Things to Do
Nā Pali Coast: Hiking, Boat Tours, and Views
What the Nā Pali Coast on Kauaʻi is, three ways to see it, the Kalalau Trail and permits, and how to plan a safe visit to this wild coastline.
The Nā Pali Coast is a 17-mile run of fluted green sea cliffs along the northwest shore of Kauaʻi, rising 2,000 to 4,000 feet straight out of the Pacific. No road reaches it. No hotel sits near it. The only ways in are on foot along the Kalalau Trail, by boat in summer, or by helicopter year-round. That inaccessibility is the entire point. Nā Pali is what Hawaii looked like before anything was built, and it is the most visually powerful landscape in the state.
What the Nā Pali Coast is
The cliffs rise thousands of feet from the sea, cut by narrow valleys and waterfalls. The remoteness is the point. This is a place to slow down and take in scale, and it is protected as a state wilderness park.
Three ways to see it
By boat, you glide along the base of the cliffs and often spot sea life, with catamaran and raft options. By helicopter, you get the full sweep from the air. On foot, the Kalalau Trail traces the coast for those prepared to hike. Each offers a different perspective.
Permits and reservations required
Hiking past Hanakāpīʻai requires a wilderness permit, and even day access to Hāʻena State Park needs an advance reservation through the Hawaii State Parks system at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp. Book well ahead.The Kalalau Trail
The famous Kalalau Trail runs 11 miles one way to Kalalau Beach and is strenuous and exposed. Many hikers do only the first 2 miles to Hanakāpīʻai Beach, which is demanding enough and can be dangerous in wet conditions. Do not attempt more than your fitness and the weather allow.
Planning and safety
Check weather and surf, never swim at unguarded Nā Pali beaches with strong currents, and follow all park rules. If hiking is not right for you, a boat tour is a safer way to experience the coast. See our ocean safety guide and plan the rest of your trip with the Kauaʻi guide.
Nā Pali boat and air tours
Catamaran, raft, and helicopter tours of the Nā Pali Coast, many with free cancellation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nā Pali Coast?
Can you drive to the Nā Pali Coast?
Do you need a permit for the Kalalau Trail?
We research each guide against primary sources: the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Mālama Hawaii, the National Park Service, the State of Hawaii and its Division of State Parks, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Census. For culture, language, and history we lean on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Bishop Museum, and the scholarship of Mary Kawena Pukui. We send readers to those sources rather than speaking over them. When rules, prices, or conditions change, we update the page.