hanakapiai falls

Really nice walk and scenic. The walk to the beach is easy going, but the walk to the falls is pretty difficult, slippery and rocky with several river crossings. Not ideal for kids or people who aren't good on their feet. All up return it took us 4hrs, but was a tough 4hrs hours keeping a decent pace, with minimum breaks. We're in our late 20's and fit and we're still reasonably knackered. Worth it tho.

hey guys i thought id share my experience there im writing this for some warnings. Please do not bring your small kids up here! this is a expert hiking trail. One slip of them running in places and there gonna fall off a cliff the trail is only as wide maybe 6 ft wide-3ft in some places. Bring 5 bottles of water some people on here. sorry folks 3 is not enough. if you decide to go into the falls its not a very good trail be warned you cross a brooke at least 3 times so water shoes is a must. pack light and smart! i had a 40 lb backpack and it was to much ! dont do this trail if your legs arent good or your in bad shape period you could seriously hurt and you could litterly die up there beacuse its so remote to get you out!. Is it worth it ? omg its beautiful unreal sights and in my opion its one of the nicest waterfalls in kauai.

Read the reviews for tips, but don't look at any photos: the view of the waterfall when you finally get there is your reward! I did this hike with my husband and a friend (we are in our 30s, moderately active but by no means "hikers"). We had no problems completing the hike, but parts of it certainly were challenging, which made the hike that much better. Here are my tips:-Park in the overflow parking (you'll pass it as you drive to Ke'e Beach) if the parking at the beach is full-Leave early and take your time. We started at 830 and it took us 6 hours round trip with time to enjoy the scenery at Hanakapi'ai Beach and the spectacular falls themselves-Be prepared to cross a few fast moving streams (3 in total, I think). Meaning, wear waterproof shoes, like Five Fingers or bring an extra pair of socks if you happen to slip and get your feet wet (speaking from experience!) -Bring a first aid kit with at least a tensor bandage (we met a guy who broke his foot in two places after slipping on the trail)-The water by the falls was SUPER COLD in February but shallow enough to swim under the falls-Bring plenty of water or better get, Gatorade, especially if you hike back in the afternoon-The 2 mile trail to the beach is well marked and a pretty friendly trail; however, the 2 mile trail from the beach to the falls is definitely more challenging once you pass the bamboo forest. There is a more challenging stream to cross and a steep/wet rock face just before you get to the falls but after that, it's not too bad. Overall, this hike was one of the HIGHLIGHTS of our trip and we highly recommend it!

but make no mistake - this 4 mile (each way) hike is an extremely technical and demanding trail. Do not attempt if you are not very secure in your footing. I have hiked the Rocky mountains, to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the Cinque Terre in Italy - this was the most difficult of all.it took us 5 hours round trip with about 30 minutes under the waterfall - the 300 ft tall reward !if you are going to do the hike make sure you start early in day, take couple litres of water per person and snacks for energy. Many photo ops along the way, many stream crossings and lots of climbing / descending on slippery muddy surfaces. All in all, if you are going to do it , it is beautiful and worth it!

If it rained the day before, dont be silly and do the hike. Wait for the ground to dry out. Hawaii does NOT do anything to condition the trails or make them walkable. They let nature take its course. My husband and I are both in the medical field and we had to treat three people in a short period of time, on a dry day. One woman fell, which is easy to do, with a newborn on her back and that baby was seriously injured. If it is perfect conditions, you will love it all!

The hike to Hanakapiai Falls is not for the faint of heart! This is a strenuous hike that will work even those who are in shape. We LOVED this hike. The views of the coastline are spectacular! The blue waters of the ocean below with the waves crashing in are awesome. From the many vantage points, we would often see whales breaching. The falls are 4 miles from the trail head. You will need good hiking shoes, 2-3 bottles of water per person and I would recommend packing a lunch or snack. The falls are so beautiful and such a great place to relax and enjoy some time. The swimming area below the falls is quite large and although the water is very cold, the entry point of the waterfall into the basin is very accessible. This was a highlight of our trip and a must for those who like to hike.

The hike to these falls are somewhat strenuous (especially with a 40lbs backpack), but it is definitely worth. Great for swimming in nice cold water and to have lunch.

Getting to this waterfall requires a hike - a rather strenuous 4 mile in and 4 mile out hike that is. If you're afraid of heights, this is not a trai for you.The trail begins with the first 2 miles of the Kalalau Trail before splitting off after the beach toward Hanakapiai Falls. You can find the beginning of the trail near Ke'e Beach in Haena State Park. This beach is the absolute end of the road on the northwest corner of Kauai past Hanalei. The route to the beach can actually be an adventure in and of itself. There's many unique, one lane bridges and you actually cross a stream by car at one point - most cars and vans will do perfectly fine. However, in extreme weather I've heard that Hanalei and the areas in Haena State Park can actually be flooded out and inaccessible to/from the rest of the island.There isn't much parking available at Ke'e Beach unless you arrive early in the morning otherwise you'll be forced to the overflow lot up the road, which is a rocky, dirt filled lot. We arrived at 9:00am and parked in the overflow, but a couple hours earlier may have been better not only for parking but to girl us more time on the trail and more time in the evening for other activities.An interesting note about the overflow lot is that the trees surrounding this lot is essentially the location of Taylor Camp, an old hippie commune. The camp is long gone but the caves still remain and are worth a check out. You can almost imagine hippies chilling in the cave.The first 2 miles of trail are mostly moderate hiking, but there's a couple area where you cross a low flowing waterfall that are seemingly very slick and probably worse after a heavy rain. Falling here would wind up with a possible drop of perhaps 100 feet although the overgrowth makes judging the height difficult.Once you reach the major stream, you'll need to cross to reach the beach. Don't jump in the ocean here though. It is absolutely dangerous and possible suicide.The trail to Hanakapiai Falls heads up from the beach for another 2 miles. Here the trail starts off easy enough with an enjoyable stroll through bamboo forest before getting increasingly difficult. At times you'll be essentially crawling up rocks, across multiple stream locations, and working your way around additionally cliff side rock paths with little room for 2 person, let alone other hikers looking to pass on the return. The problem with this trail is it is almost too popular for it's own good. A.) This creates a lot of foot traffic for at least the first couple miles and B.) A lot of people underestimate the difficult nature of the trail due to both the popularity and the way that guide books often fail to adequately describe the challenge. This leads to many people being unprepared and also leads people to believe that it's nothing more than a 8 mile round trip of path, when the term trail is actually used pretty loosely on the last 2 miles to the falls.But once you reach the falls, the stunning 300 foot waterfall is spectacular and well worth the hike.

Went to the falls today. Incredible view the whole way. Falls were amazing but diffult. Bucket List!

2 miles to the beach where the stream meets the ocean, then 2 miles along the stream to the falls. We were kinda moving a little bit faster than the average hiker and did the round trip in about 4 hours and 30 min. This included some time hanging out at the falls for some pics. There were people of all ages making the hike the first 2 miles to the beach. Fewer made the hike to the falls. On the second half (after the beach), the hike was a little bit more challenging. We did see 2 couples in their 50's and 60's coming back. The trickiest parts are crossing the stream and navigating a few rocks that may be slippery depending on water level. Also it can get muddy in parts depending on recent rainfall. As we went along, People would tell us it's worth it to encourage us. It really was an amazing sight.

Listen to the rest of the reviewers. This is a tough hike, but you will be rewarded with spectacular views if you decide to go. Make sure to wear hiking boots, or shoes that you don't care about that have good grip. The trail was very muddy (think walking on peanut butter) with numerous rocks and exposed roots. Getting to the half-way point (beach) requires that you cross a river which is about 3-4 feet deep. Getting to the waterfall will require 4 more river crossings just like it. The last 1/2 mile of the hike gets more difficult--but is totally worth it.Recommend that you bring 2-3 bottles of water for each person in your group, snacks, and that you wear old shoes with good grip. Start early, get to the parking lot before 9am otherwise the parking lot fills up and so that you can get back before dark. You don't want to be on this trail at night. I can't imaging trying to navigate it in the dark. This is not a hike for young children.

Hanakapai'ai Falls is the culmination of a hike that begins at the Kolalau Trailhead at Ke'e Beach. It's an awesome sight, and you can swim in a waterfall. (Go under the falls and there is a ledge behind that you can stand on.) That said, it's not an easy hike. And it is a hike, NOT a walk. I back up all the reviews that mention footgear (no flops or cute sandals), water (not a little bottle, at least a couple of liters per person depending on the season), and food (it's an all day hike and you'll need the energy for the return trip). It may seem like 8 miles (2 to the beach at Hanakapai'ai then 2 into the valley to the falls, then the reverse to return) isn't that long, but the rock scrambling, slippery footing, and stream crossings will slow your pace considerably. And once you get to the falls, you will want to spend some time there!

It is 4 miles in, but don't let that short distance fool you. The first two miles of the hike which lead you to Hanakapia'ia beach are a great warm up for what comes next. Lots of crossing rivers by rock hopping, plenty of climbing up rocks and mud. It was amazing, so much fun and the falls are beautiful and worth the effort. Bring lots of water and snacks, plan to spend some time resting at the falls and taking in the beauty. It took us 4 hours from start to finish with a 30 min break at the falls, but we were moving at a fast pace. Wear hiking shoes and a bathing suit to swim in the falls.

Just be sure, as others have said, to go in prepared with adequet fluids and food as well as swim wear, as when you reach the falls, you will most likely want to jump in! I was happy I also had a towel in my backpack for after the swim. I want to do this hike again. Very, very beautiful, a good workout and we saw whales on our way out! (We hiked this in Jan, right smack in the middle of whale season.)

We were not expecting this hike to be as hard as it was. We took no food or water- very bad planning. Not for the weak. Lots of uphill, downhill, there are crazy amount of ants at one point, that get all over your feet so you must move fast. I creep out at tons of ants. Narrow, high areas. Slippery and muddy. Some slippery rocks in the stream that you must cross. Sometimes this stream is too dangerous to cross. I slipped on thevrocks and hurt my ankle & butt really bad & had a very hard time heading back down. Ke'e beach is to die for... The hanakapia waterfall is absolutely breathtaking, but the water is iCe cold. Some people were still swimming in it though. As much as I wanted to, it was just to damn freezing. Take lots of water & food, good hiking shoes, maybe a towel, as this took us 6 hrs total. 3 hrs getting to the just the waterfall, & 3 hrs coming back the same way we came. Verizon & AT&T had no cellphone service. Needless to say, I am so glad I did it. The views are spectacular, just wished we were more prepared.