If I had a chance to avoid visiting this place, I absolutely would have. Unfortunately, this park is home to the legendary Kalalau Trail, so there's really no way around it. Even if you're only hiking to the waterfall, you're still required to pay $40 per person just to enter the park. And I have a lot of questions about that. 1. We booked the earliest possible shuttle and paid for it, but we ended up leaving 15 minutes late because we were waiting for other people -- which meant we completely missed sunrise. 2. The park itself is dirty. The restrooms are in terrible condition, and there wasn't even toilet paper. You're charging $40 for entry and can't provide the absolute basics? Don't even get me started on the lack of water stations or hand sanitizer near the bathrooms. All of this is standard in California state and national parks, and they don't charge anywhere near this much. 3. On the way in, we were told about drop-off and pick-up locations along the route. In reality, the shuttles basically never stop there. We got off at one of those spots to grab coffee and then couldn't get back on -bus after bus just drove past us. After waiting for an hour, one shuttle finally stopped to drop off a passenger, but there wasn't enough space for the two of us. So yes, when leaving the park, they don't even plan to leave room to pick people up. Be prepared to walk 5 miles. Of course, the views are incredible, and even with this level of service, the park is still worth seeing. That said, I'd strongly recommend getting as close as possible to town or the beach before the park opens and then walking in on your own. Bring water, wet wipes, and refillable bottles. If you're worried about drinking the water, bring purification tablets -despite park staff insisting the water is absolutely not safe to drink. We drank it and were totally fine. Just go prepared and manage your expectations. read more

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We came here to hike the Na Pali Coast through the Kalalau Trail and were booked with the shuttle at 6:20am. At first, I wasn't thrilled about the early morning start, but as the hike progressed and the sun started coming out, I was grateful. The park is beautiful and I especially loved the walk to the trail and beach. Many people were headed for the hike as well, while others were set for a beach day. The hike was moderately difficult but so worth it. I'm not always the biggest fan of hiking but the views and being able to stand on the Na Pali Coast was a one-of-a-kind experience! read more

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What a lovely park. We only went to Ke'e beach due to slick trails. And a flash flood warning. Super easy to reserve a shuttle. Park visitor number ls are limited. Reservations open 30 days in advance. read more

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I read the only way you can view Napali Coast was from Haena State Park via Kalalau Trail (excluding by air or sea). But you either needed to secure a parking spot reservation or take a shuttle to get to the state park. I went online and found a park & ride reservation availability for the following day. I made a reservation for the three of us for the Waipa park & ride shuttle. I had a choice of 6:20 am or 11:20am. My hotel concierge said go with 6:20am to beat the heat. It's a good thing I took her advice. Pros: * a parking attendant guides to to the next available parking spot at the park & ride. * you check in 10 minutes prior to your timed reservation * You'll be the first ones out on the trail. * the Waipa park & ride offers four hop on and off points of interest- we passed as we were tired from our hike. * bathrooms at the start of the Kalalau Trail * water dispenser by the bathroom * shuttle every 20 minutes Cons: * mosquitoes and plenty of no-see-ums * the Kalalau trail is very wet and muddy due to intermittent rain * it's a steep grade from the get go * more hikers as the day progressed This is my full disclosure- we hadn't planned on doing any hiking. We didn't pack hiking boots or walking sticks. We made it to the scenic lookout which is only 1/2 mile up. Round trip it took us 2 hours. But we got our photo shot. read more

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I knew when we came to Kauai that we wanted to hike the napali trail-it is so picturesque! I recommend parking at waipa shuttle -I booked online 30 days in advance. Started early but was only able to hike to the beach cause the rain days before had made the stream rushing-and dangerous to cross. But even just hiking to the viewpoint is worth it! Definitely worth the hike. There are a few bathrooms along the trail but def bring your own water/food/snacks. read more

Three stars because of the reservation process is ridiculous. We didn't even get reservation but we're driving through towards the evening one day and magically there was a parking spot. We only hung out for 30 minutes or so I'm sure this wouldn't have worked out for us if we wanted to visit all day. It was beautiful but so many other beaches that you don't have to deal with reservations. read more

Hā'ena State Park - Parks Near Me - Ha'ena, Hawaii

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Yes, I absolutely woke up at 3:00 AM PST 30 days before our visit to get these passes. And I'd do it again. And you should too. The hike is WILD! BRING WATER. Views for days. DAYS. The beach is incredible! Lifeguards, and some of the best snorkeling ever. Decent bathrooms, outdoor showers and places to change inside. read more

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Just beautiful. Always love coming back to this place. Please pick up your trash, fellow tourists. Keep Hawaii perfect.

This park is well maintained and definitely work a visit. We got lucky with a haena state parking pass and entry pass. We spent 6 hours on the kalalau trail and enjoyed every second. Ke'e beach is usually lovely for snorkeling but when we went, the waves were too big for that. Definitely get here early as the trail fills up fast around 11! Enjoy the remoteness of the area and lack of cell service. :) read more

GoHaena Shuttle - Disappointing Experience Kauai is full of aloha spirit, but unfortunately, our ride with GoHaena didn't reflect that. We were really looking forward to a smooth and welcoming shuttle experience, but the driver we had was unexpectedly rude and unprofessional. Whether you're a visitor or a local, kindness goes a long way -- especially when you're representing such a beautiful place. I hope the company can better train their staff in hospitality and communication, because the journey matters just as much as the destination. Not the memory we hoped to make in paradise. #GoHaenaShuttle #KauaiExperience #DoBetter read more

Hā'ena State Park - Shuttle Driver - Parks Near Me - Ha'ena, Hawaii

No issues with check in or shuttle to and from. Found employees to be nice and pleasant. This is a very difficult hike. Muddy, slippery, rocks, steep accents with water crossings to thigh when we hiked. read more

Best state park in Kauai i have been to. The Kalalau trail was such an amazing experience. The trail is at coastal edge for most part and goes through rain forest. It provides mesmerizing views of ocean. In 2 miles it takes you to Hanakapi'Ai beach which was a surreal experience. It was so good to go in water there. Trail continues to go to Hanakapi'Ai waterfall but we returned. Keke beach is also very picturesque. You have so much to do in Haena state park you cant go wrong with. Make sure you have reservations in advance as that is mandatory. read more

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Reserved 4 spots for my family for the shuttle and admittance to the park 2 weeks prior to my trip to the island. It was fairly easy to do online. All 4 passes were $130. This park is absolutely beautiful and amazing and it begins right away. There are caves, a snorkeling beach, hikes etc. we pretty much enjoyed Ke'e beach for a few hours which is so picturesque. One thing with this beach is that you must be careful because it is full of slippery rocks prior to entering the actual beach. read more

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The two hikes require good hiking gear and shoes. These are not easy hikes and require lots of prep before hand. The beach is gorgeous and easy to get too. If you take the shuttle you can bring beach gear to spend the day there. The reservation info says you can't bring much but we saw people with chairs, umbrellas, small coolers and backpacks on the shuttle, read more

We reserved the shuttle from Waipa park and ride and hiked around 4 miles. Took around 2 hours. The easiest option is to get off at the shuttle and walk down to the beach, Ke'e. Easily accessible even with kids. Nothing is ADA about this state park. We started on the Kalalau trail and made it to the very top. We didn't go down to the beach as we knew whatever we walked down we'd have to walk back up. The trail is essentially lined with rocks which were wet and very muddy in spots. Expect to slip and slide. Not treacherous incline but trail is rated hard. Take it slow and go as far as comfort allows. Really grippy hiking boots helpful as well as hiking poles. If you don't have poles, try to walk along rock face walls and hold on while you go down. Not heavily populated but expect to see people frequently. We saw whales spouting in the ocean and spectacular views of the Na Pali coast. We ended at Ke'e beach. Note you can make multiple stops heading out like tunnels beach, the cave, a resort and market. We decided to take the shuttle back and drive in on another day for these as the shuttles returning in the afternoon are PACKED. Only way to get on would be to grab a not full shuttle entering the park and ride it to exit. We didn't want to risk it. It was around 2:30pm and the last shuttles come at 5:40pm. read more

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Managed to snag a parking reservation just a few days before (there was a cancellation), and got there just before noon for the 12:30PM ticket - was let in early (there were plenty of parking spots left). Started around noon for the Hanakāpīai Falls hike, got to Hanakāpī'Ai Beach in about an hour. Not too bad of a hike although there is a lot of downhill, implying lots of uphill on the way back. Got to the Hanakāpī'Ai Falls from the beach in about an hour as well, path wasn't muddy at all, water crossings had big rocks which were convenient, not too difficult, went by some bamboo clusters as well which was cool. Waterfall was very tall, not many people there (a group of 5 and a group of 2, the latter left soon after I was there). Water was refreshing, glad I went. Hike back to the beach was 45 minutes, and then hike back up to the parking lot took about an hour (I was going quite fast though, passed a lot of people). Shaded on and off which helped, bring enough water especially on hot days. The hike between the beach and the waterfall has a lot of coverage, but the hike from the beach to the parking lot not so much. Moving time for parking lot to waterfall and back was about 3 hours 45 minutes, although the person checking tickets said it usually takes 5-6 hours (not sure if he meant including spending time at the beach and waterfall though). Went snorkeling a bit afterward in Ke'e Beach, water was warm, smooth sand and very few rocks on the ocean floor, saw some fish closer to the rocks on the side. Nice spot, appreciated the showers! Definitely well worth it, would recommend! Reserve early otherwise you might not get a spot! read more

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This is a beautiful State Park. We spent the afternoon hanging out here with our kids, and they had tins of fun. They never made it into the water, but my husband sure had fun in the ocean. The water is so nice, and bright blue, unlike most beaches on Oahu. What I really liked was that the restrooms were really well kept with lots of toilet paper, locked up yo prevent theft. I also thought it pretty great that the showers were blocked off giving some privacy to those cleaning off after their beach adventure. Aaaand, also I like that the trash cans were kept in a trough like box to prevent them from becoming an eyesore when filled. It's always interesting visiting other islands and noticing all the differences from one another in even the littlest things that keep our home looking good. I believe there could be a little more effort taken on Oahu to keep that island looking in top shape even if it's difficult with the sheer number of people that not only live there, but visiting all the time. On another note, another pretty cool thing was being able to see the amazing dry cave right across the street! read more

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Locals have made using this park hostile to tourists from outside Hawaii. Sand has also filled in the lagoon, so it is mostly unusable as of Winter 2025. read more

The areas accessed from this park are incredible: Kalalau Trail Ke'e Beach Hanakāpī'Ai Beach Kalalau Beach And I shall review them separately. This park itself though, is a disaster. Bureaucracy run amok. What to visit the park? You need to pay for a permit. Want to backpack in the park? You need to reserve a permit, months in advance. Want to PARK in the park? You also need a permit for that, a separate permit. You can also reserve those in advance. Want to change or cancel your permit to park? Sorry, no refunds, no exceptions, ever. Want to avoid parking in the park by taking a shuttle? You have to pay to reserve that in advance as well. I got a permit to backpack the Kalalau Trail over 4 days. For me and one other person, it costs: $132.00 For a parking permit to leave our car for those 4 days it costs: $62.83 That's almost $200...to hike...in nature. We ended up procuring a ride to the trialhead from our Air B&B host, so we didn't need the $62.83 permit any more. I asked for a refund and was directed to a secret FAQ site (I can't figure out how to click to it, the URL is: https://www.gohaena.com/faq) which instructs that there are no refunds ever, no exceptions. So now, there will be a spot in the parking lot, with no car in it, open for 4 days. I also can't transfer or sell this pass to anyone else. What a horrible waste. read more

Hā'ena State Park - beware the expensive, non-refundable parking permits - Parks Near Me - Ha'ena, Hawaii

Kalalau trail. Do it. Wear the right foot gear that will deal with slippery we rocks, good amounts of superficial mud, and low lying inch or two of stream wash over the trail. You will not regret it. And the beach where the mountain river meets the ocean 2 miles, with an awesome cave to explore at the far far right of the beach at low tide, is your reward. You're welcome. The hike may be marked as moderate, but with the humidity, heat and elevation it is on the more strenuous side of moderate for the occasional hiker (probably on the easy side of moderate for the avid outdoorsman). Tips: -Bug Spray!!!! If mosquitoes like you, you better put this on before your trek. You will be sweating bullets, but you don't need to donate a pint of blood to then local mosquitoes while your at it. -hiking shorts to avoid chaffing, but a bathing suit for your beach reward - sun block! Plenty of shaded areas, but good amounts of sun regardless - leave the snorkeling equipment for Ke'e beach...no need to track in with your fins and goggles, you won't use them. Too many waves and currents for any snorkeling at the beach -Plenty of WATER!!! Bring it. You will use more than you anticipate, especially if you are hiking back later in the day. If you don't bring a bit in, make sure you have some sort of purifier device or lifestraw to load up a bit from the mountain river before you head back! Have fun!! read more

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Gorgeous views. Make your reservation early to get inside for parking. It was raining hard when we went (in December) but still worth to see it in my opinion. Couldn't find the parking for tunnels beach. At the entrances there are signs that say no parking / fines so it wouldn't be allowed. "Private no beach access". Didn't want to take the chance even if the signs weren't real. read more

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This is such a beautiful beach! The surf is amazing, the view all around is out of this world, and the marine life available is incredible! A few things for your visit: 1. The sand gets really really hot! I wore my sandals almost up to the water to avoid burning my feet. 2. The waves are really strong between Tunnels and Ke'e beach, so be careful. There are rip currents and strong surf that can really throw you around and make you disoriented. 3. Parking can be a nightmare. We parked at Hae'na and actually spent most of the day there because it was much less crowded than Tunnels. But did walk over to Tunnels for snorkeling. There are a few dogs around here that are really depressing to see. One in particular is named "Lady Gaga", she was like a dog from a commercial, it was devastating. We gave her fresh water and she slept next to me most of the day. Her tag says to not contact the Humane Society because she is a local dog that wanders. But I don't think she actually gets taken care of. We didn't know what to do with her if the Humane Society doesn't help a dog with a home and left her with food and water. While swimming in the water we saw sea turtles just hanging out in the waves, it was so cool! When you turn around from the beach and face the parking lot there is this gorgeous wall of greenery & vines. Look at it from all angles of the beach. When you walk over to Tunnels there are waterfalls behind the mountain that you can only see from that angle. Overall this was a great beach and made for an awesome day! read more

Hā'ena State Park - This is the view from behind the beach. It's seriously such a beautiful view from every angle! - Parks Near Me - Ha'ena, Hawaii

We love this area. Unfortunately like so many things on this trip... it's closed off. This has been a strange trip... The road to Gillin's Beach is closed until end of February 2019... Tunnels (Ha'ena) Beach and Ke'e inaccessible due to flooding in early 2018 (the road is blocked near the end of Hanalei Bay)... sinkhole in the road, so a blockade on the road to Hanalei Pier... Kīlauea Lighthouse not operating normal hours (still haven't figured out why on that one... UPDATE! because of low government funding, this is only open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday... we figured that out because we kept going by there, and some of the people doing maintenance told us. We never found anything online.)... We became vaguely aware of the situation right before our trip but there is so little information available online so travelers know what to expect. I actually had to buy the online app version of Kauai Revealed to discover that Gillin's is closed until end of February. However, the app says nothing about Tunnels and Ke'e being closed off, so even it's not that updated. I'm posting this information in a few places so others will know. This is an area you definitely can't get to right now... not sure when that will change. read more

One of the most beautiful state parks on the planet. Home of Ke'e Beach, a crystal-blue cove with ideal snorkeling...coral, tropical fish, and sea turtles teem in the reef. Home of the Na Pali Coast with staggeringly gorgeous mountains and coastline. Home of the challenging, but oh so worth it, Kalalau Trail. Home of both dry and wet caves to explore. The park is open sunup to sundown, and there is no entrance fee. Parking is extremely limited, so get there early. Slather on plenty of SPF -- and bug spray if you're hiking. And give yourself at least one full day to enjoy this tropical treasure. read more

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Great beautiful beach. This beach is great. This island is great. How can you not have fun? The sand can get hot enough to burn your skin. Watch out for undertows. Enjoy the beach. read more

What a beautiful beach. Do come early due to a small parking lot. We were there 9-3. If you get hungry there is a food truck. We walked the beach before west before we settle east of the entrance. There is one long rip current area. That is where the life guard was posted. It said don't swim but people were still in it. We walked to the east where the water calmer and more shade. The sand is HOT! Walks the shoreline . Lots of people snorkeling . We only saw a few fish a crab. Be careful Of the rocks. It's not bad when you are snorkeling only bad when you are standing bc you don't know where it is depth wise. You can get scratched. Wet dry caves were across the street. Really cool. read more

Great Beach Park, Arrive Early The water is excellent here. The view from the bluff at the western end of the eastern park is awesome. Great spot for kids to learn how to surf. Make sure to check out the dry cave across the street. read more

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The north shore is my favorite part of the island. It's magical. Ha'ena State beach park is a long stretch where you'll find everything from gorgeous sandy beaches to rocky areas, awesome snorkeling spots and just epic backdrops of the jungle behind you. It's stunning. Go there mentally prepared for dealing with heavy traffic, limited parking and all those stressors...because once you do get settled you'll see it is all worth it. Paradise folks. read more

Great staging area to nearby trailheads. Ha'ena State Park, is located at the northwestern extent of the Kuhio HwY on Kauai's North Shore. The park offers viewing of taro fields and ancient sea caves. Check out nearby Ke'e Beach. Kalalau Trail Trailhead and Hanakapiai Falls trailhead is located in the Park. BTW: Kalalau Trailhead is the "end point of the Kuho HwY. read more

Good for swimming when the ocean is calm although the beach break can often be temperamental. Most visitors to Haena beach utilize the parking area here to access Tunnels beach, a great snorkeling area, about a 15 minute walk up the beach. Lifeguard and restrooms on site. The Maniniholo dry cave, a cave a couple hundred yards deep, is located across the street. History: Taylor Campground 1969-1977. YELP 365 - 229/365 read more

I love you Ha'ena!! I dream about you ever since we first met. Wading in your warm waters, coercing me back to the shore when all I wanted to do was drink you in, was teasingly exciting. No beaches here in NorCal can compare with your warm sands exfoliating my body, the blue waters that allow me to bathe almost in my birthday suit with your caressing waves!!! If I could conquer you and make you mine, I would!! But sadly and rightfully so, you belong to no one and everyone at the same time. I love you Ha'ena!! read more

Hā'ena State Park - Parks Near Me - Ha'ena, Hawaii

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GORGEOUS is all I have to say! We discovered this beach on the way to Ke'e but we came back to Ha'ena because the clear, beautiful blue water was just calling us! The waves here at the beach were really strong when we visited with our family but it was too beautiful to even care. Lots of families were camping out when we came and looked like a lot of fun! We would definitely want to plan a camping trip here in the future. There's also a really cool dry cave across the street if you want to go in. Super cool and all the kiddies we saw there loved it! read more

We tried to go to Ke'e Beach yesterday. Our guide books said nothing about needing a reservation ahead of arriving. The young Park employee at the entrance to the parking lot was extremely rude, insulting and unhelpful, a real disgrace to the park service. She yelled at us to "get your car out of the parking lot NOW" over and over again, as we were turning around and trying to have a brief confab with our daughter who was in a second car. She yelled at our daughter to "get your dumb*** out of the parking lot" Really unprofessional in every way. We were a party of six adults and four children age 3-7 years. The Park employee set a very poor example on how to accommodate a reasonable request for a brief confab before exiting the parking lot. She needs anger management training before she should be allowed out there again. Very disappointing encounter. read more

This beach is incredible. Amazing snorkeling and swimming. We loved it. We walked to Tunnels from here as well. Got the best of both beaches in. read more

The best hike, views, beach, water fall, river, and snorkeling. The beach before the trail is awesome. It has great corral that blocks the beach from the big waves. Making it great for swimming an snorkeling. It is like swimming in a huge swimming pool. There are turtles and tons of different fish. There is tons of shade you can sit under right on the beach and tons of white sand to stroll along. Great for Bqs and beer drinking while getting your tan on. The best part is the hike along the ocean cliff. The views an hike are the best I have ever seen. The hike is pretty tough but worth it. So wear hiking shoes it's very easy to slip and I saw about 5 people with bloody knees. You can see whales while hiking! You hear and see the ocean hit the cliffs. About two hours down you hit a river that leads into the ocean. The river has little pools to relax or swim. The beach is sandy and beautiful with views straight up cliffs, little caves, small waterfalls and a green/blue ocean. You can see whales up close right from the beach. If you head up the river about 2 miles, which is hard to do so again bring shoes! It leads to a 80 ft waterfall. You can plan to hike the waterfall and back for the whole day or bring a tent and sleeping gear to stay over night. You can fish and bath in the river. : ) Be careful there are steep cliffs, slippery rocks, crazy currents and waves when your on the beach can take you right of the rocks into the ocean. There is a rally count on the trail that shows how many people have been killed. 82 as of now. In case of emergencies they do have a emergency landing about 1.5 miles down the hike for helicopters. So a breakdown before the hike there is beach for snorkel, swim, walk, surf, kayak shade, tan, bq and drink. There is a trail near beach to were you hike up and around the ocean cliff to a river, another secluded beach and waterfalls. Have fun! read more

This is the most amazing beach that we didn't swim in. :) The surf was very high that day and so there was a no swimming rule. It was really really beautiful though, with miles of golden sand. the waves were mezmerizing to watch. Nice place to lay out and just enjoy the beautiful Kauai north shore. read more

This is by far the best campground we stayed at while visiting in November 2012, with the exception of Polihale, which is probably in a different class all together. The facilities are clean, there is plenty of space for tents. It is conveniently located near Tunnels beach and the Kalalau trail. If you are considering where to camp on the north shore, I would definitely choose Ha'ena over Anini Beach. read more

This is by far the best beach on the North shore of Kauai. We camped here one night and it was one of my favorite spots. They have a place to shower, restrooms and there is always a little shaved ice truck sitting out front of the parking lot across from a cave you can explore. The sand is beautiful and the waves are insane especially during the "winter" months. We were there when a swell was coming in however that didn't stop us from getting in. That being said I wouldn't advise small children or weak swimmers to get in. read more

This is the perfect place for a sunset snorkel after hiking the Kalalau trail. We encountered one of Hawaii's ~1100 endangered monk seals here. There were very few fish though. This beach would be great for general swimming, as it is protected by the reef from the ocean. Restrooms and shower on site. read more

The underwater world along Ke'e beach and the paradise within Ha'ena State Park provided an up-close and personal experience to all things rugged, vibrant, and naturally ingenious read more