Oah'u // #theonewhereweallgotoHawaii
Kaua'i // Coconut Coast + North
Kaua'i // Favorite Memory + Hike
Kaua'i // The Na Pali Coast
Kaua'i // Hiking Highs
Kaua'i // South + West
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike." -John Muir
Towards the end of the trip, we all went around and named our top three from the week. This hike was brought up over and over as everyone's number one of the entire trip.
➳ Kalalau Trail + Hanakapi'ai Falls Hike
The trailhead is located at the very end of the road near Ke'e Beach and the entrance to the Na Pali Wilderness State Park. Upon arrival, we were greeted by chickens and started hiking just after 6 a.m. The first two miles of the hike are on the famous Kalalau Trail, an 11 mile hike (one-way) along the Na Pali Coast. We hiked the first two miles of the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapi'ai Beach followed by another two miles in to Hanakapi'ai Falls for a round-trip total of 8 miles.
Ke'e beach in the early morning looked like this:
And when we returned, it looked like this:
(a little teaser to some of the photos coming later on in this post)
The trail is technically rated as strenuous (Kalalau) and moderate (Hanakapi'ai). I would say it is definitely not easy, but not extremely difficult either. It is completely worth it all: the inclines, the uneven and sometimes rocky trail, the mud, and the river crossings. If you ever find yourself on Kaua'i and want to do one hike, this is it.
The north side tends to get a lot of rain, so the valley was very green and a constant trickle of water could be heard from nearby waterfalls and streams.
Then from a distance, we got our first glimpse of Hanakapi'ai Falls, a 300 foot waterfall.
It was breathtaking; one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Jaws dropped, and we were without words. The rush of water. The sound of birds. The green moss. All creation echoing their Maker's praise.
Looking back now, it was almost overwhelming both in beauty and in our joy. As Skyler said in her post, we felt fully alive. If this is only a glimpse of the glory to come, I can only imagine what is waiting for us in heaven.
This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise, the morning bright, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.
The swimming hole was calling, so off came the packs and outer layers.
The water was freezing cold but oh so refreshing... Once you got used to the initial temperature shock. ;)
On the way in, we had only passed two other people coming back, so for the first 45 minutes we had the falls and swimming hole all to ourselves. If there been others there at the time, it would have changed the whole atmosphere and experience. In just the two mile stretch back to Hanakapi'ai Beach, Nick counted 130 people on their way to the falls!! So our tip for this hike: go real early to beat the crowds and the heat.
The final two miles of the hike were picture-perfect as the sun was fully up, illuminating the Na Pali Coast. Imagine warm sun, red dirt, vibrant greenery, turquoise water and white sand everywhere you looked. Without a doubt, I am convinced this is the most beautiful coastline in the world.
Afterwards, we picnicked and spent a few hours snorkeling and beaching at Ke'e.
More on the Na Pali Coast by water and by air here.
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