I visited the Wailua Falls in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Hawaii [Maalo Rd; Hwy 583] on Saturday, 01/24/26,…read morearound 3:30 PM. Wailua Falls offered an incredibly close view, which made the experience feel special. I was able to truly appreciate the waterfall's beauty up close. One fun highlight was spotting a rooster sitting right near the edge, which was such a classic Kauaʻi island moment because roosters are everywhere on the island. I also noticed a touching memorial sign dedicated to Kavika Luna, "Mr. Aloha" - The Flying Hawaiian (May 1960 - September 2024). The message spoke about rainbows appearing as he chanted and the magic of Wailua Falls coming alive. It felt meaningful because I actually caught a mini rainbow during my visit, which made the moment even more breathtaking and memorable. Overall, I was very pleased with this stop. Wailua Falls is absolutely worth checking out for its natural beauty and history.

Located at the end of Maalo Road, this beautiful double waterfall cannot be safely or legally…read moreaccessed due to the notoriously steep, muddy, and very slick unmaintained trail down. But you can however view it safely from the designated roadside lookout. The parking lot here, although free, is very small and often filled to the brim with cars. The lot itself is also in desperate need of maintenance as it is filled with potholes, so getting in and out may be tricky. There are also vendors who fill up the front part of this lot, which further add to the chaos. Located in a sacred royal valley once known as the capital of Kauai, ancient Hawaiian chieftains and warriors use to test their bravery by leaping from the top of this nearly 200ft tall waterfall. There's not a lot to do once you get up to the top of the lookout except to snap a few photos. So it is debatable if it is worth the drive all the way out to here and dealing with the whole parking lot situation.

This was much harder than I expected. The valet at the hotel told me to try it, and I didn't…read morerealize that it was gonna be slippery with rocks and roots throughout. Once it started raining, I was slipping and sliding the whole way absolutely gorgeous, but definitely wear tennis or hiking shoes.

Went after a VERY raining night and were unprepared for such slick conditions…read more it was a true moderate hike regardless and could be done in worn down running shoes. View was 100% worth it!

Kauai is my favorite place in the world period. It fits my outdoor,water centric shorts and tee…read moreshirt nature perfectly. Over the years I've seen hundreds of waterfalls on the Garden Isle. Several I'll never see again as,it was a long impossible once in a lifetime hike However,Opaeka'a Dallas is easy. Right off a main road it takes little effort for a big payoff. I recommend sunrise or evening viewing for the best outcome. Take it in for your wakeup call ! * Yet Another Missing Review. I distinctly remember doing this one sitting in the car having my morning coffee. Now,Gone poof! That's a lot Yelp for respecting my work

Although paths to Opaeka Falls are officially blocked off for safety reasons, you can view the…read morefalls from a distance from the safety and comfort of Opaeka Falls Lookout located along Kuamoo Road. The Lookout is easily accessible by car and offers free parking and restrooms. This is a good stopping point before heading off to the much more well known and impressive Wailua Falls.

I'd like to be transparent, I'm a little bit confused about a few things…read more.. I had reservations made ahead of time to hike the famed Kalalau Trail 2 miles to Hanakapi'ai Beach and another 2 miles to Hanakapi'ai Falls. Upon driving to the Kalalau Trailhead, I entered Ha'ena State Park. I thought to myself, "oh, wow, cool, I didn't even know Kalalau Trail was within a state park!". Now, lol, after parking my car and reviewing the Kalalau Trail hiking guidelines, it was time to venture over to Hanakapi'ai Beach. Not even 1 minute into the trail, there was a clear sign stating I was now entering Na'Pali Coast State Wilderness Park. What??? But I thought Kalalau Trail was part of Ha'ena SP?! So both? What's the difference between Ha'ena SP and Na'Pali Coast SP? I guess the only thing to do is venture over to Google and search for the answer... The only reasonable solution I discovered on Google is Ha'ena SP hosts the parking lot for Kalalau Trailhead. But, once you start hiking on Kalalau Trail land, you're officially now entering and located within Na'Pali Coast boundaries. And with this info...I believe there are more options for activities within Ha'ena State Park, although I never got around to do any exploring. Now, if you're specifically visiting here for the Kalalau Trail, I'm convinced it's Na'Pali Coast territory, lol. Finally, trying to get to the bottom of this strange mystery, is when visiting Kokee State Park on the opposite side of the island of Kauai, most of the overlooks and lookout points there showcased the Na'Pali Coast. But I guess for Kokee SP, you're not actually inside Na'Pali Coast State Park land, you're just admiring the views and sceneries of the Na'Pali Coast from high above. Lol, yes...maybe I should have been better prepared ahead of time. With all this said...let me quickly return to the Kalalau Trail and provide a few highlights about the experience and what you can expect inside Na'Pali Coast State Wilderness Park... - While hiking to Hanakapi'ai Beach, a lot of the beautiful Na'Pali Coast setting will be revealed. There were moments to take a break from the trek to appreciate the landscape. - When the clouds went away and the sun shined, the coastline illuminated the Pacific Ocean waters. - You'll also capture a vantage point of Kauai's lush green island vegetation and rain forest appearance. In total, that's what I believe made Na'Pali Coast State Wilderness Park rewarding. It's hiking among nature until Kauai's colorful coast comes into appearance. The surroundings exude that vintage, tropical, Hawaiian image that tourists anticipate when visiting. At the time of visiting Kauai, I found it difficult to understand whether I was hiking Kalalau Trail within Ha'ena SP or Na'Pali SP. After completing some detailed internet research, I'm confident the popular hike is connected with Na'Pali. And with that understanding, Na'Pali Coast is a winning state park.

Amazing! After driving a bit off road, we parked on an ocean side cliff. Walked down to see the…read moretortoises and the cave. Ended up on a pristine beach.

What a magnificent journey and place! Nicknamed Secret Falls...I don't think it's much of a secret…read moreanymore. However, our afternoon tour kicked back and took our time and we ended up being the only group at the waterfall when we got there! Two mile kayak trip down the river, then about a mile hike to the falls. The hike isn't too bad. Some places you're crossing in knee-high water (it changes depending on conditions), mud, some bouldering, and some slick spots. The wooden planks for most of the trail are nice and make it way easier. My daughter and I both hiked in our water shoes and it wasn't too bad. The waterfall is secluded and gorgeous! The water is cold but so refreshing after that journey to get to it! Great spot to hang out, relax, have a snack, swim and just enjoy! Rest up for the mile hike and two mile kayak journey back home!

This is great. Took the Paddleboard on a trip down the river to see the falls. It's a bit of a…read morewalk from the area that you "park" your kayak or paddleboards, but it is also an easy well prepared hike. It was great for 2 kids that were 8 and 10 years old. The waterfall was nice, and you can def go swimming in it. Be prepared that the water in cold. We did the hike with water shoes, that wasn't ideal. I think I would have probably just worn sandals for the walk. You do need to cross through a couple small rivers, but it was nothing crazy. Glad we did this little excursion in Kauai on Father's day. It was great exercise, and being outside in paradise. It makes it even more special that you need some sort of water vessel to get there, or I guess you an take a helicopter. Good times!

We did this activity on our second day in Kauai and t'was a pretty day when we went there,…read moregoodness! It is located in Wailua - East side and has a distance of 2.25 miles each way. Depending in your pace it was just a short easy to moderate hike. But once it rained, it's a different story. It can be really muddy and according to locals it can suck you down so prepare a really muddy shoes & dirt everywhere. Kuilau Trail connects to an east route that meets up with the Moalepe Trail. Further down the trail will come to a wooden footbridge which crosses the Opaekaa Stream. The view is not too much but the green lush vegetation will still make you feel refreshed & relaxed at some point. It is a friendly-hike to do so kids or old folks can definitely enjoy this. Please don't forget to bring your water and do wear proper hiking clothes. I advise to wear good hiking shoes & bring quarter zip as temperature can drop any moment. Do not forget that Kauai got more rain in most places in the US so I suggest you bring your rain jacket in case you need it. And most of all practice LEAVE-NO-TRACE POLICY all the time. Mahalo for reading & happy juandering fellow Yeeps.

Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Lihue…read moreLength: 4.4 total miles Elevation Gain: 700 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Duration: 2.5 hours Season: Year-round The Kuilau Ridge Trail begins at the Keahua Arboretum and climbs a forested ridge in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve. Along the way, panoramic views open up across the rolling hillsides and picturesque valley to Mount Waialeale to the west, the Makaleha Mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east. This trail can be combined with the Moalepe Trail for a one-way, 4.6-mile shuttle hike.

One of the most famous/ not so secret place to park when going to both Hā'ena beach park and…read moretunnels beach. This area to park is the access you can use to get to tunnels beach! Once you get there it's super gorgeous! Definitely worth the 1 hour drive from lihue for a sunrise/sunset in Kauai!

By far our favorite beach! The colors of the water were…read moremagical and snorkeling wasn't bad. The waves were stronger in front of the lifeguard station but there is a little inlet that was pretty calm. The beach was true beauty in all directions. We wanted a family picture in front of the water but when we stood there we realized greenery on the backside was even prettier! There is a quick stop near by at a dry cave. Was a wonderful stop. Wished we had more time there Parking is limited so get there early. We went at 2pm and circled a couple times before parking on the road side

We only had time to do the East Nounou Trail and the Nounou Shelter Trail so this review is based…read moreoff of those. The East Nounou Trail was our second hike of the day and did not disappointed. It is 2 miles with no steep ascent and a bit of coverage with breezes coming near the 1.75 to 2 mile markers. The views are spectacular as you overlook the east side of the island and south of the island as you get further up. There is one hurdle which you have to climb a rock, but it wasnt bad. You can hurl yourself up or take a bit of a path on the left to slowly get yourself up it. It is a ascending, descending, and straight way hike path. Eventually you will hit a T-intersection and decide whether to continue the Nounou trail to the right or go to the Shelter trail on the left. The Shelter trail feels like only mere steps away from the T-intersection and the view is covered a bit by bushes. The best view is near the 1.75 mile mark as there is a hill you can get on for a better elevated view of the ocean. I think if you want a better valley view, you would have to continue the Nounou trail. There werent many people on this hike when we went (around 1:30 pm) but when we left (around 3:30 pm), more people were arriving. Overall, an somewhat of an easy for intermediate hikers.

We took the approximately 3.4 mile Nounou trail east and then went all the way to the summit (maybe…read moreonly a half mile or so but taxing) and then back down to the street where we walked to our car. The Nounou trail is pretty level although it does get a little muddy in spots and has a few minor obstacles such as felled trees along the way. Beginner to low intermediate. Very green very Kauai trail.