Na Pali Coast State Park

There’s only three ways to see the dazzling Na Pali Coast and driving in isn’t one of the choices.
You can only view Na Pali by flying over in a helicopter or plane, taking a boat tour or hiking in via Ke’e Beach on the northwest corner of Kaua’i.
Kaua’i resident and guidebook author Andrew Doughty said Kaua’i is the only one of the Hawaiian islands where he recommends an air tour. So much of the island is inaccessible by car that it makes an overhead view worth it, he writes.
I took a one-​hour air tour offered by Jack Harter Helicopters out of Lihue to see Na Pali up-​close. Harter is the only company that offers a doors-​off option that is essential for the best photographic experience.
The coast is absolutely stunning and combined with a hiking trip to Waimea Canyon, they were the viewing highlights of my eight-​day stay on Kaua’i.

The highlight of our trip to Kauai, We hiked the first 2 miles to the beach, it is not an easy hike– come prepared. It is very wet and muddy due to the part of the island that gets most rain, from the start of the trail its up hill very steep and slick, BUT well worth it– I am not in the best of shape and this was my first major hike and I survived. The views were to die for, some places are pretty narrow. Go early parking is a challenge park opens at 7 am and we were there at 645 and only 2 spots left. Don’t be fooled by the weather it always rains there do the hike you won’t be sorry

My husband and I ended up hiking only one mile of the Kalalua Trail because it was raining heavily. By the time we got to the 1-​mile marker, our shoes were completely soaked through. There were some small rushing streams/​waterfalls because of the intense amount of rain. It was very slippery and muddy. We recognize that it wasn’t the smartest hike to take considering the weather. We had walking sticks with us and plenty of water. The hike is strenuous, even at the beginning. It takes about an hour per mile. Wear proper shoes and have ample water and food. On a rainy day, it’s still very hot and humid in September. With our rain jackets on, it was hotter.
Despite all of that, the hike was beautiful even though we didn’t make it all the way to the beach or the falls. Once the clouds broke for a little while, we could see down to the ocean. It’s a pretty spectacular place, if you can do at least a mile of it. I wish the rain had held off but that’s Mother Nature for ya. I can’t wait to come back and finish what I started.

Word’s cannot describe. See it from land, from the water, or from the air. With these mountains, now you see why the road around Kauai will never go all the way around.

Your Trip to Kaua’i Is Not Complete Without Seeing This Colorful Coast Line
The Na Pali Coast is spectacular! The deep valleys covered with lush vegetation are accentuated by flowing waterfalls. The colors are stunning, especially against the setting sun.
The seclusion of this natural wonder makes the experience even more wonderful! No roads access the coast, limiting the possibilities to view the 17-​miles of ocean cliffs.
The first option is by sea. There is a large variety of boat tours that sail along the Na Pali Coast, and some even offer lunch or dinner during the trip. My wife and I spent a lot of time researching the different boat tours: companies, boat sizes, times of day, and port locations. We highly recommend Na Pali Experience! This tour was the best way to see the coast close up, including the sea caves. The Na Pali Experience cruise and snorkeling tour was the highlight of our week on Kaua’i! See my review of Na Pali Experience on Unilocal for more information.
The second opportunity to see the Coast is by hiking the Kalalau Trail from Ke’e Beach. My wife and I hiked a portion of the trail, and were rewarded with spectacular view of the coast line! However, the trail is very strenuous, and only accesses a small portion of the Na Pali Coast. This is the only trail along the Na Pali Coast.
The final way to view the Na Pali Coast is by air. Again, there are numerous air plane and helicopter tours. We did not take a tour by air, so I will let others comment on this option.
By any or all of the methods, make sure you experience the Na Pali Coast!