Hiking Hanakapiai Trail, Na Pali Coast Kauai
On this sunny and windless November morning my family and I set out for a hike to Hanakapiai Valley and Beach along the Na Pali coast of Kauai. Hiking the rugged Na Pali is beautiful and always unique – this day was no exception.
Recent rains guaranteed muddy conditions – but that was no big deal. The clean air, magnificent views, and warm sunshine quickly put us all in that special mood only nature can provide. My seven-year-old daughter made short work of the hike. After 45 slippery and fun minutes of hiking we arrived at Hanakapiai Valley, 2 miles in on the 11-mile Kalalau Trail.
Large winter surf generally washes Hanakapiai beach away – leaving only boulders. On this day, however, a huge sand beach completely free of footprints or people surprised us. We enjoyed a dip in the pristine stream waters and were awestruck by the power of 12 foot beach break barrels.
Beyond Hanakapiai lies 9 more strenuous and amazing miles of Na Pali hiking. For the adventurous backpacker, Kalalau Valley and Beach at the end offers unparalleled camping and exploration. One can also hike 2 miles into Hanakapiai Valley to see the falls – but remember that’s an 8-mile round trip hike.
After some play and snacks on the beach, we set out for a hot hike home. In no time we found ourselves back at Kee Beach. The icing on our adventure cake was a refreshing rinse in the aptly named “cold pond.”
Thanks, Na Pali, for another unforgettable adventure… hope to see you again soon.
Location: Na Pali Coast State Park, Kalalau Trail.
Learn More About Napali Coast:
Napali Coast Boat Tours
Kalalau trail
Logistics: Park at Kee Beach (end of the road) and you will easily find the trailhead. Day use to Hanakapiai is open to public. Overnight camping and hiking past Hanakapiai requires permits from the State of Hawaii DLNR in Lihue.
Difficulty: Strenuous - Be ready to breath hard on this technical trail with lots of vertical – often slippery footing. Swimming conditions at the beach are extremely dangerous.
What to Bring: Pack light and bring food, water, and your camera. Recommended footwear is Tabis or light hiking shoes. Do not bring snorkel gear, as there is no reef ecosystem at Hanakapiai. The beach area has rapidly changing conditions and extremely strong currents – be careful around the water.
3 comments
Just in case you run late getting back, I highly recommend bringing a flashlight with you. This happened to me once. That trail is very dark and scary after sundown. Go see the falls, too. It’s worth it. Aloha, Bill
Great recommendation, I was just on Maui hiking the PiPiWai trail and the sunset before we made it back. The last mile was really tough, a flash light would have been great!
One of the greatest hikes we’ve ever done, if not the best. Went the day after some pretty decent rain, so the trail was MUDDY and challenging, couldn’t believe there were people with kids on the trail! Views more stunning than I’ve ever seen and the slightly more than 2 hours it took for us to get 4 miles to The Falls was without a doubt worth every single second. The Falls are stunning. Cold in December, but STUNNING. Don’t pass this one up. It’s worth every single second. God is amazing.
Leave a Comment