Kalalau Trail, Coastal trail in Kauai, Hawaii
The Kalalau Trail is a hiking route along the Napali Coast on Kauai that runs roughly 11 miles through five valleys. It connects beaches and passes through dense rainforest while following steep rock walls.
Hawaiians built the path in the late 1800s to reach isolated valleys where they grew taro. The route follows old tracks that connected communities before modern roads existed.
The name comes from Hawaiian and refers to the remote valley at the trail's end. Hikers pass caves and stone walls that show how people once lived and worked here.
Hikers need a permit to go beyond Hanakapi'ai Beach, and numbers are limited to 900 people per day. The reservation system should be booked ahead, especially during peak season from May through September.
The path crosses several streams that can be shallow or rushing depending on rainfall. Cliffs rise over 4,000 feet (about 1,200 meters) above the ocean and create shifting weather zones over short distances.
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