park - A muddy and slick hike during some heavy rainfall. - Parks Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

It doesn't get more beautiful than this! First of all, since the area has been closed due to the April 2018 flood, there is still a lot of bridge construction. Plus, they have implemented visitor flow control by requiring reservations to get in the parking area of the State park. They take reservations 30 days in advance. So, if you want to go, I suggest you get reservations asap. Really, it's like, to get into paradise its almost a lottery but, worth it. So many people come here that it's not sustainable in the long run. Just the pressure on the trails and reefs are overwhelming the area. When I was in Kauai last November, unfortunately, the area was still closed. Once you get here though its magic and worth any planning you have to do. Check out the photographs by others which conveys the essence of this ethereal place. I hiked the trail partially to a high point so I could view the famous Napali coastline. I also snorkeled at Ke'e beach just below. I'm told the reef started regenerating from lack of use while the area was closed. There is pretty good snorkeling here and the beach is a south pacific treasure. I highly recommend if you are on Kauai, go! read more

Extremely beautiful and iconic hike in Kauai. A must do!! Start early if you plan on hiking further than the beach. You start at Ke'e Beach, which is fantastic for snorkeling. Parking can be difficult. People park on the side of the road where No Parking signs are plentiful--we did. Didn't even notice the signs until after we got back. Oops. Lots of people come just for Ke'e beach and not the hike so that's why it's hard to find a space. The Kalalau trail to Hanakapi'ai Beach is about 2 miles. Two slippery, muddy, wet, mosquito infested miles. You will cross several streams and small waterfalls. If your feet aren't wet by the first one, I guarantee you you will wet them on purpose to rinse off all the mud. Wear the right kinds of shoes! My most comfy hiking shoes have almost no tread left, so each step took 3 times a long to make sure I had secure footing before moving on, and I still slipped several times. I also wore long sleeves and long pants, plus used bug spray and still got bit. A heck of a hike, and I am fairly experienced (desert hiker LOL). I'm glad I brought my hiking pole, and the trail is pretty steep in some places. If you plan on hiking onto the waterfall, it's another 1.8 miles, and not actually part of the 11 mile total Kalalau trail, so if you are trying to do the whole thing, that's another 1.8 x2 not counted in the 11. If you do plan on going past the beach, technically you need a permit. Didn't see anyone at a drawbridge or anything checking for permits, I'm just saying. Believe it or not, there are people who do this hike barefoot. And there are people who live in this jungle. Some are native people, some are hippies, some are homeless. I even saw a dog wandering around with a shock collar on him. :( Two of my friends lived in there for about 6 months....no clue how they did it. We only made it to the beach. On the way back, I took 1 hour and 30 mins to get back to the lot. BF took 38 mins running back. Of course, he didn't slip and I did. read more

See all

The NaPali Coast is one of the most beautiful coastlines I have EVER seen. I knew that i was in for some serious beauty when we decided to do the hike, but I never imagined that it could be as beautiful in person as it was. We decided to hike the shortest of the hikes so that we could get some beach time in later in the day. We started fairly early so as to beat the crowds and possible heat. The hike is not an easy one. There are a lot of vertical inclines over slippery rocks. We were told that it would be a good idea to use walking sticks for this hike. We attempted to stop and rent some, but the business was closed, so we decided to chance it. While we were "okay" without them, they would have been great for the water crossings. Depending on rain levels, which can be a lot on the north shore, the water crossings can be easily passed or you might be waist deep. My friends all wore hiking shoes. I have not picked any up yet........ For someone who hikes as much as I do, I had no excuse. I would highly recommend a good pair of hiking shoes. I ate it twice in my running shoes. Luckily I didn't hurt myself, but I did have a nice big brown spot on my bottom from the falls. I would also recommend bringing a hydro-pack. We each brought our hiking packs with plenty of water and sandwich to eat when we arrived at the beach. This is by far one of the more challenging hikes, given the slipperiness of the rocks. It is doable if you are a beginner, but you should plan extra time and make sure that you are careful. Bring your camera or camera phone. You will not have cell service, but you will want to stop at many viewpoints to get some awesome pictures. It's like a backdrop to a movie! HIking the entire coast is now on my bucket list. I cannot wait to go back and tackle it. read more

Word's cannot describe. See it from land, from the water, or from the air. With these mountains, now you see why the road around Kauai will never go all the way around. read more

See all

Gorgeous hike. My friend and I chose to use the bus option to enter the park and it was a bit of a cluster, but we made it to and from the park in one piece. It's very popular with tourists so do not expect a relaxing experience. The hike is demanding for non-hikers with relatively little sun coverage - packing water and snacks recommended. It's a bit of a pain from a visitor's standpoint that there is so much regulation of park entry now but it is worth jumping through the hoops to enjoy the beautiful scenery. read more

In all honestly I regret doing the hike! Maybe I'd feel differently if the weather wasn't so crappy, but it was literally a mud run while getting bit by a million mosquitos even though you bathed in Off repellent. Mud and water everywhere and the views were nice but it was also very cloudy so you could barely see the Na Pali Coast. It was disappointing to say the least and a waste of time. Use water shoes to hike, i saw plenty of people with nice Nikes hiking up mud only to have them ruined. Take water and take your time, the hike can be dangerous when it's slippery, there are no guard rails so if you fall over you'll most likely die. Hold onto your children and make sure they don't hike by the edge. read more

See all

The park is amazing and the views are incredible. Just a heads up there is a local guy that sells necklaces and stuff at the top near the parking lot view and the guy is a total d-bag. He will yell at people for taking too many photos of the views, or people with tripods as well. He get really aggressive with this teenage kid that had a tripod, yelling at him about not respecting his culture and saying he would break the tripod. If you do go to the park to enjoy the views and the trails enjoy it but just avoid this ass pelican and buy nothing from this clown. read more

Tropical, rugged, and spectacular views. Get there early to find parking, and beat the groups hiking. Some of most breathtaking views imaginable. Running shoes or light hikers are best. Bring water and snacks, and don't forget your camera read more

terrible customer service. the lady yelled at my dad about how he booked the wrong day when he booked that one day we were going. we were questioning how it got changed to a different day. she yelled at us to respect their land and how they only take 900 people a day and how we need to leave. very rude. unfortunately i can't give it 0 stars but i have to give it one. it doesn't even deserve the one star. read more