Na Pali - the Cliffs in Hawaiian - is one of the most beautiful and remote areas on Kaua‘i. The strenuous eleven-mile Kalalau Trail winds along this rugged coastline, providing the only land access to legendary Kalalau Valley. The trail and facilities are rugged; some eroded areas are very narrow over cliffs that are hundreds of feet high.

Commencing at Ke'e Beach , located at the most northern end of Kauai, the Kalalau Trail may be hiked in increments and divided up into shorter hikes for those wishing only a day trip.

Segment One: Ke'e Beach to Hanakapai Beach: approximately 2 miles of rainforest hiking. Please do not swim at Hanakapai Beach! Very treacherous currents carry people away every year.

Segment Two: Hanakapai Beach to Hanakapai Falls - an additional mile makes this a great day hike when combined with Segment One. Swimming in the waterfall pool is recommended!

Segment Three: Ke'e Beach to Hanakoa Campground - Roughly half way to Kalalau Valley, this area is located on a stream covered by an extensive jungle canopy. Permits required to camp here.

Segment Four: Ke'e Beach to Kalalau Valley: A long, arduous 12-mile hike through very rough and muddy jungle terrain interspersed by miles of dry, sun-blasted, exposed and sometimes crumbling cliffsides.

 CAMPING PERMITS

The Kalalau Trail is currently OPEN for hiking.

http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/announcements/index.cfm

Questions? Call the DLNR for more info: (808) 274-3444

Residents and visitors have two more weekends to visit the remote North Shore park before it closes for the project from Sept. 7 to Nov. 7. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will close Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on the North Shore from Hanakapi‘ai to Kalalau Valley for a multi-faceted improvement effort that includes a rockfall mitigation project above the Ho‘ole‘a waterfall and shoreline sea cave areas.

 “This unprecedented closure will provide us the opportunity to address a variety of long-overdue, critical public safety and natural and cultural resource management issues, as we pursue our commitment to improving one of the most popular wilderness camping areas in the world,” said Laura Thielen, DLNR chair.

 Summertime in the Rainforest is one of the most spectacular experiences available to anyone who encounters the island of Kauai. An array of endangered plants and endemic flowers are in fragrant blocom and the rare native birds -- whose curved bills evolved to drain the nectar from these specialized flowers -- are dazzling the forest canopy with their vibrant green, red and yellow feathers.

At left: Vantage point from Pihea Peak on the Pihea - Alaka’i Trail. Spectacular views of Kalalau Valley and the Na Pali Coast

How to get there: From Koke’e Museum, turn left on Hwy 550 and drive 3.8 miles to the end of the road at Pu’u o Kila Lookout.

Trail Length: Pihea Peak is reached 1.3 miles beyond Pu’u o Kila Lookout. This portion of Pihea Trail traces the back edge of Kalalau Valley with extraordinary views into this huge valley and out to sea. It connects with the Alaka’i Swamp Trail; round trip to Kilohana overlook is 8.6 miles. Pihea Trail is 3.7 miles one way down to Kawaikoi Stream, and Alaka’i Swamp Trail is 3.5 miles from “Camp Sloggett” Road to Kilohana overlook.

Trail Description: Pihea Trail provides great views of Kalalau Valley along the rim, good territory for watching native forest birds and a look at a native rainforest. Clay soils that are slippery when wet and a climb of several hundred feet in elevation make this trail challenging. At 1.2 miles, a steep fork left leads to Pihea Peak.  At 1.6 miles, a section of boardwalk has been constructed. Continuing to the right at the Alaka’i Trail junction on the boardwalk leads to Lehua Maka Noe, a small bog.  Turning left on the Alaka’i Trail, the boardwalk continues downhill towards Kawaikoi Stream.  After crossing Kawaikoi Stream, the trail goes up a ridge then across very boggy and foggy forestlands to Kilohana overlook on the rim of Wainiha Valley, with great views of Kaua’i's north shore (weather permitting).

As Dennis Kamakahi, a famous Hawaiian songwriter noted, if you come to a lookout and there is no visibility because the Koke'e mist is  draping the view, be patient! Just wait for 10 minutes or so and see what happens. The mist often blows through and away the minute the tour busses leave!

For more trail information go to: http://www.kokee.org/kokee-state-park/trails Remember to bring camera, water, and a light rain poncho. Wear rugged footwear and expect a little mud. THERE ARE NO TRAIL SIGN IN & SIGN OUT STATION IN KOKE'E OR WAIMEA PARKS. Hike with caution and DO NOT wander from trails and boardwalks both for your own safety and the well-being of the beautiful, rare plants. Thank goodness there are no snakes in Hawaii and few mosquitos in Koke'e. Have fun and enjoy!

Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is a large canyon, approximately ten miles (16 km) long and up to 3,000 feet (900 m) deep, located on the western side of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. The canyon was formed by a deep incision of the Waimea River arising from the extreme rainfall on the island's central peak, Mt. Wai'ale'ale, among the wettest places on earth.

Geologically the canyon is carved into the tholeiitic and post-shield calc-alkailne lavas of the canyon basalt. The lavas of the canyon provide evidence for massive faulting and collapse in the early history of the island. The west side of the canyon is all thin, west-dipping lavas of the Napali Member, while the east side is very thick, flat-lying lavas of the Olokele and Makaweli Members. The two sides are separated by an enormous fault along which a large part of the island moved downwards in a big collapse.

The canyon has a unique geologic history—it was formed not only by the steady process of erosion, but also by a catastrophic collapse of the volcano that created Kauaʻi.

Like the other Hawaiian islands, Kauaʻi is the top of an enormous volcano rising from the ocean floor. With lava flows dated to about 5 million years ago, Kauaʻi is the oldest of the large Hawaiian islands. Roughly 4 million years ago, while Kauaʻi was still erupting almost continuously, a portion of the island collapsed. This collapse formed a depression, which then filled with lava flows.

In the time since, rainwater from the slopes of Mount Waiʻaleʻale have eroded Waimea Canyon along one edge of the collapse. The cliffs on the west side of the canyon are composed of thin lava flows that ran down the surface of the Kauaʻi volcano. On the other side of the canyon, the cliff walls are built from thick lava flows that pooled in the depression. Over time, the exposed basalt has weathered from its original black to bright red.

Waimea Canyon State Park encompasses 1,866 acres (7.5 km²) and is a popular tourist attraction on the island. It provides a wilderness area with numerous hiking trails. It can be accessed from Waimea on Hawaiʻi state road 550, which is 18 miles long and leads up to Koke'e State Park. The island of Niihau, only a short distance west of Kauai at that point, can be clearly seen from the highway.

Above the fallow cane fields on Kauai's East Side Kapa'a area, a massive mountain of lava rock shaped like a reclining giant overlooks one of the most breath-taking vistas on the Garden Island. "Sleeping Giant" (Nounou in Hawaiian) is one of Kauai's most accessible and least difficult hiking trails.

The trail can be accessed from three different locations. The East Trail starts at the end of Halelilo Road in the Kapa'a House Lots (behind Brick Oven Pizza's Kuhio Hwy - Rte 56 location). This is the quickest way to the top, at 1.75 miles of switchbacks both exposed and shaded by ironwood, guava and silk oak -- and the steepest!

The three mile Kuamo'o - Nounou Trail is marked by a trailhead sign on the right side of Kuamo'o Rd. past Opaeka Falls. It might be a bit longer, but the ascent is more gentle.

The West Trail (1.5 miles) originates along Kamalu Road (Route 581) and rises moderately. The rewards at the top of the Giant are well worth whatever trail one has taken to the top. Wear hiking boots and sun screen, bring plenty of water and don't forget the camera!

This hike is a great way to orient one's self to the layout of Kauai: to the south the dragon-backed sculpture of the Ha'upu Range (aka Black Mountain) guards Kipu Kai and Po'ipu; to the north, the Anahola Needle -- so named because it once had a hole in the tip of the peak -- overlooks the gateway to some of the best beaches in the world; and to the island's center, Mt. Wai'ale'ale, the wettest place on earth, and Kawaikini -- Kauai's tallest ancient volcano.

Take a swim at Lydgate Park to cool off after your trek!