Ha'ena State Park

One of the best hikes to do in Kauai! Hiking by the side of the Napali coast is absolutely stunning and although there’s a bit of a climb, people of all ages can do the hike to the lookout point which is about 0.5 miles from where you start. You need to book in advance to drive and park close to the park on your own. Or the next option is get park further away and get the shuttle. In any case, lookout for reservations before you head there.

Context: was late to book parking lot-only tickets, so had to pay for shuttle tickets for four, including my mom and 5 yr old. Honestly not worth that money, but definitely some unique reasons to come here. Had I come alone with my spouse and been able to do the full hike, I might've given 5 stars. 4 stars reflects my particular experience this time. The beach area that is actually watched by lifeguards is small, but walking to the right down to the rope swing and creek is a cute stroll. The sand and water was surprisingly warm, even early on an overcast morning. While the waves are definitely rough further out, the area directly in front of the lifeguard area is set in a bit and yields some manageable and fun body surfing waves. Spouse and I did the first half mile of the hike up until the first major overlook where you can see the entire coast. Being a bit out of shape we were worried it would be too intense, but it wasn't so bad, although definitely need to tread carefully since the rocky path is very uneven. The trees on the beach and their roots are very cool, as many have reported. Bathroom facilities, outside shower, and water station close to the lifeguard station. Definitely book week+ in advance for parking-only admission.

Hiked to the first falls in January. While the mud was treacherous in places, the overall experience was incredible. The water crossings presented fun challenges to avoid getting wet. There is a 1 eyed trail cat at the beach that follows people up and down the trail hoping for treats. There is ridiculous amounts of climb. You will climb to get to climbs. Nothing real technical though.

01/2025: $40 pp is way too much to charge visitors to a State Park, especially when lifeguards say cannot snorkel at Ke’e Beach (the only easily accessible and swimmable one here) despite saying can go “up to waist in the water”. This visit was very overpriced and disappointing. The beach was not worth it, especially when the lifeguards didn’t try to “work with tourists” to make the visit more in line with their purpose of visit, instead just sitting in the rescue car all morning. The only highlight was the monk seal lying on the beach. I had hiked and camped the Na Pali coast >30 years ago when it was free and beautiful. I suppose it’s still beautiful but the $40 pp fee is outrageous for a state park. Very disappointed, will never come back and unless you are hiking the Kalaulau trail to the end, there are much better and value added experiences on Kauai than this overpriced Ke’e beach. It’s hyped up way more than it’s worth, seriously.

Beautiful park here. Easy walk around the area. Views are magnificiant! Highly recommended if you enjoy the Napali Coast area. You wont regret visiting!

Don’t miss this experience! MUST get reservations early (up to 30 days in advance). Highly recommend the shuttle option, but do not be late for the shuttle!!! They leave right on time. Allowed up to soak in the views on the drive up to the park. There’s bathroom, water fountains, and rinse off showers before you hit the trail. It’s a bit strenuous and personally I wouldn’t bring children under 10. I have arthritis and it was difficult but doable. Very steep in parts. Be prepared for water crossings (bring water shoes or extra socks, towel). Bring plenty of water! We just did the in and out hike to the beach but there’s an option to continue on to the waterfall. Suggest starting as early as possible to avoid the heat and “crowd” (which is obviously limited as you have to make reservations).

Beautiful and definitely a must see when visiting Kauai. Book the shuttle in advance via the gohaena site to get there. Parking is very limited and books early. After the 15-20 minute shuttle ride you get dropped off next to Ke'e beach. It's about a quarter of a mile to walk there through some taro fields and some tall trees. You will find well maintained bathrooms and outdoor showers, as well as a life guarded beach with good swimming and snorkeling. There are 3 main hikes from the trailhead, a 4-5 mile round trip to the next beach(2-3 hours), an 8 mile round trip up into the hills, and an 11 mile one way (22 mile round trip) that I assume is a multi day hike based on seeing and talking to people on the trail. I did the shortest hike, and even as a regular and avid hiker, found it to be extremely strenuous, and this was during a dry period with no rain for at least a week. I can't imagine how tough the hike can be in very sloppy conditions. The second beach is gorgeous, not for swimming, and has a place to get water. *You do not need to cross the stream just before the back to get there, you can go right along the rocks and make it to the beach without it. Even with the stream water only being a foot and 1/2 or a couple of feet deep, I saw at least one person splash in the water and potentially hurt themselves. I would definitely recommend talking your time at the beach or while hiking to take in the gorgeous Nā Pali coast.

Nice little beach with amazing views. We had booked the late slot and the beach wasn’t too busy at that time of the day. Saw lots of crabs living in the rocks and had a good swim. The day we visited was pretty windy and we had strong currents and a no snorkeling sign was up. I’d say it’s not ideal for children. Near the walkway to the parking lot there’s an outdoor shower and restrooms. However there’s only two restrooms for each men and women so I assume during busy season there will be very long lines.