One of the most famous hikes in all of Hawaii is the 11 mile hike down to the ocean along the Kalalau Trail. Take Highway 560 to where it dead ends. This is where the Kalalau Trail begins.  The trail leads first along a 2 mile path to Hanakapi’ai Beach. This is not for the faint hearted as the hike is steep and tricky in spots.  Remember that what goes down must still come up so be sure that you can make the trip both down as well as back up before you begin this hike. The views are spectacular if you are able to navigate the area.

From the beach, you can hike another two miles to the south to see the Hanakapi’ai Falls. This is as far as you can go without a state camping permit. If you have a camping permit, you can hike 9 miles to Hanakoa where you can camp if you want. From here, you can hike the half mile to Hanakoa Falls which are even more dramatic than the Hanakapi’ai Falls. If you are still up for more hiking, you can continue on to the even more strenuous portion of the hike which leads to Kalalau. This part of the trail is demanding and narrow with switchbacks and steep descents. The trip down to Kalalau Beach is well worth the effort and time spent. There are many pools and caves along the coast line as you travel along the shoreline.