Division of State Parks

Nāpali Coast is one of the most recognizable and beautiful coastlines in the world.  A very special place.  The pali, or cliffs, provide a rugged grandeur of deep, narrow valleys ending abruptly at the sea. Waterfalls and swift flowing streams continue to cut these narrow valleys while the sea carves cliffs at their mouths. Extensive stone walled terraces can still be found on the valley bottoms where Hawaiians once lived and cultivated taro.

Learn more about the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park

Opening of Hāʻena State Park & Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park

Hāʻena State Park (SP) and Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park (SWP) are now open!  Please read below and visit our Frequent Asked Questions page for more information.

Both Hāʻena State Park and Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park were closed from April 2018 to June 2019 following severe flooding on the north shore of Kauaʻi.  Closure of the parks enabled the Division of State Parks to ensure better protection of our resources, mitigate decades of impacts to Hāʻenaʻs rural community, provide better on-site management and ultimately provide a higher-quality visitor experience through implementation of new park management strategies per the Hāʻena Master Plan.

Changes are often difficult and there may be growing pains as new park management strategies are implemented.  During these times, we graciously ask for your patience and understanding as we strive to provide the best experience possible while welcoming back visitors to these culturally and biologically significant parks.

IMPORTANT CHANGES IN PARK MANAGEMENT AND ACCESS ARE NOW IN AFFECT

Hāʻena State Park:  Hāʻena State Park, home to Kēʻē Beach as well as the trailhead for the Kalalau Trail and Hanakāpīʻai beach and waterfalls, is now subject to daily visitor limits and requires advanced reservations to enter the park.  State of Hawaiʻi residents are not subject to the new park fees or reservation system.

Visitors to Hāʻena SP that choose to walk-in, bike-in, or arrange private drop-off (friend, Uber, Lyft) are required to make an online reservation to enter the park. 

Non-Hawaii residents are required to purchase park entry reservations ($1 per person) or an online parking reservation ($5 per vehicle) prior to arrival at Hāʻena SP.  A parking reservation includes park entry for the driver and passengers of the vehicle.  If you purchase a parking reservation, you do not need to purchase park entry reservations for the passengers in your vehicle. 

NOTE: As of Aug. 1, 2019 DAY-USE PARKING AND ENTRY IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE.  Parking reservations are only good for the time slots indicated during purchase. If you want to park for longer than one time slot, you need to purchase additional reservations. For example: If you want to be at the from park opening until sunset, you’ll need to purchase all three time slots. Not all time slots may be available on a given date. Be prepared to present a valid parking voucher [print or digital] upon arrival.

• To enter Hāʻena State Park you will need one of the following:
  • A Park Entry Reservation
  • A Parking Reservation (Parking Reservations grant Park Entry for driver and passengers)
  • A valid Camping Permit for Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park.
• Hāʻena SP reservations are available for purchase up to two weeks in advance. 
• Reservations are available from: Click Here 
• Nāpali Coast Camping Permits grant access to Hāʻena State Park.

Hanakāpīʻai Beach & Waterfalls:  In order to hike to Hanakāpīʻai beach & Hanakāpīʻai falls visitors need to purchase a park entry reservation for Hāʻena SP.  The park entry reservation grants you access to Hāʻena SP where visitors can then hike along a portion of the famous Kalalau Trail towards Hanakāpīʻai Valley.  If you want to continue along the Kalalau Trail past Hanakāpīʻai Valley, you need to purchase a camping permit for Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park. 

• Hiking to Hanakāpīʻai Valley, beach, and/or waterfalls is included in the purchase of a Hāʻena SP park entry reservation and/or parking reservation.
• The hike from Hāʻena SP to Hanakāpīʻai waterfall is roughly 4-miles round trip.
• A valid camping permit for Napali Coast SWP is needed to hike past Hanakāpīʻai.

Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park & Kalalau Trail:  In-order to access the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park as well as the Kalalau Trail, visitors have to go through Hāʻena SP.  Hāʻena SP now requires advanced reservations for entry except for those with valid camping permits for the Nāpali Coast SWP.  Those with Nāpali Coast SWP Camping Permits do not need to make a Hāʻena SP park entry reservation.  Present your valid camping permit upon arrival. 

• Overnight Camping Permits are available 90-days In-Advance (Click Here: Camping Permits)
• Overnight campers must arrive by shuttle (click here: North Shore Shuttle) or private drop-off. 
• Overnight parking is not allowed at Hāʻena State Park.
• Overnight parking is now available in coordination with the North Shore Shuttle at Aliʻi Kai Resort in Princeville. For more information please call (808) 826-9988
• A valid Nāpali Coast SWP camping permit grants access to Hāʻena SP. Show permit on arrival.

Existing Nāpali Coast SWP Camping Permits (Kalalau Trail):  For those who have existing permits issued for the Kalalau Trail, the Division of State Parks will offer you the option of either: 1. Retaining your current reservation, or 2. Revising your dates of stay if they are for dates after the reopening.  If your permits were valid during the closure period, you may revise your dates of stay for a future date, or apply for a refund.

Camping Permits: With the ongoing construction and expected closures to Kūhiō Highway the Division of State Parks and the public have to be flexible and patient with the management of overnight camping permits for the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park.  Our goal is to ensure that permits are not sold during periods when Hāʻena State Park and Nāpali Coast SWP will be inaccessible due to road closures.  Camping Permits will be made available at the discretion of the Division of State Parks for periods when there is anticipated to be no concerns accessing the parks.  We understand these permits are in high-demand and that scheduling remains difficult during these times.  We ask that you please be patient as we all work together to recover from the impacts the April 2018 floods.

Kūhiō Highway Construction: Prospective park visitors should expect to encounter significant delays accessing Hāʻena State Park as roadwork continues along Kūhiō Highway. For current conditions please consult the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation website at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/2018-kuhio-highway-emergency-repairs/

Help Hawaii Fight Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD)

ʻŌhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha), the most abundant native tree in the state of Hawaiʻi, are dying from a new fungal disease. On Hawaiʻi Island, hundreds of thousands of ʻōhiʻa have already died from this fungus, called Ceratocystis. Healthy trees appear to die within a few days to a few weeks, which is how the disease came to be called “Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.” This disease has killed trees in all districts of Hawaiʻi Island and has the potential to kill ʻōhiʻa trees statewide. – College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), University of Hawaii at Manoa

For more information on Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death please see the links below.

Aggressive Rapid ʻŌihʻa Death Fungus Found on Kauai

Kauai Ohia Brochure

Additional Videos on Napali Coast State Wilderness Park