{ Top Ten Ways to Protect Hawaiian Monk Seals/Dolphin protection, Geography, Geology, History and Culture of Kaua'i. Beaches Kalalau beach is the obvious highlight. Yes as daisies. Each of these offshoots has unique waterfalls and swimming spots. For all these, just ask a friendly local where to go! But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap. function noshow(star_img,rnid) return; else if(star_img=='3'){ waves can be dangerous - avoid swimming due to riptides and currents. Kayaking and swimming (by strong swimmers with fins) from Kalalau Beach are the only ways to reach Honop Beach. For more information, please see our 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. Tradewind showers are more frequent during the night and early morning. In the early morning wedecided to go for a nice open water swim,fins are an absolute must! There are no lifeguards on these beaches and help is a helicopter ride away. When you walk back to camp the sun will be starting to set and the cliff faces of the Na Pali coast turn golden. The cliffs of the Na Pali Coast look prehistoric in this area. When you come out of the arch you see what looks like an alien planet.(Update 9/14/15: Thisarea was destroyed in a massive landslide during the winter of 2014-2015.). All rights reserved. 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. If youre a good swimmer, theres a hidden beach called Honopu Beach right around that bend. Carrying trekking poles was also immensely helpful in balancing on the more slippery portions. The trail that leads to this beach is considered the most difficult trails on the islands. We were unaware of sharks and pretty much all the dangerous obstacles. selectedVal = '2'; Drinking the Water ny.src="../../../reviews/images/star.gif"; Makana Charters is a native Hawaiian family owned business that takes pride in providing the best possible experience for visitors to Kauai. The next day was another bright and beautiful one. more. Then they told everyone to go out on the observation deck. document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML=" "; Swimming is not recommended at Hanakapiai Beach due to dangerous rip currents and wave patterns. I told Hayleen, the lady that cuts my hair, about my trip and she said that Kalalau was one of her favorite places. Because I have law enforcement friends with the DLNR who fly in with helos, and clean the place up, as the permanent reisidents run off to hide in the jungle. Kalapaki Beach - 8:00p.m. On our trip, we found that the first few miles, due to heavy foot traffic, were in the worst shape, and trail conditions majorly improved further down the trail. They often sell out and some people make reservations up to a year in advance. It is flanked by sheer canyon walls and it is illegal to boat or kayak there. Though you may be tempted, please do not hike this trail without permission. And it's absolutely wonderful to take a dip in Queen's Bath after enjoying the turtles inside Turtle Cove. Password should be at least 8 characters. 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Call at 888-409-2702 during business hours which are 7 AM to 7 PM HST. And they probably only do this in the summer, when the surf and currents are safe to swim ashore. That means rogue waves can crash onto the beach at any moment. [OAHU] UPDATED 3/2/23: Keawa Heiau State Recreation Area Aiea Loop Trail isCLOSEDdue to high winds and heavy rain, the heiau area is OPEN. A) no one will be there to help, b) if anyone was, you'd be taking up critical medical space. A maximum stay of 5 nights is allowed in Npali Coast State Park. The falls are 300 high and hikers can swim in the large, cold pool at its base. 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 . Commercially guided camping trips are not authorized. These terraces were replanted with coffee plants in the late 1800s, which are still growing throughout the valley today. In the early days, a similar foot trail linked traditional Hawaiian settlements along the rugged coastline. selectedVal = '4'; It's even more difficult to get on a boat to leave the valley in a surge of surf. It is protected from the deeper ocean by one one of the longest reefs in Kauai. info@MakanaCharters.com As you can expect, Tunnels Beach is . If possible, I would recommend making the trek all the way to the beach to camp. Mahaulepu Beach var selectedText = ''; } Country. Which, in consideration, is less than you would be paying for a beach-side hotel room. 3. Salt Pond Beach If you are stopped by a park ranger you will be asked to show the permit along with photo id. The white sand beach is a mile long, and, in this seclusion, you'll have no problem picking out your own isolated spot. It's illegal to dock a boat or even a kayak on the beach but you can swim to it. Groceries, gasoline, and stove fuel are less expensive in the larger towns. } Hideaway Beach Nobody seems to mind, though trading modern creature comforts for a deeper connection to the land around by learning how to coexist with nature instead of profiting off it. Dont get caught in here. Queen's Bath is VERY DANGEROUS! (808) 338-9980 The park will REOPEN by 3:00 PM on Friday 3/3/23. 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. The Kalalau trail hike begins at Ka'a Beach at the end of the parking lot. It is not legal to get out of or land a motorized boat on the beach, however, it is done illegally. Another cave down the coast has been eroded into an arch. I tried hinting to Jenelyn and Reanne that it might not be safe to climb it but to no avail. It is sometimes safer to trek through the mud than trying to find a less messy path around it. 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. I would pass on the pakalolo tent living homesteaders in the Kalalau Valley who deposit huge tall piles of trash throughout the area. var selectedVal = ''; The short break makes for big waves, especially during the winter season, and the sandbar can be unpredictable. Within the 5-night maximum, no 2 consecutive nights are allowed at Hanakoa. { Unreal Hawaii is not affiliated with the state of Hawaii. Hena State Park is roughly 41 miles (1 1/2-hour drive) from Lihue Airport. To prevent overpopulation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) allows hunting on weekends in August and September. These terraces are now overgrown with a variety of alien trees, including Java Plum, guava, and occasional large mango trees. The one way price from Hanalei Bay is usually $75-100 and requires swimming a short distance to the boat. The trail traverses the Hono o Na Pali Natural Area Reserve in the small hanging valleys of Hoolulu and Waiahuakua before entering Hanakoa Valley. (Update 9/14/15: This areawas destroyed in a massive landslide during the winter of 2014-2015. When I got back from Kalalau I went to get a haircut. DISCLAIMER: UnrealHawaii.com is an independent resource for Hawaii focused content. The sunset was going to set soon so we headed back to the camp. You can walk into them to explore and take cover from the wind. ny.src="../../../reviews/images/blank.gif"; After this walk, I believe I now know what acupuncture feels like. [MAUI]UPDATED 1/23/23:Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area CLOSED through March 2023 (Per DOFAW). var b = document.getElementById('t0'); Shopping is limited on Kauai and it is best to bring as many specialty items as possible with you on your flight such as your tent, sleeping bag, and trekking poles. document.write(""); Just remember that Kalalau Beach does not have a protective reef to break the waves. image = 'qw'+rnid + i; This stretch of sand extends well over a mile down the coast, with a number of caves along the way to explore. Also, there are strong rip and alongshore currents, which may be difficult to spot, even if the ocean appears calm. There are no facilities on the beach, except for composting toilets. If your time on Kauai is limited you should definitely see it on one of our tours, whether you visit the valley or not. 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. and our Two days after we finished our hike, the trail was closed for almost a week due to flash flooding and the warning was posted in a red banner at the top of the web page. Because the beach lacks a protective offshore reef to block incoming waves, high surf is common, especially during the winter months. There is the main Kalalau trail, as well as several offshoots to waterfalls and swimming holes. Swimming is possible on Kalalau Beach, but not without dangers. Many hikers turn back when they reach Crawler's Ledge -- a narrow path carved into a cliff that runs for nearly a quarter-mile. } Camping permits for the Npali Coast SWP (Kalalau Trail) are currently available 90-days in-advance. It is not legal to get out of or land a motorized boat on the beach, however, it is done illegally. As you travel north, prices go up and options are more limited. If you see an advertisement for commercial camping along the Npali Coast, it is likely illegal. If you can't hike the trail, the kayak to the beach would be even more strenuous even if you could. lc=rid; We chose to get our permits from the office closest to the airport immediately upon arriving in Kauai. Kalalau Trail leading to the beach The trail ends at Kalalau Beach, as the ocean comes up the cliffs at the western end. After selecting your trip dates, you may experience a bit of sticker shock during the payment portion of the permit process. Doing this is dangerous so, maybe dont attempt this if you ever find yourself in front of this rock. It's better to enjoy the beach, the scenery and its caves while taking a refreshing shower in the natural waterfall. 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. From Kalalau Beach, you can swim around the corner to Honop Beach, which is even more spectacular than Kalalau. *Clicking this link will redirect you to another website, Parking vouchers and entrance to the park can be purchased by clicking the link below. Sometimes they even rise completely out of the water in a jump known as a breach. Waimea Beach. Some dock a small boat in the town of Waimea and ride it over to Kalalau Valley to drop off passengers. var n = document.getElementById('n'+rid); for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) { document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML="Very Good"; There are three river crossings on the trail that become a flash flood hazard during heavy rainfall and may be impassable. function showform(raid){ The facilities at the beach include restrooms and showers. here. At the end is a pool. Take your time and place your feet carefully and you will get through just fine. Then you've still got to swim into the beach, and avoid getting smashed by the rollers. 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. Honopu Beach now requires swimming a good 300 or more yards to access the beach.). The last thing you'll want when going on a . This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Waimea, HI 96796 Learn more >, ADVERTISE: Haena Beach Contact the Department of State Parks, (808) 587-0300, weekdays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Kalalau Valley sits roughly halfway down the coast. } else { Originally built in the late 1800s, the trail serves as one of the only ways to access the beautiful Napali Coast via land. Though this article focuses on walking the Kalalau Trail, there are other ways to visit if you do not enjoy hiking or are short on time. And, once you're in the valley, you're going to want to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Beginning at Ke`e Beach and ending at Kalalau Valley, this challenging but rewarding hike, earned the Sierra Club's rating of "9" out of "10" in degree of difficulty. document.write("
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