Hena SP now requires advanced reservations for entry except for those with valid camping permits for the Npali Coast SWP. You can camp on the Kalaau Beach. } As you walk down the beach youll encounter several caves. } Is there something we should watch for? The trail to Hanakapiai falls and beyond Hanakapiai is recommended for experienced hikers only. Hiking NaPali Coast If the timing is not right for you to have such an in-depth and intensive experience; there are other ways to see the NaPali Coast by land. Its wide and deep. This stretch of sand extends well over a mile down the coast, with a number of caves along the way to explore. There is a helipad in the valley, but it is usually only used by law enforcement. Purchase a camping permit here or in person at any State Parks district office. Did you see Todays Groupon for world resorts international? document.getElementById('rat').value=selectedVal; Indeed, they are living the sustainable life that many in modern society have realized we need to aim for albeit with no modern amenities such as electricity, plumbing, and mass communication. You must ascend and descend a rocky trail twice. Camping gear should include a lightweight sleeping bag or blanket, sleeping pad, tent with rainfly, cooking stove and fuel, water purification tablets or filter, first aid kit, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, rain gear, and biodegradable soap. Since there are no lifeguards here and drownings have happened in the past, it is recommended to avoid swimming at Kalalau. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. After selecting the date and time of your visit, youll be able to select the number of entry or parking vouchers required. See all 16 reviews. if(i<= selectedVal) [Kauai] Swimming to Honopu Beach from Kalalau : r/HawaiiVisitors - reddit else if(i=='3'){ Learn more >, ADVERTISE: It's even more difficult to get on a boat to leave the valley in a surge of surf. We left our snorkel equipment in the trunk of our rental car and took a swim at the end of our hike. We pulled in around 7 AM the morning of our hike and were rewarded with a good parking spot close to the trailhead. Simply drive up to Waimea Canyon through Kokee all the way to the end of the road. It is flanked by sheer canyon walls and it is illegal to boat or kayak there. The summer sand beach at Hanakapiai is a popular destination for day hikers. You definitely do not want to swim when this is the case. Its a wonderful place to hang out a night, but during the day its actually too hot and windy. We planned our trip in advance and it was very beneficial. } Keep in mind that this portion of the trail is in the designated day-use area and can be accessed without a permit. Jenelyn, Reanne and I are not strong swimmers so we stayed back. selectedVal = '5'; more. { Beware of this fact when exploring the caves. The 5-6 feet of warm water make Anini the best swimming location on the island. And as koloagirl says, you still need a camping permit. You need to bring all food and equipment with you. And I apologize to LosAngelosAnd, I was wrong for misinterpreting their inquiry. Binoculars are helpful to see them in detail. There is the main Kalalau trail, as well as several offshoots to waterfalls and swimming holes. Please plan accordingly. This was my favorite part of the trip. Some dock a small boat in the town of Waimea and ride it over to Kalalau Valley to drop off passengers. document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML="Poor"; Hanalei Pier Walking the first half mile will reward you with excellent views of the coast. Hena State Park is roughly 41 miles (1 1/2-hour drive) from Lihue Airport. Hiking to Hanakpai Valley (2 miles in from trailhead) requires Entry and Parking Reservations at Haena. A waterfall at the western end of the beach (Ho'ole'a Falls) provides freshwater, but before drinking it, the water must be purified (bring a water filter or water treatment tablets) due to the threat of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease. for (i=1; i<=5; i++) { selectedVal = '4'; Kayak the Na Pali Coast, The Mount Everest of Sea Kayaking - Hawaii.com A well-marked 2 mile trail into Kalalau Valley ends at a pool in the stream. { From the beach, the valley extends 2 miles inland, with the high plateau of Kokee State park looking down upon it. We didn't GPS it or anything but the open ocean swim along the rocky coast felt like a good 350-400 yards. Use extreme caution when swimming atthis beach. When Kalalau came into view the entire boat went silent. The trail begins right after Ke'e Beach and has extreme inclines and declines and narrow footpaths, especially between the dreaded 6.5 to 8 miles (10.5 to 12.9 km) into it. Parking is limited to two parking lots and you will not want to park streetside if you are leaving your car overnight, as you may receive a ticket. Those of us that didnt have sunglasses wore their swimming goggles to keep the sand out of their eyes. There are no lifeguards at Kalalau Beach, and you're an 11-mile hike from help. It's illegal to dock a boat or even a kayak on the beach but you can swim to it. Its illegal to dock a boat or even a kayak on the beach but you can swim to it. Lawai Beach here. Kalalau Trail Kauai - Hiking to the Hanakapiai Beach and Back The writer and/or publisher of this website is not responsible for any accidents, injuries, rescues, inconvenience, or loss of life by anyone attempting any of the hikes or activities on this website. milwkid9090's first answer is still the best. Signs warn hikers of dangerous rockfall near the falls, so this area is off limits for swimming. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'to_hawaii_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',130,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-to_hawaii_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'to_hawaii_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',130,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-to_hawaii_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-130{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:5px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:5px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. As you can expect, Tunnels Beach is . You won't find any facilities down here, but you will find composting toilets. She didnt do the hike but she was able to see the Na Pali Coast from a cruise ship. This information is not intended to give specific advice on any trail. Gardens-As stated earlier, there are several gardens in the valley that are a source of food for those staying there. Na Pali Coast State Park Information & More - Hawaii Guide Polihale Beach Having a rock roll through your tent or crack you on the noggin may negatively impact your trip. function form_visible(){ var n = document.getElementById('n'+rid); selectedText = 'Good'; Lightweight hiking shoes with good traction are popular. Pack a water filtration system such as those sold by Sawyer, Katadyn, or Steripen. From here, trails lead through the rest of the valley. PDF Kalalau Trail - Department of Land and Natural Resources driving distance from Poipu to North Shore, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. Even if there was an unautthorized boat, or raft, the OP did not happen to mention the time of year that they were planning on camping at the Kalalau Valley. The sand at Cedar Key Beach is soft and the water is shallow, so it's safe for the whole family. Camping permits for the Npali Coast SWP (Kalalau Trail) are currently available 90-days in-advance. Cell phone service is limited to none on the trail. NOTE: A valid camping permit is required for anyone hiking beyond Hanakapiai Valley. The best part is that the beach will be empty but for your fellow travelers. Do not loiter beneath the waterfall or near cliff faces as there is a constant danger of falling rocks. Personally, I like the idea of the bikini clad sweet hearts, free drinks, and calm seas. If you are a member, the Costco in Lihue sells both food and gas. Wild goats are often seen along the trail route. You can prepare for this by carrying a satellite beacon device which pings a distress signal if you are injured. Ten lashes for me! Maybe take this into consideration before doing a double backflip off a waterfall. SeeSand Island site for updates. More vegetation and another beach on the other side of the arch. Start early as it gets warm and the trail is challenging enough without afternoon sun the entire time. The reserve harbors a variety of native lowland forest plants. var i; Our Terms and Conditions, which contain an arbitration provision, may be viewed here. selectedText = 'Very Good'; And then Jenelyn took it up another notch. DAY-USE RESERVATIONS OR A VALID CAMPING PERMIT, AND PARKING RESERVATIONS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO ACCESS THE KALALAU TRAIL. - 8:00p.m. Yes, there are illegal campers there, some of them do leave trash. And then Cory slipped on his grippy aqua-socks and climbed straight up the crack. Infrequent widespread storms cause flash floods. Camping fees for Npali Coast are $25 per person per night (Hawaii residents), $35 per person per night (non-residents). Kalalau Beach is the huge chunk of sand that sits in front of Kalalau Valley. Hiking and any outdoor activity can be dangerous and has many potential hazards. The beach is a beautiful place to hang out and relax, there's a stream where you can take a dip, and bathrooms if you need to stop. document.getElementById('rat').value="4"; These valleys are sacred ground to the Hawaiian people and it is our responsibility as hikers to make a conscious effort to preserve and protect the land. Kalalau Beach into Kalalau ValleyLocated near the end of the main trail, this valley trail passes through stone terraces that were used in the agriculture of taro and ends at a series of small waterfalls with swimming holes complete with a rope swing. Ben Stiller did make fun of himself for taking the easy route. The next day was another bright and beautiful one. Check the website here for trail updates and closures. Beaches - Kalalau beach is the obvious highlight. Its like being in the desert. Swimming is not recommended at Hanakapiai Beach due to dangerous rip currents and wave patterns. You'll also find a natural shower in the form of Ho'ole'a Falls at the western end of the beach. During the winter months, huge waves crash against the cliffs. Its rated a 9/10 for technical difficulty, and has many shear drop offs, narrow ledges, and never ending climbs and descents. If you visit these side trips, make sure to factor the additional miles into your hiking plan. You could take a boat tour down the coastline, a guided kayak excursion, or a helicopter tour. It is not legal to get out of or land a motorized boat on the beach, however, it is done illegally. For more information read our privacy policy. The one way price from Hanalei Bay is usually $75-100 and requires swimming a short distance to the boat. Free Travel Planners for Hawaii & each island, Websites & links for travel sites, attractions, restaurants, maps, lodging & more. Youll be on the sandy shoreline of the world famous Na Pali Coast. [KAUAI] UPDATED 3/2/23: Polihale State Park Is CLOSED until further notice due to an electrical outage that has put the water pump out of service. In the early morning wedecided to go for a nice open water swim, http://goingtogetlost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/going-to-get-lost_black-logo-e1472512038874.png, http://goingtogetlost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/commando-climb-7.jpg. Poke may be delicious, but raw fish does not keep well in a backpack. Make sure to use the correct filter if you plan to drink the water. } Be sure to purify your water as it most likely contains leptospirosis, a bacteria from urine. Anyone proceeding beyond Hanakpai MUST possess a valid camping permit. ny = document.getElementById(image); #30. Hawaiian monk seals also live off the coast. Maybe this site can answer your question. If you look on Nate Yuens blog post on the cave, you can see that sometimes people make more elaborate designs with the rocks. for (i=1; i<=5; i++) { Due to increasing popularity, the state limits how many permits are released every day. You can drink this water, but you must treat or boil the water beforehand. You may find locals living near the beach, or in the adjacent valley. Kee Beach is a safe snorkel spot when the water is calm because it is protected from large waves by a fringing reef. I didn't think you camp on the beach. If you are lucky enough to witness this, they are not in distress, and should not be approached or bothered. Heres the thing youre in the middle of nowhere out here. There are also wild goats, pigs, deer, fish, lobster, and shellfish for people to eat as local as it gets. el.style.display = 'none'; Hiking Kauai: The Kalalau Trail - The Trek Allow 3 to 4 hours to complete the round-trip hike to Hanakapiai Beach. Theres no longer sand to walk on here. Doing this is dangerous so, maybe dont attempt this if you ever find yourself in front of this rock. You'll be fined if you do not have one. UPDATED 2/22/23: Kalalau Trail has REOPENED. There are no roads that take you to the valley. As we said above, one of the best Cedar Key activities is going to the beach! The trail is one of the most difficult in the Hawaiian Islands, which limits visitors to the beach. selectedText = 'Excellent'; } We walked the beach both days we were in Kalalau. Npali Coast SWP camping permits are available here >, Overnight parking is available at Hena SP via Overnight Parking Reservation. Npali Coast State Wilderness Park. Hanalei Pine Trees Hiking The Kalalau Trail: The Ultimate Guide - Wandering Wheatleys Eleven miles in and eleven out. Upon entry to Haena SP, simply show staff your valid camping permit. Money is irrelevant, instead people rely on the barter system and gifting one another for their exchanges. Never swim in murky water and never swim in river mouths. You will find this beach after a 11 mile hike along the Kalalau Trail on the Napali Coast. We saw campers and their tents and also talked to hikers, and campers, who accomplished this feat to this beach, and I say that reverently. Today the land is under the protection of the state of Hawaii and all forms of tourism in the area are carefully monitored. For a nonresident of Hawaii, permits at the time of writing cost $20 per person/per night. Another cave down the coast has been eroded into an arch. One of the many bountiful community gardens. There are even several community gardens throughout the valley, giving the people sustenance without a reliance on the outside world. There are no facilities on the beach, except for composting toilets. Must climb rock . While the Kalalau Beach at the end of the trail is considered safe for swimming, the first beach you encounter on the trail, Hanakapiai Beach, is not. Never turn your back on the ocean, an unexpected wave can knock you down and drag you out.