Hanakapiai Falls

Ok, listen. The waterfall is amazing. The swim in the tepid waters is a welcome relief after the long hike. Some call the water frigid. Having swam in glacier fed lakes, it was not nearly that cold, but it was a bit chilly. The chance to swim behind the waterfall and sit on the natural rock ledges while the cool water soothes your sore muscles and the mist kisses your face is amazing. Now, the hike. It is listed as moderate on many trail sites, and while there are moderate stretches, there are some very strenuous stretches, especially the last half mile, scampering up rocks and back and forth over the stream. The 2 miles to Hanakapiai Beach is a mile up to stunning views of the coast far below. The mile down comes as a psychological break, but there are still slippery patches. I rested at the beach, wading in the stream and watching the violent waves crash in. We left half our party there, including the two year old. The next two miles were seriously challenging for me. Wish I had my trekking poles and more water. You need good shoes! I mean it. Tevas, or other open toed sports sandals are not good shoes, nor are water sock, flip flops, or running shoes. All of which I saw on the trial. You need good hiking shoes. Water. You need lots of water. We didn't bring enough and we felt it. With all that said, the pay off was worth it. I don't think I would've felt the hike to the beach was worth it, in and of itself, though it was nice. Push on to the waterfall. Be prepared and you will have a great time.

This hike is absolutely gorgeous, but definitely CHALLENGING. It’s about 8 miles round trip and took my wife and I 5 hours (not including the 15-20 minutes we spent at the top and 10 minutes we spent resting on the beach at the bottom). You MUST make reservations in advance, we reserved 30 days in advance as soon as they open and took the shuttle up which was super convenient and highly recommend. You can probably get away with reserving about 2-3 weeks out if you’re taking the Waipa shuttle. It is definitely muddy even on a clear and sunny day, just because of the way the stream runs. I wore my hiking shoes, but if I had known how many streams you have to walk across rocks on I would have worn shoes I’m comfortable getting wet in. You will have to cross the stream 6ish times and plot a path across rocks and balance to avoid stepping in the water. They will also close the trail if it is raining. At the top you can hop in and swim in and under the falls. The first segment to the beach is two miles then it’s another two miles to the top. Lots of climbing and elevation gain.

Be sure to secure your reservation in advance or you’ll not have an opportunity to do the hike. DIFFICULT HIKE - do not go if you’re expecting flat, manicured trails. Trail starts at Ke’e beach and your introduction is a steep uphill over wet, muddy rocks for a full 3/4 of a mile. The climb isn’t done yet. After more uphill, you’ll have a steep downhill to Hanakapiai Beach. Be sure to grab a glimpse of that before starting the climb up the valley to the falls. There are multiple challenging stream crossings (you’ll probably get wet at one of them). The trail up the valley is not maintained, but there’s enough foot traffic that it is well cleared. You won’t be disappointed at the top. Large, deep pool to swim right under the waterfall. This is a once in a lifetime hike for many, so if you are up to it, definitely put it on your list.

We came in April when it was rainy, but they luckily didn’t close the Kalalau trail on the day we reserved. You need to book an entry pass to the state park on their website, either with a parking permit or by shuttle bus ($40 per person from the Hanalei area, very convenient as parking permits sell quickly). The trail was super muddy and difficult, there are at least 4 stream crossings around waist height, and when we arrived at the waterfall after 2.5 hours it was pouring so strongly that it was impossible to swim in, let alone get close to for long. We enjoyed a quick packed lunch with a view of the falls before heading back for another 2.5 hour hike in the mud. We are late 20s with average physical fitness and 6 hours is a good ballpark for the time required. Bring more water than you think you need. Beautiful views and I’m glad we did it, but it was definitely tough!

We loved this hike so much that it was the main reason we returned to the island 15 years later! - A hard hike, but my kids (12, 14, 16) all did it without complaining. We were definitely exhausted and sore by the end but zero regrets! - The trail was well populated, fun and technical (especially the last 20 min to the waterfall). We went on a completely dry day so I can’t speak to the muddiness or slipperiness of the trail. - They say not to swim at Hanakapi’ai beach, and I believe them, but I saw lots of people doing it anyways. I wouldn’t risk it. - Swimming in the cold water of the falls is super refreshing. - It took us about 6 hours of actual hike time to the waterfall and back, plus 2 more hours for water breaks, lunch at the beach, and more lunch and swimming at the waterfall. So in total it took us 8 hours to complete. - If you’re taking the shuttle, plan time wisely! Last shuttle leaves at 6:40 and if you miss it you’re walking home. Tips: - buy hydration backpacks so everyone has at least 2L of water. - wear shoes you can get dirty (we wore water shoes and were fine, although I’m sure hiking boots are better for your ankles) - work hard to get tickets! They sell out within 30 seconds of the website refreshing at midnight. Fun fact: there was a lone cat living at the waterfall. There was also one 15 years ago. Crazy!

Gorgeous hike! Lots of uphill/downhill climbing with a plethora of places to stop and enjoy the surrounding beauty. Can be quite sloshy and slippery. The downhill was especially slow going due to the slippery rocks. Water and snacks are a must as you’re expending a lot of energy. The beach is a good halfway point to refuel. You cross the river several times, water shoes would have been much better than my hikers (lesson learned).

Swimming under this beautiful fall is worth the hike! Trails can get muddy and slick which is not a surprise. If you are not an experienced hiker, don't do it. Definitely don't do it late or without an experience hiker company. We saw many people falling, dislocating shoulders and a dead goat! I did it with sandals and it work well for me, definitely no thin water shoes they can get stuck in mud. Boots are a good option if you don't mind them muddy or potentially filled with water, you will be crossing creeks. In all and all, it's a beautiful, easy hike that can easily turn to a difficult one depending on the elements and your mood, so be prepared. Have fun and stay safe!

Definitely expect rain along the trail. Beautiful views throughout the entire hike. Multiple water crossings so plan ahead! Highly recommend.