The BEST DayHike in KAUAI | Hanakapiai Falls Trail | Napali Coast | Kalalau Trail | Haena State Park

[@ravsterx3185]

Thank You so much for this beautiful video. Sincerely grateful for it. You do a great job Sir.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you very much! I had a blast filming this hike. I appreciate you watching and your compliment!

[@booch326]

I just celebrated living here on Kaua'i for 20 years and was never able to get to these falls so thanks so much, they are truly beautiful!!!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Oh wow, 20 years living in my favorite place on earth…how awesome. Thank you and I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

[@arthurmanning5873]

I loved this trail so much even though it hurt. I was almost to the falls when I slipped on a big flat rock and broke my left upper arm. What a fluke! But within seconds a medical doctor was there and put my arm in a sling and led me all the way back. Several other hikers also assisted, especially two Christian men who drove me to an emergency care center. I thank Jesus for providing all that help on my solo hike.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Wow…what a story! I’m sorry that happened to you but it sounded like God showed up for you! So sorry that happened to you but thank you for sharing your story. That trail is definitely slippery up towards the falls. I took a hard fall on the way down…but thankfully no broken bones. It happens so fast!

[@FentonLounge]

I sprained an ankle and had to bail on the falls portion .. bummer

[@Portsanta]

How ignorant! You should be thanking the people who helped you, not “jesus”

[@matthewbrockett7121]

Was there last July. Nothing can prepare you for that beauty. And quite an adventure hiking there

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Yeah that place is truly amazing!

[@Loriweyer1]

Great Video!!❤ My husband and I hiked this in the late 1980’s. We were the only ones at the waterfall. It was AMAZING! We went back in 2016 and there were a few more people but not crowded. People tend to hike only to the beach and that hike is Beautiful too. The Waterfall is still AMAZING! There were ropes to cross the water in 2016. The first time we hiked there were no ropes and I think the trail to the waterfall was rerouted. I want to do this hike again!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you! That’s so cool that you got to experience it like that. This is definitely a special place. I hope to return soon to do the whole trail… Thanks for watching!

[@d.a.8699]

This is a lovely video. Let the trail speak for itself.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Yeah this scenery speaks for itself!

[@colttonn]

Such a well made video man! I’ll be going to Kauai next month and plan on hiking this trail. :)

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Hey thank you! You will love this trail! Let me know how your hike goes!

[@susankrizzo]

Excellent video! We are getting ready to do the 2 mile hike (4 mi round trip) this morning, and this video was exactly what we needed!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Sorry this is a late response…how did your trip go?

[@marviedouglas7375]

I am heading out to this adventure tomorrow. What a great video thank you so much.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! How was your trip!!?

[@marviedouglas7375]

@TheNotLostNomad it was the most amazing adventure I've ever had in my 64 years of life. It took my husband and I 13 and a half hours to complete. The last hour of hiking was in the dark. We are smart hikers and had our trekking poles and flashlight. Depending on when I get to go to the island again and what shape I'm in I would like to attempt this adventure again. This time I will spend very little time near the beach and focus on getting to the top and back down before it's dark. We were able to enjoy 21 days on the island and made everyday an adventure.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Oh wow! Sounds like you guys had an incredible trip!

[@mikeey3]

Agree this is probably the best day hike in Kauai.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

I mean it’s got it all..great views, beaches, waterfalls…it’s hard to beat!

[@FentonLounge]

I give you tons of props for doing this twice .. the initial hike and then going back for your camera .. also , u are making me think to go do it again for the falls portion.. I bailed on it and regretting that now after seeing your video

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Hey thank you! I’ve you’ve got a chance to go back the definitely do it! The entire hike to the falls is amazing! Thanks for watching!

[@bunzymay]

We just got back from hiking this and OMG. The gnarliest trail but most incredible journey! My tips: hybrid sneaker/water shoes. I found some on amazon that were great! Water crossings suck. I was on all fours and struggled a bit. Might've been easier with some hiking poles. Bring a ton of H20 and electrolyte packets! More than you think you need. Lots of snacks/pack a lunch. Mosquito repellent. We got a little munched on even with it on and reapplied. Overall, wild and beautiful. Took us a little over 6 hours including time at the falls. Totally worth it!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Yeah this trail has some gnarly sections for sure! Great tips and I agree wholeheartedly. Congrats on completing this trail. It’s an amazing trek!

[@christopherovard379]

That’s an awesome waterfall.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Man videos don’t do this place justice! Seriously one of the best falls I’ve seen!

[@reedallidap7173]

Nice video. Those rock walls are called heiau. Ancient Hawaiians used them as a place of worship

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you! Yeah I was pleasantly surprised to see those. Such an amazing place!

[@reedallidap7173]

@@TheNotLostNomad yes. Absolutely the most magical place. You should try the trip all the way to Kalalau beach, you won’t be disappointed

[@TheNotLostNomad]

It’s definitely on my list. My wife doesn’t backpack though…and I’m pretty sure she’d hurt me if I did a trip to Kauai without her. Haha!

[@brandoncrawley5543]

Great video buddy! Planning to go next year and will definitely make time to do this hike!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Hey thanks! This is definitely one you want to do. Let me know when you start planning and I’ll line you guys out. It takes a little work to get the permits but totally worth it!

[@JerryArizona]

Man, I miss that trail so much it hurts. Awesome video. Ha. And I also just finished my Toroweap video and used the same song.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Haha! Man great minds think alike! I’ve recognized a lot of your music too. I’m glad you turned me on to Epidemic Sound…it’s so nice to have some good quality music. And man, if you guys happen to get those permits to do this trip again your video is going to blow the heck up… your shooting skills have grown so much since your first trip out there to Kauai.

[@lisalovelyone5105]

Thank you for your awesome video great content. I’m heading there in one week . I talked my daughter into joining me . I have been conditioning my legs and body it’s been a while ...lol mahalo

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you! I hope your hike is amazing! It’s a rough trail but it sounds like you’ve prepared for it! Let me know how it goes!

[@SashaDeKasha]

So beautiful!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

It’s incredible out there!

[@SashaDeKasha]

@@TheNotLostNomad and I finally got a parking pass after getting up at 3 am for 3 nights :))

[@lifestylewithrose]

Hi , Thank you for the video. I am thinking to hike there and wondering where can I buy shuttle pass? Thank you

[@TheNotLostNomad]

You bet! You can find all of that information at www.gohaena.com

[@mbatizy]

noticed you switched from hiking shoes to hiking sandals after the beach, was this a technical decision or comfort?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

That’s a great question…I had read reviews of the trail being extremely wet and muddy….and I knew I wanted to get out by the falls and wanted to keep my feet protected…so once I got to the river crossing the sandals were a better option for me.

[@ThePiaeriksson]

Great video. Heading there w my daughter 17th of December. We are both pretty comfortable hikers but I do worry a bit about the weather as it is rain season, don't mind rain at all but if the trails are steep AND slippery that might not be so safe. The trails look pretty wide though in your video, no steep AND narrow drops that you have to encounter ? As that would make me think twice :))

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you! you should be just fine on this trail...It's the Kalalau trail past this section that gets sketchy during rain. This part is pretty well maintained. What you will need to watch out for is the water levels in the creek. Depending on the rain situation... it can rise very quickly. As long as you stay aware of the creek you should be fine...Enjoy your trip!

[@tmak2024]

Looks beautiful... are you able to filter the water for drinking?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

I carried all of my water on this hike but you’d have no issue filtering the water here if you needed to.

[@monicamatute9192]

Hi! Thank you for this incredible video. I'm going in october SUPER random, but are you wearing hiking shoes, water shoes, or you took both? Thank you!!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Hey thank you! So glad you enjoyed it! I hiked the dry parts in my Altra Lone Peak shoes and then switched to my Keen water sandals once I passed the creek. There are many water crossings and I wanted to protect my feet once I got to the falls…wading out onto the rocks. Enjoy your trip and let me know how it goes!

[@Minnejoeta]

@@TheNotLostNomad this answers one of the questions I asked above. Thanks!

[@jmcmanus1803]

This may be a dumb question - around the 6 min mark you say don't swim here, why is that?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Not a dumb question at all. That beach can be violent and the undercurrent is very strong. There have been many drownings there and help is far away. Many people want to capitalize on the moment to swim there but casualties do happen there frequently.

[@brianwall5244]

Are dogs prohibited from this hike?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

You know I’m not exactly sure…but my guess would be that dogs would not be allowed. I never saw one.

[@AllenMacCannell]

I respect the way he didn't try his luck going out past his knees into the surf, known as one of the most dangerous places on Earth 🌍

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Thank you! Yeah I’ve heard horror stories from the surf on that beach. Plus getting soaked with salt water makes for an uncomfortable hike.

[@AllenMacCannell]

@@TheNotLostNomad I got hit by a rogue wave yesterday on Mogren Beach ⛱️ in Budva, Montenegro. I was pulling a four year old back from the surf when it came in and I fell back in the sand with the child as we got washed all over and left with seaweed all over us. He cried until he realized we were heroes for holding on to each other. The wave even caught people sitting in a cafe behind us, but the child's grandma somehow got her feet up and could only laugh at how wet everyone else had become. Moral of the story, waves are not all predictable.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Oh man…that could have been bad. Glad you guys were ok! Yeah I don’t play around with big waves.

[@bangtanlove5616]

We’re going there in a couple of weeks. We bought 7:00 am shuttle & entry permit but will we need to be back by 12:30 pm or is 12:30 for car/entry permit only?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Sorry for the late response. You should be good for the entire day with the shuttle permit. Let me know how it goes!

[@jacoballen3267]

Gosh I miss this!!! Coming from Georgia and later Florida, it’s a whole different world out there! 🌺🌴

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Oh I know right!? I feel the same way arriving back home in Texas,

[@helenasantos4984]

How many miles in & about how many hours does it take to tech the waterfall?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

This one was two miles to the beach and then two more to the falls.. I started with the shuttle at 6:30am and it took me 5 hours altogether…but I’m pretty fast on the trail so factor in your speed accordingly. It’s a great half day hike though!

[@jenessajohnston4548]

Hi there! I’m hoping to make a reservation for this but didn’t know which part to make reservations for. If you do this in a day do you still need to purchase the camping permit? Thank you in advance!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

So you only need the camping permit if you wish to continue along the Kalalau trail. If you want to do the trail to the beach or to the waterfall you only need a shuttle pass or a parking pass. No need for the camping one. Hope you can make it work. It’s amazing trail!

[@AshleyIbrahim-wz2su]

Do you think that the first two miles of the trail are pregnancy-safe? Thanks!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

The first two miles are really pretty simple…you should be fine! It’s gets tricky when you are crossing the stream at the beach though…so take caution there. The trail really doesn’t get to challenging until you get closer to the falls…so you should be fine

[@johnwong8146]

Thanks for this video! I'm planning a trip to Kauai but wasn't sure of what hikes to do. How well marked is the Hanakapiai Falls Trail? Did you have to do any wading? Which area did you park to take the shuttle? How far ahead did you reserve a parking spot? Thanks!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Hey sorry for the late response…hopefully this comes before your trip. The trail itself is well marked for the most part…at least until you get close to the falls…the water crossings can be a little challenging to find the trail on the other side. As for wading…the most water you will be dealing with is at the first creek crossing close to the beach. I got about knee deep crossing there. There were many other water crossings leading up to the river but I was able to stay dry on each of those by maneuvering the rocks. And for permit, you need to visit gohaena.com to obtain a day permit that gives you access to Ke’e beach and the trail up to the falls. (Permits become available 30days in advance and they go QUICK!) This permit does not grant you access to the rest of the Kalalau Trail. Those are found through another website and work on a lottery system that you’d need to apply for. Hope this helps!

[@ront0803]

Just did this yesterday - it was amazing! It was a bear!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Oh nice! Yeah this one is definitely a challenge…but those views are totally worth it though!

[@Minnejoeta]

I already can tell this is a dumb question. But why did you say "by the way, don't swim here?" I could imagine finishing a 2-mile hike and wanting to take a quick dip before moving on. Is it simply too treacherous for swimmers? And a second question - best shoes for hiking Hawaiin trails? Thank you!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Not a dumb question at all! There are multiple reasons they advise us not to swim here… First, there have already been many deaths here at this beach and due to the popularity of this beach they know more fatalities would happen. Second, there are no lifeguards here or cellphone signal. Many have been swept out to the sea by the strong currents and are unable to swim back to the beach. Third, at times the waves create a strong beach break…as in the large waves impact directly onto the sand…instead of water. So if a wave sweeps a swimmer up it will literally slam them onto the ground. This has caused paralyzing injuries to necks and backs. Realistically though…you will see people swimming here every day of the week and most are fine. But these accidents were becoming more and more common so they point out that over 80 people have died here. If you’d like to have a safe way to cool down or recommend dipping in the creek where it pools up onto the beach. It’s fresh water and it feels great. It’s a much better option to wash off the sweat that you’ll definitely accumulate while hiking this trail. And as for shoes… I’d recommend something light like a trail running shoe. I wear the Altra Lone Peaks…and they are perfect. They are also quick drying if you are the type to wear them in the water. I don’t like wet feet though…so I carried the extra weight of my keen water/hiking sandals. I switched he’d into them after I arrived at the beach before I made the hike to the falls. Hope this info helps! Let me know if you have any more questions! Have a great trip! It’s an amazing trail!

[@MambaForever8_24]

when did you hike this trail? Going around May 10 to Kauai and want to do it then. You said it's tricky to do the park option, why is that? Limited slots I imagine for that.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Nice! Weather will be perfect for you! So yeah, getting a parking slot is very difficult…impossible on some days. It’s easier to just shoot for a shuttle permit. They are a bit expensive but worth the opportunity to get on this trail. Good luck with the permits and let me know ow how your hike goes!

[@MambaForever8_24]

Thanks! That's too bad because the price is quite different. If you get lucky and get a parking pass, where do you park? Is it the same lot as the shuttle lot? By the way, appreciate your video!

[@TheNotLostNomad]

@@MambaForever8_24 Thank you! It's the parking lot at the actual park...the one close to Ke'e Beach. you'll only park at the shuttle parking if you get a shuttle pass. Good luck!

[@MambaForever8_24]

Thanks! Do you know if you can walk to Tunnels Beach after doing the hike to the waterfalls and catch the shuttle from there back to the shuttle parking lot (Waipa Park and Ride)? If not, can you catch the shuttle at the trailhead and get off at Tunnels Beach and then back on at Tunnels Beach and back to the shuttle parking lot?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

I don’t think so, unfortunately. If I remember correctly…the shuttle did not make any other stops. If you are wanting to visit tunnels I’d suggest going early and trying to get a parking spot down the dirt side road…also you can park at Haena beach park and walk down the beach to Tunnels. Plus you’ll be pretty beat after doing this hike. You’ll want to be fresh for Tunnels….the snorkeling there is incredible.

[@jorgeochoa7450]

How long did it take you to get to the waterfalls? I’ll have my 18 month old and thinking if I should try and make it to the waterfall.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

It will take you about 3 hours on a good day….I would not advise on taking children to the falls though. It is very challenging and very secluded out there. It took me 3 hours to get to the falls and just under 2 hours to get back…but I was going very quickly.

[@psparrow1]

I heard you can go to tunnel beach and walk the coast to Ke’e beach and get to trailhead wo a day pass. Is that so?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Technically you probably could…I wouldn’t advise it though. Getting a permit to hike is pretty easy. It just takes some pre planning. I’m glad that they permit hikes like these. It cuts out a lot of traffic to make it more enjoyable, also it keeps the trail in better shape. I was nervous that I was going to have a hard time getting a day permit but it was surprisingly easy. Now the parking permit is pretty tough so you’ll probably have to do the shuttle pass like I did on this trip.

[@psparrow1]

@@TheNotLostNomad I looked and day passes are all sold out for today and we leave the island tomorrow

[@dylanhudson1477]

WHOOP WHOOP!!!!!!

[@elperinasoswa6772]

How long is this hike?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

On paper it’s 2 miles to the beach, 2 more to the falls, and then back for 8 miles total. But by the time you explore the area it’ll end up being closer to 9 miles. Give yourself the majority of the day to complete so you are not rushed…it’s a wonderful trail!

[@adonijah7774]

do you need a permit to hike this trail

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Yes, you will need a day access permit. Visit gohaena.com to see all the details. They release them 30days in advance.

[@organboi]

The falls trail is pretty treacherous. I did it today, rather quickly. Maybe it would have been easier if I had the whole day in front of me. Also, the trail tends to totally disappear at times. You should have a map of some sort. Nobody seems to mention this. And nobody gives coaching on how to cross the rapids. Six times each way.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Yes it’s definitely challenging at some points staying on the trail. Especially if you are not used to it. There were a few moments that I had to backtrack to fine where the trail turned. Congrats on making this hike!

[@naonatsteel44]

Why not swim in the beach???

[@TheNotLostNomad]

There is a very strong current there and many have drowned. It’s so secluded that when people do run into trouble there’s not much help available.

[@jessicafuentes9544]

I’m planning a trip to Kauai in late October and definitely want to try out this trail! I’ve also heard this beach is not good to swim in especially in the winter season, but would you say it’s safe to go in like knee deep or just stray away all together?

[@TheNotLostNomad]

You should be fine to get your feet wet…just be careful because the high surf can rip you out even at knee deep. Enjoy it! Just be careful!

[@kenposney4600]

Hanakāpīʻai is pronounced HAHNAH-KAH-PEE AYE (The ‘ (okina), which is typographically represented as a reversed apostrophe. In spoken Hawaiian, the ‘ (okina) indicates a glottal stop, or clean break between vowels. The ¯ (kahako), or macron typographically represented as a bar above the letter, as in ā. The macron over a vowel indicates a longer accentuation in pronunciation of the vowel that it appears over.)

[@TheNotLostNomad]

That's good to know...my Hawaiian pronunciations have improved over the years but it's still far from perfect!

[@organboi]

Shuttle price is now $40.

[@TheNotLostNomad]

Good to know! Thank you!