Hanakapi'ai Trail

Jun 11, 2007 7:44PM

My favorite hike on Kauai. Even if you only go 1/2 mile it is worth it. Do not wear white gear and be ready for some serious climbing right off the bat. Know that the beach is only at Hanakapiai in the summer because big winter surf pulls all of the sand offshore (October through April).

Jun 26, 2007 1:42PM

>>>Filter all water.<<<

Is it true you must filter the water because of the danger of Leptosperosis and Flesh-Eating bacteria?

Jul 15, 2007 12:10PM

Just as a point of clarification, Leptospirosis is a bacteria, not a virus. Lepto is primarily contracted from open wounds being exposed to FRESH WATER on Kauai. Also, you should NEVER drink unpurified water from any source no matter how pure it may look. There are many other bacteria and parasites that can be present in unpurified water, so just don't drink it all. As far as the "Flesh eating bacteria" goes, Group A Streptococcus primarily infects open wounds and does not cause any gastrointestinal illness. As with the case of Lepto, any open wounds or sores should be bandaged and cleaned frequently to prevent infection.

Rob

Jul 18, 2007 12:53PM

After reading about this hike I was a bit concerned going with my girlfriend, as she is not an experienced hiker at all. However, I was surprised to see so many people on the trails, all ages, shapes, and sizes. Most are in sandals or slip ons, and several very out of shape and over 60. The trail is a bit strenuous in areas coming back, (but I am 27 and in decent shape at best), but not too bad if you take your time and drink plenty of water. My concern wasn't the physical part, but more the danger of the trail. At no point did I find the trail or hike dangerous, so if this is your concern do it! The trail and views speak for themselves, absolutely amazing. Just a little disappointed in the crowds. You have to yield for other hikers every few minutes.

Aug 10, 2007 7:23PM

My husband and I did this trail on our honeymoon in July. We LOVED this hike! Although I would recommend being prepared for rain (it poured the first 2 hours of our hike and the trail was pretty slick during this time). The beach is excellent, so definitely try to go this far (it 2 miles one way) and the waterfall is incredible if you've got the energy and start early enough. I was glad we made the effort to go that far. Although, the trail is not well marked on the way to the waterfall and I'm pretty sure we accidently wound up on some side trails at times, so definitely give yourself plenty of time in case this happens to you! Otherwise a beautiful trail, beach and waterfall & a great experience!

Aug 14, 2007 1:44PM

I hiked to the waterfall with my nine year old son last week. It was definitely a highlight of our visit to Kaua\'i -- lush green, rippling sunlight, creaking bamboo stands, fragrant guava, rushing water, clambering over rocks to sit at the edge of that final beautiful pool. I probably would not have attempted the hike with my son if I had known the difficulty ahead of time, but he was able to handle it and he enjoyed proving it.

I\'m curious about one aspect of the waterborne bacteria mentioned. I saw a few people swimming in the pool at the base of the fall. Is that ill advised because of the bacteria?

Aug 18, 2007 5:20PM

we are hoping to do the hike and then make a wedding at 4pm. i am not in great shape ( 37yo) but can walk. how long do you think it will take us?

Aug 29, 2007 11:10AM

My Wife and I did the hike in June...little word of advice...don\'t wear boardshorts and then swim...esp if you are not wearing boxers...the return hike can be painful.

Besides that this hike was great!

It was really muddy the second half of the hike to the beach, but the sites out weighed the mud!

shawn

Sep 04, 2007 2:04PM

My wife and I mostly hike the mountains of So. Cal. and we usually use trekking poles, would you recommend them for the Hanakapiai falls hike, mid September.

Sep 14, 2007 4:22PM

What is the best time of day to hike to the falls? Is earlier better?

Oct 01, 2007 1:28PM

My husband and I just got back from hiking this trail. We went all of the way to the falls after debating if we should. After the beach, first 2 miles, which took us an hour and a half, the second 2 miles to the falls took us an hour. Both us not being experienced hikers, but in pretty dencent shape in our mid-thirties, I was pretty proud of us. The hike to the falls after the first 2 hours is definitely tough, but seeing them and swimming in them is definitely worth the work. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. A must do before you die kind of thing.
I was surprised about some of the people and the gear they had. One guy was running back from the beach with his surf board and had "crocs" on his feet. I couldn't believe it. The rocks were very slippery and I was slipping with my hiking shoes. Another girl was skipping across everything with her purse over her shoulder for the full 4 hour hike.

Oct 23, 2007 10:34AM

Planning on doing this hike in Jan-first week of March, is this a good time, is the weather make this totally out of the question?

Oct 25, 2007 8:13AM

Breathtaking views and worth every ounce of sweat... you will not regret hiking to the beach and if at all possible make the trip to the falls. It is absolutely surreal the beauty and serenity you'll experience there. We went yesterday and were on the trail by 8:00 am. Including breaks for myriad photo opportunities, exploring the beach, hiking to and then relaxing and swimming at the falls - we were back at our car by 3:00 pm. Make sure to bring the right shoes!!!! Boots or hiking tennies are best, though I saw plenty of flops and bare feet. We met some extremely nice folks along the way and ingratiated ourselves to some couples by asking if they would like us to take a picture of them both.
Finally, Go...even if it's the only physical thing you do on your trip - you will not regret it
Aloha,
Thomas

Nov 05, 2007 8:07AM

Coming to Kauai in mid-Jan'08 with my wife and two boys, 9 and 10, all in good shape. Would like to do hike to Hanakapia`ai beach and possibly on to the falls. Have read the beach won't be there in winter? Will this be the case when we are there? What about the falls? Thanks...Dean

Nov 13, 2007 10:52AM

Great hike! Hiked it on Nov 7th - the beach was still accessible - got to see some of the local surfers ripping the waves. Breathtaking views all the way! Slippery and tough at some parts. Bring plenty of water and dry clothes if you plan on swiming at the fall. Don't forget your camera!

Dec 03, 2007 6:56AM

My wife and I have hiked a bunch of trails on Kauai. We\'ve been to the island 5 timess and hike on each trip. I have to say that the Hanakapi\' ai trail is the most beautiful of the trails we\'ve hiked. I won\'t belabour the point. I think someone else (above) said it best when they said it falls into the category of things one must do before you die. If you are not an avid hiker, then just go part of the way to Hanakapi\'ai beach. You only need to get about 15 minutes into the hike before you start seeing unforgetable views overlooking Ke\'e Beach (to the east) and of the Na\' Pali coast (due west). If you have the energy, go all the way to Hanakapi\'ai falls. We got to the beach and were a little confused as to where the trail to the falls began. The long and short is you have to cross Hanakapi\'ai stream and then hang an immediate left to begin the uphill hike to the falls. You will go through a bamboo forest and will cross back and forth across teh stream three or four times on the way up. Becareful on the rock crossing the stream, as they can be slippery at times. But once you stand at the pool before the falls, you will see what all they hype is about. At that moment it will strike you that you are standing in a spot that only a few, relatively blessed, number of indiviudals get a chance to see with there own eyes. Some don\'t see it because they can\'t afford to get to Hawaii. Some don\'t see it because they don\'t have the energy, will, or physical ability to hike the trail. But if you do have the econominc ability to get out to Kauai, and the physical ability to mmake this hike (all teh way to the falls), then it really is something you should do at least once in a lifetime...and ever afterwards consider yourself blessed.

Dec 18, 2007 2:00PM

Hi, I am planning to hike Kalalau trail to the end (11 miles), spend a day there and come back. What would be the safest place to leave my rental car for these 3 days?
Thanks.

Dec 22, 2007 7:17AM

W. Is this trail closed?

Coming the end of December and was realy looking forward to this hike.

Thanks for all your help! This website rocks.

Dec 24, 2007 6:06AM

W. I can't thank you enough for all this information. It makes planning a trip like this so much easier and helps you do things you might not have known about.

How long will it take for a casual hiking grew to get to the falls. We want to take our time and really enjoy the experience. This of course is approximate time. Surely I understand everyone has a different pace of hiking. Just trying to figure out how early we should start.

Also in another thread I asked about surfing the beach break at Wailua. Is it glassy in the morning?
Or do the winds pick up pretty early.

I've surfed Puerto Escondido, which is also a beach break that blew out all day but was glassy in the morning and at sunset.

Thanks again. Do you need anything from the mainland that will fit in a suitcase?

Jan 01, 2008 9:35AM

Love your site! My husband and I will be visiting Kaui next week and will be staying in Poipu area. What is the best why to reach the trailhead for this hike and where do we park our veh?
Thanks,Nancy

Jan 02, 2008 8:22AM

I was wonder what you would suggest for a two night three day back packing trip in Kauai?
Thanks Eddie

Jan 03, 2008 8:14PM

Excellent hike. My boyfriend and I did this hike to the falls starting early in the morning. It started to rain, but we were lucky it only lasted a few minutes. It was long but some of the things you see on the way make it worthwhile. There are beautiful brief views of the coastline, a bamboo forest that makes you feel like you are in a martial arts movie, a nice beach that isn't very occupied, and if the season is right, you can eat the guava off of the trees. The falls are beautiful, but the water was oh so cold! The farthest I could get in was my toes. This is probably one of my favorites hikes. The second part around the river was confusing...there wasn't really a defined trail, but eventually every trail leads to the falls. I don't reccomend this hike for people with weak ankles...I sprained mine on the way back from the falls. Other than that be prepared for lots of climbing and a good time!

Jan 04, 2008 8:58AM

What kind of footwear do you recommend for hiking to the falls? I generally prefer hiking boots with lots of support. In your experience, would you rather have a waterproof shoe or one that will breathe? I will be in Kauai in mid-March. I am also concerned about ruining nice boots with all the mud I'm sure I'll encounter; so I wonder if old tennies would be better.

Thank you! Your site is great and has been a huge help in planning my trip.

Heather

Jan 04, 2008 7:05PM

My wife and I will be on Kauai February 4-11. She will be 9 weeks pregnant. She's 34 and in good shape. Is the hike to Hanakapiai too dangerous for her?

Is it a good idea to do one of the catamaran cruises along the coast as well? If so, can you recommend any?

Jan 06, 2008 7:09PM

I am plannin our hike for the middle of January. I have been told by some locals that I know that the ocean in that area at this time of year is very rough. I dont care to swim in the ocean but will the river pools and tide pools be nice enough to take advantage of. I want to get the most out of the hike. What should I plan for and what should I plan to avoid? Thank you
Aloha
Ron

Jan 12, 2008 10:41PM

We will be arriving in late January and are looking for a great hike. I would like to try the Hanakapia`ai trail, but my only worry is that I have a pretty severe fear of cliff heights from a previous fall. Can anyone tell me how close to the edge of the cliff the trail is or give me an idea of weather I should even attempt it?

Thanks!!!

Jan 13, 2008 9:52PM

Just did the hike - good experience. For those concerned about the difficulty: I am in good shape, but an inexperienced hiker. The 4 miles to the falls was easier than I expected and I moved very fast - I rarely breathed hard. However, on the last 2 miles of the return, my legs were very sore and it was painful to get down the rocks, so if you are not used to hiking, it may be best to take it easy on the way in.

Also, for what its worth, I found the first mile on the way BACK from the waterfull to be a bit confusing. The main trail is not marked and there are other "trails" that led to dead-ends and almost got me quite lost. Obviously, all you need to do is follow the river back, but that is tough to do unless you are on the correct trail. In retrospect, I would have paid more attention on the way in.

Jan 18, 2008 9:04AM

I am trying to get driving directions to Hanakapiai trail from east side of island in Kapaa. I used your drive directions from this website and confused about what it is showing me. It shows directions from HI-50 to Waimea Canyon Dr. I thought trail (from map) starts north of island near Haena State Park. What would be best way to go.

Jan 23, 2008 5:11AM

I've been wanting to hike this trail for awhile now. I have a few days off in feb. Are there any transportation services to this area? how will it work to park my car at one end and hike out the other end? Do most people hike the 11 miles in and then hike the 11 miles back?
thanks

Jan 27, 2008 2:42AM

My wife and I are planning a trip to Kauai in April. We are experienced hikers from beautiful Oregon. We are planning on hiking to Kalalau Valley with a side trip to Hanakapi\'ai Falls on the way in. I have four questions... 1. Are there camping opportunities between Hanakapi\'ai Falls and Kalalau Valley? 2. Are we likely to have any sense of remoteness at Kalalau to set up our tents? 3. Ocean waters/currents can be dangerous in Oregon also... but plenty of people swim in our frigid waters. Should the warnings be taken to mean \'stay out of the water - because you\'ll probably die if you don\'t\' :-) or \'be careful in the water because there are riptides and strong waves\'? And finally.. 4. If we wanted to save time on this trip so that we can hike more of Kauai, could we charter a boat to drop us and our gear off at Kalalau Valley and hike out?

Thank you for your great site.

Jan 27, 2008 8:51PM

Aloha,
I hiked this trail by myself, almost on accident for about 2 hours about four junes ago and it was one of the most memorable outdoor experiences of my life!. Now I am returning with my significant other who has never been to Kauai. This will be our first trip alone without being pregnant or with a child. Our last two trips to Hawaii were with our our child, first at 7 months and then at 18 months. We love bringing her the islands. HOwever this time we want to be able to Kayak, Snorkle, and Hike so we are leaving her behind in cold Utah. I found your incredible website by accident when I was looking for water temps by month. This will be my ninth trip to Hawaii and I have been many times of the year. We are coming in Febuary and last year when we were there (Oahu and Maui) the water was cold. So some questions.
1. Was this just a fluke and can we just go to another beach if this is the case? Would you recommend the south kayak trip or just renting some? We are not big kayakers and I would like to see some sights this way, I realize we can do Na pali this time of year. Can we still hike it if it not raining?
Also, I realize that you don't provide lodging recommendations, but is the Hilton in the right part of the island for surfing or snorkling this time of year ( I understand the south/north Poipu/Princeville) thing but not hte west/east).
2. We always use Hotel Points when we come, but another thing we have not done since becoming parents is camp. The last time I was there I saw a great camp site by the beach to the trailhead to this hike. How is camping in Febuary? If we want ocean type camping is there one sight you would recommend for this time of year? What gear would we need (we live in cold moutains and have never beach camped). Is is difficult/expensive to rent so we don't have to bring our gear for two nights?. How hard is it to get camping permits this time of year? I have looked at the official websites but these questions are not really answered. Also, I have had stuff stolen from rental cars in Oahu, so I know that whole risk, are there suggestions for this when camping? Without a hotel room I guess you just carry valuables on hikes etc./ but what if you are in the water? Is this less of an issue in Kauai?
3. I know you are not weather genie's but is it a lot more likely to rain there than oahu this time of year?
Mahalo!

Jan 30, 2008 5:17AM

We are planning on making the hike soon. I heard there is kind of a clothing optional rule at the end of the hike. Is this still the case?

Feb 06, 2008 7:09AM

Can you recommend any good guidebooks for hiking and snorkeling on Kauai? We are staying at the hostel in Kapaa in February. I have read about the Kokee State Park trails on the internet and want to start there. I want to study all the trails and make a list before I arrive.

Feb 08, 2008 10:22PM

Hi,
My future wife and I are visiting Kauai in mid May. I was wondering if the Hanakapi‘ai is going to be back open by then. We aren\\\'t experienced hikers but we are physically fit and work out many days a week. This hike sounds very exciting!

Feb 10, 2008 11:54PM

Any news on when the trail will be re-opening? Weather-related? My wife and I are here in Kauai thru Feb 15. Bad timing. :(

Feb 15, 2008 8:47PM

You said, "At this time, camping permits for Hanakapi‘ai are not being offered." Why is that? It means that in order to hike the trail and see all the sites along the way, I would have to hike 10 miles before I could camp at Hanakoa on my way to Kalalau (2 miles to Hanakapi'ai; 4 miles R/T to Hanakapi'ai Falls; and 4 miles on to Hanakoa). That's ridiculous.

Is the "no camping at Hanakapi'ai" rule enforced? If so, how rigorously? Does the DNLR sweep through Hanakapi'ai Valley and clear people out of there at the end of the day? Would the ranger take a $100 bill to look the other way?

Feb 16, 2008 7:59AM

Wow - what a great resource this website is! Thanks for all of the information.

My wife and I will be there in March and I hope to hike this trail with her. We have done some hiking her in Montana and she can occasionally be a little fearful of heights. As Dawn asked above, could you please elaborate on the trail width during the "scary" parts? Is there a "mountainside" or similar that you can hug when near a dropoff? I guess I should also ask how often it is that someone actually falls. Thanks again for any information!

Feb 16, 2008 9:17PM

I recently (about three days ago) went hiking here. I wore Converse and slipped in the mud two times. Upon finishing the hike I noticed a horrible pain in my right toe, I went in to the hospital today and I fractured it badly.
So, in the end, great hike but do NOT wear converse shoes and be careful on the rocks.

Mar 01, 2008 4:37AM

Aloha! I would love to hike this trail with my wife and 7 year old son this coming week at least part of this ( will be in Princeville area between March 5-8) Hope the trail will be open by then. Thanks for all the advice.

Mar 05, 2008 2:50AM

We are coming out in late April, do you think we will be able to swim on the beach that time of the year?

Mar 23, 2008 11:01PM

My husband and I are planning a trip to Kauai in September. I would like to go on this hike. We are staying on the south shore, and are planning on renting a car. Is the island relatively easy to get around on? How long does it take to drive from the South shore? Thank you

Mar 27, 2008 9:17PM

Plan to do the trail to the Hanakapiai Falls sometime between April 13-17th. Is there a # or website that has daily updates on the trail conditions? I heard that if it has rained a lot the day before the river could be flooded and I'd hate to drive all the way there to find out that the river is too high to cross!

Thanks! (great site!)
Jen

Mar 30, 2008 2:45AM

this site has been very informative. My husband and I will be hiking this trail sometime the first week of May. I don\'t see anything above regarding mosquitos but a co worker who grew up in hawaii told us to be prepared. Do you suggest a particular type of repellant? Also, will the first of May be a safe time for a Na pali kayak adventure? Heard elsewhere that waters would be rough. I live and hike in upstate NY along rocky gorges with lots of up and down. Has anyone hiked in the Ithaca area? Wondering if we will be prepared for the difficulty level.

Apr 01, 2008 12:20PM

This is the information I have been looking for- the whole site is terrific. We are planning a trip to Kauai from August 18-25 \'08 and wondering which side of the island we should stay on? We want to definitely do this hike and also snorkel. Also, where can we go \"body-surfing?\" We are two adults(50+) and one 20 year old and a 14 year old.

Apr 02, 2008 4:53PM

We are coming into Kauai in the beginning of September this year on the Pride of America. We are planning on renting a car and leaving early so we can do this hike. My question is how long does it take to get from the pier to the trailhead and how long should we plan on the hike taking (we will only be hiking ot the falls and back)? We are in pretty good shape, but not avid hikers specifically. I'm just concerned since we also want to have some time to see Waimea canyon and stop at some of the lookouts. Thanks!

Apr 09, 2008 6:33AM

You gotta hike to the falls! I'm not a strong hiker, but believe me, the falls is definitely worth it--you're halfway there when you hit the beach so go for it! We did get lost a few times as we approached the falls--we could hear it, but we couldn't figure out where the trail went, then we realized we had to go across the large boulders in the river...definitely an adventure I would do again. Although to be honest, the hike back from the beach seemed a little bit too long:)

Apr 09, 2008 5:09PM

It's Katy again (from 4/2 posting). We only have 1 day and can't decide between hiking the Hanakapiai trail to the falls and back, or seeing Waimea canyon via the Kukui trail. Which would you suggest? Since we really want to see both, do you think it is enough to simply stop at the Waimea Canyon lookout for some photographs and then move on to the Hanakapiai trailhead? Or...do you think we'd be missing out on Waimea? It's become obvious to us both that we need to come back to Kauai soon! Website is great and thanks for your quick responses!

Apr 15, 2008 9:22PM

We'll be on Kaua`i this weekend (4/18-20) and planning to hike Hanakapi`ai trail. I just checked the weather for Kaua`i on the Advertiser website, which calls for showers through Saturday. We're both about 30 years old and in good shape with some hiking experience. Will the trail be too muddy and/or dangerous for us? Based on the weather, do you think Sunday would be a better day to go than Saturday? Any advice will be appreciated!

Apr 17, 2008 6:43AM

Hi Cheryl

My wife has very little hiking experience, we did hanakapai last august, it rained most of the way out on us. Was it slick, yes. Did we have a blast, absolutely! Good clothing/shoes + slowing down and you'll have a great time

Enjoy!

Apr 17, 2008 7:51PM

Hi. Great site. Thanks for all the info. Doing the hike in July and can hardly wait. Two questions, I know camping is not allowed at Kee Beach, but is at Haena Beach Park. If one needed a place to crash the night before starting the hike, would it be better to do it at the Haena campground or hike in two miles to Hanakapiai? Also, how far is Haena Beach Park from the trailhead? Any assistance on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Apr 22, 2008 10:45PM

I plan to do the 4 mile trek to the Falls at the very beginning of May. Should I expect rain, and is there a certain time of day that it usually rains? I can't wait! I hope that my old tennis shoes will be adequate since I dont really want to buy hiking shoes. The beach is back by now, right? If the beach is gone, can you still get to the Falls?

Apr 22, 2008 10:52PM

Oh, and I\'m kind of a weeny about cold weather... What\'s the temp like at the beach/Falls? Do you recommend that I bring a sweatshirt?

Apr 25, 2008 5:35AM

When people are mentioning mud - how deep are we talking? If I wear low cut hiking shoes am I going to be swamped?

May 06, 2008 1:18AM

Jim, my wife and myself just hiked up to the falls last week and it hadn't rained in four days when we did it. We aggressively hiked the trail which made it a little more muddy but alot more fun. We both walked out looking like we had stuck our legs up to our knees in mud. We saw alot of people walking out with only a little splatter on their feet/legs. If you stay slow and watch your step I guess it won't be too bad but we had a ton of fun hitting the trail hard jogging a good part of it. The hike is as much fun as you want to make it, we had a blast and got a ton of great photos. I hope anyone that has a free morning in Kauai takes advantage of this great free adventure.

Pat

May 11, 2008 1:11AM

We plan to have friends drop us off at Ke'e Beach before our hike. Can you please tell me if there is good cell phone reception there so we can phone our friends to pick us up when we return from the hike?