They are all worth exploring if you have the time. Anini Beach. In the early morning wedecided to go for a nice open water swim,fins are an absolute must! ny = document.getElementById(image); Well worth a look (and an unforgettable fruitful smell). You'll also have to pay for the expensive helicopter ride if you need to be rescued. And sunglasses. Its really an expert swimmer only beach. Nearby there is a waterfall, that can be used to rinse off or bathe in. Please read. You'll need to purchase a camping pass for a stay in Kalalau, and they sell out months ahead of time. The ledge is rocky, you're up against a cliff and the ledge drops off into deep, violent ocean water. Published on 10/07/2018 by Kauai Beach Scoop. At the end of the beach is a point where you can swim or kayak around to Honopu - another amazing beach that has been in a number of movies. Just like the signs around Hawaii will advise you, when in doubt, dont go out. [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. 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. Kalalau Beach (see more photos) lies at the end of the 11-mile (17.7 km) Kalalau Trail on Kauai's north shore. Never swim in murky water and never swim in river mouths. On the final day of the Kalalau Trail, you . The surf and rip currents are variable and often extremely treacherous, but worst in winter when high surf conditions prevail. During the winter and spring conditions are especially dangerous. After selecting the date and time of your visit, youll be able to select the number of entry or parking vouchers required. You won't find any facilities down here, but you will find composting toilets. From Kalalau Beach, you can swim around the corner to Honop Beach, which is even more spectacular than Kalalau. selectedVal = '2'; Call ahead to make sure they have them in stock. Because the beach lacks a protective offshore reef to block incoming waves, high surf is common, especially during the winter months. selectedVal = '3'; It sounded amazing and the cool thing is, Cory took a risk and brought his dSLR with him in a dry bag (that orange thing hanging from his waist). During the summer months, the water can be as calm and clear as a swimming pool. From what I've read the swim grows longer after summer as the current shifts and beach shrinks. Most we spoke with ourselves included, recommend hiking all 11 miles in one day. The sea can appear calm here at times (like summer) making it seem safe to swim. } Within the 5-night maximum, no 2 consecutive nights are allowed at Hanakoa. People hear about the difficult hike to a beautiful beach, and ask how to get to that place without all the effort. It is protected from the deeper ocean by one one of the longest reefs in Kauai. Check overhanging trees for hazards from falling limbs. At the end of the beach is a point where you can swim or kayak around to Honopu another amazing beach that has been in a number of movies. 2023 Kauai Beaches. There are also wild goats, pigs, deer, fish, lobster, and shellfish for people to eat as local as it gets. Makana Charters The Kalalau Valley sits roughly halfway down the coast. Just remember that Kalalau Beach does not have a protective reef to break the waves. Your feet will be sore, but beachside camping with ample space makes it worth the extra walking. This trail passes through extensive agricultural terraces where Hawaiians grew taro, the staple crop, from ancient times until about 1920. As you travel north, prices go up and options are more limited. The trail winds through several green valleys and ends at the cliff-lined Kalalau Beach. The large waves at Kalalau Beach can make a landing by boat extremely treacherous. The 5-6 feet of warm water make Anini the best swimming location on the island. Wild goats are often seen along the trail route. Its large and backs up to breathtaking views of rugged coastline and classic napali coastline. Hanakoa Campground to Hanakoa FallsThis campground is a quick extra mile located at the halfway point of the main trail up a valley that ends at a waterfall. Shipwrecks Beach, Kekaha Beach (808) 338-9980 An unmaintained 2-mile trail into Hanakapiai Valley leads to a waterfall. There is the main Kalalau trail, as well as several offshoots to waterfalls and swimming holes. My husband and I recently got passes to camp on Kalalau Beach the second weekend in October. Kee Beach is also the beginning of the Napali Coast and the Kalalau trail that leads to Hanakapiai and Kalalau Beach. This beach is the end of the walkable coastline. United States. document.write(""); Kee Beach (pronounced Keh-AY) is located at the end of the road. Pack your backpacking stove, however, stove fuel is not permitted on any airplane and will need to be purchased on the island. Click on the Boating Na Pali link to see a list of boating companies that have permits to land - perhaps they would do a private charter: http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/kauai/napali_boating.cfm. The large waves at Kalalau Beach can make a landing by boat extremely treacherous. if(i=='1'){ This is the final post in a 5-part series on Kalalau. It is 11 miles to get to Kalalau Beach - so if you are talking about going there and having someone pick you up and bring you back You'll still have to hike 11 miles to get there - difficult trail - especially past Hanakoa, and you will need a permit from the State to camp there, even for one night. For treating minor injuries, carry a first-aid kit with you and learn some of the basics. Along the beach, you'll find cliff walls and even some shallow caves to explore. } Camping permits for the Npali Coast SWP (Kalalau Trail) are currently available 90-days in-advance. If you're staying in Nassau Paradise Island, set aside a full day to visit the swimming pigs. If you look on Nate Yuens blog post on the cave, you can see that sometimes people make more elaborate designs with the rocks. This special spot is beautiful at sunset. Here are 21 things you should know before hiking the Kalalau Trail. Most of the year the high surf prevents boats from accessing the shore, which means the only way in is to make the trek by foot. To get a camping permit, visit http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/camping/permit_napali.cfm . Denny, with all due respect, "law enforcement friends with the DLNR" are not exactly objective observers. Shaded campsites are available beneath the trees behind the beach. One of the many bountiful community gardens. In fact, Hanakoa is a hanging valley without a beach the stream exhausts itself over cliffs at the oceans edge. Makana Charters is a native Hawaiian family owned business that takes pride in providing the best possible experience for visitors to Kauai. These stacked rocks are all over the place in the cave. Cookie Notice Most people only do the first segment of this trail, which starts on the north shore of Kauai at Kee Beach and goes to the Hanakapiai Beach. Also, please proceed with caution this is not an easy swim nor is it safe. In-order to access the Npali Coast State Wilderness Park as well as the Kalalau Trail, visitors have to go through Hena SP. UPDATED 2/22/23: Kalalau Trail has REOPENED. Here are a few examples of what you can expect: Pools-There are two main pool areas for some refreshing swimming. document.getElementById('rat').value="4"; Permits are very popular and sell out well in advance, especially during summer. The people come together to share meals and talk story of their days adventures. Summer weather (May to October) normally brings steady tradewinds and occasional showers while winter weather (October to May) is less predictable. Camping in Kalalau is allowed only behind this sand beach. The trailhead is located in Hena State Park at the northwest end of Khi Highway (Route 56). jebett, the designated campsites are right behind Kalalau beach. document.write("

"); Law enforcement also drops in to clean the valley up a bit. The falls are 300 high and hikers can swim in the large, cold pool at its base. There are some companies that offer landing services, meaning they will shuttle you to and from this beach. { selectedText = 'Good'; The beach is a prime spot for swimming and snorkeling, thanks to its relatively calm waters and a coral reef that is just a few meters offshore. I suppose they woud pick you up as well, but you'd have to talk to them. countfield.value = maxlimit - field.value.length; Kalalau Beach is very secluded, only with those brave and fit enough to get to the beach via man powered boat or expert hiking trails. Gardens-As stated earlier, there are several gardens in the valley that are a source of food for those staying there. Yes Good For Swimming, Snorkeling, Kids, Relaxing, Watching sunset Advance reservations are now required for all vehicles, walk-in entry, and shuttle riders visiting Hena State Park, as well as for day hikers accessing the Kalalau Trail. At the beach, you may see topless sunbathers or a naked surfer. I would like to spend one night at the Kalalau beach, but honestly, I don't feel like walking the 11 mile trail, so does anyone know if I can arrange a boat there that would pick me up the next day? Aside from environmental concerns, you will face a court date and heavy fines if you get caught. It's illegal to dock a boat or even a kayak on the beach but you can swim to it. There is a helipad in the valley, but it is usually only used by law enforcement. Because the beach lacks a protective offshore reef to block incoming waves, high surf is common, especially during the winter months. View of the ocean from the Kalalau Trail. If you google Ben Stiller on David Letterman you can see a clip of him on Dave telling about a company that took him by boat to the end of the trail and then hiking the 11 miles to Ke'e. var selectedText = ''; Yes, there are illegal campers there, some of them do leave trash. For experienced hikers in excellent shape, allow for a long day (8+ hours) to complete the round trip from Hena State Park to Hanakoa. Tory and Cory appeared to be tired from the swim but Seth and Jen (both swimmers in high school) looked fresh as daisies. The Kauai beach with the unusual name, Donkey Beach, is a beach that comes with a lot of pluses and minuses. else if(star_img=='5'){ [OAHU] UPDATED 4/12/22: Sand Island State Recreation Area WATER OFF,camping and comfort stationsCLOSED. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Camping is allowed on the beach, but permits are required. You'll need to purchase a camping pass for a stay in Kalalau, and they sell out months ahead of time. This 2-mile long day hike (4 miles round trip) is moderately challenging and doesn't require extreme abilities, therefore almost anybody in a decent physical . Observe from a distance and use the zoom on your camera. It is still possible to kayak into and out of the beach. BEWARE of Beachfront Travel, also know as TBD (Travel By Design). Theres no longer sand to walk on here. } [MAUI]UPDATED 1/23/23:Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area CLOSED through March 2023 (Per DOFAW). The trail is part of the N Pali Coast State Park which gets its name from the Hawaiian term for high cliff, na pali.You may recognize the coast from the film Jurassic Park where it is featured . ), ^ Top of page | Home | Search | Archives, Unreal Hawaii is a digital magazine for people that love the Hawaii outdoors. From the beach, the valley extends 2 miles inland, with the high plateau of Kokee State park looking down upon it. The Kalalau Trail is one of the adventurous hiking trails in the world. This stretch of sand extends well over a mile down the coast, with a number of caves along the way to explore. Poke may be delicious, but raw fish does not keep well in a backpack. Be sure to purify your water as it most likely contains leptospirosis, a bacteria from urine. This is because the valley and beach are literally surrounded by steep rock walls, so unless you feel inspired to do some lead climbing, or swim back (not recommended- see the hazards section), you pretty much have to enter and leave the way you came. But I will gladly be corrected if proven wrong. For beach and trail access you will need to reserve a park and pass or shuttle on the website www.gohaena.com, Anini Beach List of properly permitted vacation rentals, not condos - 8/15/2017, Weather Questions start here Pls/Best Time of Year to Visit Kauai, How to make reservations at Haena State Park / Ke'e Beach. show(star_img,rid); I didn't think you camp on the beach. They often sell out and some people make reservations up to a year in advance. Waimea, HI 96796 During winter months, dangerous conditions include high surf and strong currents. But this can be dangerous as the beach here features a short break, and there is unpredictable and shallow sandbar, not to mention illegal. There are no roads that take you to the valley. Feral goats have been seen roaming the beach and valley, and contribute to the leptospirosis in the streams and waterfall. Advance reservations are now required for all vehicles, walk-in entry, and shuttle riders visiting Hena State Park, as well as for day hikers accessing the Kalalau Trail. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap. While the crew was away we explored the rock garden and wet cave over here. Many hikers turn back when they reach Crawler's Ledge -- a narrow path carved into a cliff that runs for nearly a quarter-mile. There are plenty of other tucked-away beaches in Kauai that are not quite as hard to get to as this one, which we didn't list here because the effort-reward quotient isn't quite right. It is now underwater.). It's better to enjoy the beach, the scenery and its caves while taking a refreshing shower in the natural waterfall. After exploring the cave and eating some snacks we spent an hour being extremely lazy. If you are lucky enough to witness this, they are not in distress, and should not be approached or bothered. Having a rock roll through your tent or crack you on the noggin may negatively impact your trip. selectedText = 'Poor'; You are always a wealth of hiking info. Poipu Beach Its a wonderful place to hang out a night, but during the day its actually too hot and windy. You may recognize the coast from the film Jurassic Park where it is featured during the opening helicopter scene. The Beach Banner Ads (managed by BuySellAds) > There are designated camping areas, however it seems you can camp anywhere, as its not typically enforced. When you finally get to the beach, you'll marvel at the hikers that have carried 50+ pounds of gear across the hike and over the ledge. If you are a member, the Costco in Lihue sells both food and gas. Thus, the only way to reach it is to swim. When it rains, which on Kauai is all of the time, portions of the trail get muddy and sloppy. When we got to the end of the beach, Seth, Jen, Jen, Cory and Troy put on some fins and swam out. It doesnt go back too far. It can be ankle deep only to plunge down to the depths with no warning. This gap forms a channel that gets filled with water as the waves rush in. Hawaii strictly regulates food items that enter the state and you must declare all food products on a declaration form on the flight. field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit); Just know that some of the campers down in Kalalau live free and believe that clothing is optional. Despite the fact that many would fail to understand why these people would live this way by choice, they are truly happy in their natural surroundings. I don't know if there are companies regularly drop people off, but start at the state parks website: Here's the specific link for camping along the trail: http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/kauai/napali.cfm. Make reservations at www.gohaena.com. Hello. DROWNINGS OCCUR HERE REGULARLY! document.getElementById('rat').value=selectedVal; Heres the other thing it makes for an awesome photo. } We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. 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. The rest of us, Reanne, Cory, Troy, Jenelyn and I walked it back to the cracked boulder. Milwkid, I don't know why you would think the OP is joking - this question does get asked occasionally (hell, I wouldn't want to hike the whole 11 miles, either). Queen's Bath is VERY DANGEROUS! selectedVal = '4'; Which, in consideration, is less than you would be paying for a beach-side hotel room. The trail and activity descriptions are given to give the reader a better understanding of what to expect while hiking and participating in activities in Hawaii. You could take a boat tour down the coastline, a guided kayak excursion, or a helicopter tour. A hat is nice to have too. Naturalists will find a number of points of interest. document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML="Poor"; Kalapaki Beach The trailhead can be found at the very end of the road on the northern side of the island at Ke'e Beach. The faces are sheer and you can see that boulders continuously break off.(Update 9/14/15: This areawas destroyed in a massive landslide during the winter of 2014-2015. For some people who come to Kalalau Beach, the long and difficult trail is not adventurous enough. Drinking the Water I also can't imagine a boat company traveling the coast to land there and retrieve campers and do it safely and at a profit. Lic# TVNC1058, Secluded and difficult to access beach on Kauai's Na Pali Coast, You should be in good physical condition to hike to the beach and not afraid of heights (the trail is narrow in some areas and involves several stream crossings), Beware of flash floods when crossing streams (don't cross if the water is too high), Kalalau Beach has rip tides, strong currents and a dangerous shorebreak, especially in the winter months, Bring all needed supplies and food with you, Mosquito repellent is a good idea to bring too. You just need to be a strong swimmer to get to it. To prevent overpopulation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) allows hunting on weekends in August and September. el.style.display = 'none'; Advance reservations are now required for all vehicles, walk-in entry, and shuttle riders visiting Hena State Park, as well as for day hikers accessing the Kalalau Trail. Sometimes they even rise completely out of the water in a jump known as a breach. } Some pre-planning is necessary to hike the entire trail. If you follow blueflamingo's boating link, you'll find that no tour boats are allowed to land at Kalalau beach, only kayaks. All camping areas are located on shaded terraces near streams. This was my favorite part of the trip. Sponsored Content >. . Book a full-day excursion with Harbour Safaris or Exuma Escapes. The short break makes for big waves, especially during the winter season, and the sandbar can be unpredictable. [MAUI] UPDATED 1/26/23:Iao Valley State Monument CLOSED August 2022through April 15, 2023. The trail winds through several green valleys and ends at the cliff-lined Kalalau Beach. var el = document.getElementById('sf'); driving distance from Poipu to North Shore, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. } You will find this beach after a 11 mile hike along the Kalalau Trail on the Napali Coast. You must ascend and descend a rocky trail twice. All rights reserved. My husband and I are both in shape and good swimmers, and would be making the attempt very early morning with fins and a snorkel. else if(star_img=='3'){ Many of the unforgettable sights on the Na Pali coast are only viewable from the sea, so it is well worth a look. } If you visit these side trips, make sure to factor the additional miles into your hiking plan. You just need to be a strong swimmer to get to it. document.getElementById('rat').value="1"; Its the part right after you come out of the valley. Cory and Troy picked them off the rocks in between waves. Salt Pond Beach NOTE: A valid camping permit is required for anyone hiking beyond Hanakapiai Valley. ny.src="../../../reviews/images/blank.gif"; The summer sand beach at Hanakapiai is a popular destination for day hikers. It is a minimum 3-day round-trip journey for most people to hike all the way to Kalalau and back, which means that you have to be well outfitted and prepared for the journey. Not only is the trail narrow in some places, but it can also be slippery because of loose rocks or if it has recently rained. Swimming, Snorkeling, Kids, Relaxing, Watching sunset. I have no idea what they charge. Pack foods that cook easily in boiling water and store well unrefrigerated. Parking at Hena State Park is limited to 100 stalls, so we recommend taking the Kauai North Shore Shuttle. The trail drops to sea level at the beaches of Hanakapiai and Kalalau. The only way to access the valley is either by boat or hiking the 11-mile Kalalau trail there are no roads or airstrips here and only government helicopters are authorized to land. On the plus side, it is Anini Beach is a narrow sliver of a beach that extends along Kauai's North Shore for somewhat over two miles. Walk up the short hill. You may find locals living near the beach, or in the adjacent valley. Guava Forest-An entire grove of trees that provides an abundance of wild guava. The stories on this website are provided for entertainment and informational purposes only. Waipouli Beach Therefore, the only way to legally hike the trail in its entirety is to do so with a permit, and they can be difficult to obtain.