Would absolutely LOVE to camp here... Unfortunately arrived…read moreafter the museum and restaurant closed (-after 4). But this looks like a great place to camp. Did go into the lodge for a bit ( where the restaurant is), saw some beautiful trees and flowers. Did not explore the nature trail this time.... Drive a bit more to the Kalalau Lookout where one can see the Napali coastline and Ni'ihau in the distance. And did I mention chickens? A must see!!!

Koke'e State Park. It is "partners in crime" with its brother/sister Waimea Canyon State Park. When…read morevisiting Koke'e, you must first drive through Waimea Canyon along the 23 mile Koke'e Road. So for visitors, plan to combine both parks into 1 long day trip. You can actually take 2 days to explore the parks, especially if you plan on doing hiking. During my 1st day here, it rained for a majority of the time. Welp, that sealed my fate and I knew I'd have to allocate a 2nd day towards returning. And that's fine because Koke'e and Waimea Canyon are two of the major highlights when visiting Kauai, Hawaii. In fact, there's a sign saying..."Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Parks" paired together, like joined at the hip so to speak, lol. Pretty much, they're telling you how connected both parks are to each other. What I found interesting (and now I'll solely focus on Koke'e SP) is that there's not as much to do here as I anticipated. I was a little letdown when reflecting back on the experience. Especially the two primary overlooks, Kalalau Valley Lookout and Pu'u o Kila Lookout (near Mile 23), weren't nearly as fulfilling as Waimea Canyon Lookout located at Mile 10 of Koke'e Road. Kalalau Valley Lookout and Pu'u o Kila Lookout both offer similar perspectives of the Na'Pali Coast. They're located within maybe 2 -3 miles of each other at the end of Koke'e Road. In my opinion, the best you can do is take a selfie picture while at each of them. I'd rather just snap a landscape picture and be content with that. It's just a difficult family photo moment from each lookout especially with guardrails blocking the backgrounds. What I did discover was...if you walk off to the right hand side of the Pu'u o Kila Lookout, you can get a better glance at the Na'Pali Coast that makes for an undisturbed setting. Because, you eliminate the guardrails and forest growth proponent from the lens and allow a more panoramic backdrop. While at Pu'u o Kila Lookout, I hiked the Pihea Trail 1 mile (each way) to and from Pihea Vista and it was a waste of time. I regret it just thinking about it now. There was nothing to see. Back within Koke'e SP, everyone stops by the Koke'e Museum to purchase gifts and souvenirs. I grabbed a couple of knickknacks like a magnet and keychain. Next to the Museum is the Koke'e Lodge. Here you can also find small trinkets but more frequented is the Cafe to sit down and eat a snack/meal. There's a coffee bar as well along with tables and chairs. During my visit, it was the perfect time to stop at this Lodge because of the rain, but the crowds were too large and I had to steer clear of the hectic activity. Outside of the Koke'e Lodge and Museum, you will encounter an abundance of chickens and roosters who beg for food. They'll chirp and cock-a-doodle away (like typical roosters do, lol) but tourists take an opportunity to feed them. If you have leftovers, they'll gladly eat out of your hands or however you may feed them. And overall on the island of Kauai, it's rooster planet, filled with birds in almost every single commercial parking lot! Lastly, I'd like to talk about Awa'awapuhi Trail. This hike was recommended to me by a local. It's 6 miles roundtrip and I guess you could categorize it as strenuous. The 3 mile trek down through the jungle wasn't hard. But, you see nothing. I started daydreaming along the way. Finally at the 360 degree viewpoint, many people say it's a stunning, unreal glimpse of the Na'Pali Coast. I arrived at 11am just as clouds rolled in and wouldn't leave. I waited and waited and sat and sat still waiting for the skies to clear, but they never did. The 3 miles back uphill to the trailhead were hard, but if you're in no rush, it's no big deal. When speaking to others after the hike, it was recommended to me that you must attempt this Awa'awapuhi Trail first thing in the morning to avoid those clouds. Had I known this ahead of time, I would have altered my itinerary to start hiking during sunrise. Btw...when at the Awa'awapuhi vista, you stand on a cliff's edge overlooking the coast. If you have a fear of heights, there may be only so far you can go. Still, it's good enough to witness for everyone. Koke'e State Park was okay. I wanted to connect with it on a magical level so I could be glowing afterwards. Instead I never got what I came for. Regardless, when pairing with Waimea Canyon for the day, it's a top attraction and Must-Do visit while on the island of Kauai.

While this isn't the type of thing I would come back over and over again to see, it was still…read morereally cool getting to see it at all. It's located just off the side of the road and is very easy to get to. The red dirt makes the waterfall very unique. The only thing I didn't like was that there was a bunch of kids riding dirt bikes and it was kicking up the red dirt a lot. Overall, 4.5 stars.

Great photo opportunity! The red makes everything pop! No smell in the water too! Can be a bit…read moredusty, so bring your sunglasses..

Just as amazing as that first glimpse into the Grand Canyon! Not just the physical beauty but the…read morelocation. When you realize you've just wound up the narrow road from the beautiful tropical beach area below and this desert like area is here,well,it's mind boggling.. Even more so after you continue up the mountain to the top and find yourself in a cloud forest in the wetest place on earth, well you're in love! So,after the initial lookout,I just had to return and do the trail to the waterfall. Not recommended unless you're ready to work for it but,it fills in all the blanks the initial questions The Lookout elicits. Go!

Waimea Canyon is breathtaking!!! The road up the mountain is super windy and seems awfully…read moretreacherous. We were there on a clear day and took a moment from driving to our destination atop the mountin to stop and enjoy the lookout and the lovely views especially of the canyon! It was a work trip with some fun mixed it and it was beyond excellent to get to work on Kauai. I highly recommend Waimea!!

Pu'u Hinahina Lookout from my POV, is the 2nd best lookout located within Waimea Canyon State Park…read more The most well known overlook is Waimea Canyon Lookout...located at Mile Marker 10 of the park. This Pu'u Hinahina is situated on the right hand side of Koke'e Road at Mile Marker 13.5. It can't be missed. And just like at Waimea Canyon Lookout, there is plenty of parking here as well. Now...I'd like to point out how tricky all these lookouts and vista points are here, not just among Waimea Canyon, but in this Pu'u Hinahina area. Let me try to explain... So, there's actually no Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, there are two observation points within Pu'u Hinahina. They are... - Canyon Viewpoint - magical! One of the superior perspectives representative of Waimea Canyon. - Ni'ihau Viewpoint - waste of time. Nothing to see. You need 15 seconds at this overlook before turning around. Both Canyon Viewpoint and Ni'ihau Viewpoint are short walks on paved pathways. Also within this Pu'u Hinahina Lookout, you have the prominent Canyon Trail leading to Waipo'o Falls. Canyon Trail is the most popular hike at Waimea Canyon. I noticed there's a separate Yelp category for writing about Waipo'o Falls and I'll delve more into the hiking experience over there, but let me at least start here with the basics... After checking out Canyon and Ni'ihau Viewpoints, the next logical step while at Pu'u Hinahina Lookout is to hike the 1.8 mile (each way) Canyon Trail. The estimated hiking time is 2 - 3 hours. I'll just sum up the hike right now... There's not much to see along the way to Waipo'o Falls. I started daydreaming about my next activity while at Waimea Canyon. Overall, it's a casual walk downhill among a tropical rainforest. This means that the return trip back uphill to the trailhead is moderately strenuous. I actually never discovered the real Waipo'o Falls. Supposedly it's one of the tallest waterfalls in Hawaii, yet instead I arrived at two small pools with mini trickledown waterfalls. I spoke with fellow visitors and they said this Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls is deceiving, and that at the end of the hike, you're actually standing on top of Waipo'o Falls. And if you'd like to get real views of Waipo'o Falls, you have to do some intense rock repelling down the cliff faced walls which is dangerous. Ultimately, Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls was disappointing especially with the bar for it set very high. Lastly, just to mention, it doesn't happen often, but there were threatening clouds in the sky as I started along Canyon Trail. And me thinking I'm in a Hawaiian paradise and impervious to weather conditions, what could go wrong? Well, yes, I got caught in an afternoon thunderstorm without rain gear. I was drenched for the remainder of the day. This was for the middle of August. Just something to keep in mind because the weather can swiftly change. And finally, lol, gotta put this out there. The island of Kauai is home to roosters and chickens all over the place. During my visit I had never seen anything like it. Returning back to the parking lot, I had some leftover pancakes from breakfast and fed them. They're pretty much waiting and anticipating you'll approach them. They'll gladly eat out of your hands too as they aren't shy. Overall, Pu'u Hinahina Lookout has its up and downs. Canyon Viewpoint is a masterclass setting. Ni'ihau Viewpoint needs a makeover. Canyon Trail to Waipo'o Falls was a letdown. Still, in the grand scheme of exploring Waimea Canyon, stopping by here at Pu'u Hinahina is a Must Do because of its accessible location inside the park.

Views of Waimea Canyon from the opposite side…read more November 2021. Saw a long trail alongside a cliff on the opposite side of Waimea Canyon and put it on my bucket list to hike it. March 26, 2022, started the Canyon hike from the Puu Hinahina Lookout. We had previously that morning done 2 hours of hiking the Pihea Trail off of the Puu o Kila lookout in Kokee Park, 7 miles away. Had started this hike in November 2021 but turned back after 30 minutes. This time we came prepared with hat, hiking poles, hiking boots, long sleeve pants, long sleeve shirts, water, hat, granola bars and fruit sticks. The first 45 minutes of the hike are the toughest part, steep downward hike over muddy terrain, broken by deep ruts and cuts into the surface. Dense tree cover means the trail never dries out, even though it had not rained in weeks. Slippery even with hiking boots and hiking poles. Tree roots ready to trip you with every move. And no view, as the tree cover prevents you from seeing Waimea Canyon. Eventually the trails levels out, with a parking lot for those who have joined the trail a mile farther up from the Kokee road at the Halemanu road, shaving an hour off the hike. Dense jungle gives way to peeks of Waimea Canyon, and finally on a spur to the right the Cliff overlook, where we see goats scrambling on the cliffs nearby. In a distance, the long trail alongside a cliff on the edge of Waimea Canyon. Trail continues downward, through water ravaged terrain, tree roots at every corner of the trail. Boulders start appearing, and finally an opening, a long plateau leading to the falls. This is the long trail alongside the cliffs with panoramic views of the Waimea Canyon, but from the opposite side. Don't get too close to the edge, as steep drop-offs along the canyon rim. More boulders, and boulder hoping down the steep trail, and then a fast-running stream. On the left is a walk to a large pond, and mini waterfalls, and on the right is the top of the Waipoo Falls. Cliffs of stone formations in the distance. No view of the falls themselves, as you are literally on top of the falls. Took 4 hours to do the complete hike, probably a record slow time, as we were passed by numerous toddlers, and at least two different encounters with hikers going barefoot!

You'll definitely feel like you are in heaven if you are able to reach this 2-1/2 mile long beach…read morestate park! First, you need a 4x4 vehicle like a Jeep or Pick-Up Truck and have to drive along a rough 5-mile road with lots of bumps and ruts along the way. But totally worth the time and effort! Make sure you have all the supplies you need and have a full tank of gas prior to coming. As for the beach itself, there are lots of great and spectacular views of the scenery! The Napali Coast, Pacific Ocean, Polihale Beach State Park itself, and so much more. I did a beach stroll from end to end and took me about 2 hours overall. Just seeing this in videos and photos does not do it enough justice; you have to be there in-person to experience the serenity of nature.

Went to a wedding here and it's beautiful. People camp here as well…read more You need an AWD vehicle to go and it's about a mile inward. Usually no signal inside. Lots of bird watching opportunities. We also saw huge boars run across!!!

Quite a hike to a beautiful fall. Be prepared with hiking shoes. Do not go when it's raining…read morebecause it gets very slick. Only for those that are prepared to hike. Not for children or older adults who don't hike.

The park is now opened but there are many changes. 1. You…read moreneed to make reservation for parking or shuttle or walking in. For overnight camping or hiking pass Hanakapi'AI, you will need to get permit. 2. Check website gohaena.com for parking and shuttle reservation. For parking reservation, you will need to book at least 1 month in advance. You can reserve from 6:30 to 12:30 or 12:30 to 4:30 pm, and then 4:30 pm to sunset. They will not let you pass the gate if you do not have permit. 3. For walking in, you also need to make reservation in advance. $1 per person. 4. For shuttle, it is including hop on and hop off from Princeville Makai golf club to Ke'e beach and costs about $15 per person. 5. Parking reservation and shuttle reservation will include park entry. In a way, it is good that they can limit amount of cars driving in and people using the trail. We did not plan in advance so ended with shuttle. Down load the hop-on hop-off pass on cell phone. We took the shuttle from Princeville. It takes about 1 hour to get to Ke'e beach because they have to pick up people along the way (hanalei villages, Hanalei resort, Waipa park and ride). Then walked 0.3 mile from parking to Ke'e beach or entrance. The shuttle back to Princeville runs every 45 to 60 min. The shuttle from Ke'e beach to Waipa parking runs every 30 min. Last shuttle is at 4:30 pm. We ended up taking the shuttle fromKe'e beach to Waipa and walked 20 minutes (over a mile) to Hanalei village. We got some lunch but could not wait for our shuttle back to Princeville... ended taking uber. If you plan to visit, make sure check the website and make reservations in advance. The trail is slippery since it is raining every day for past weeks. - bring good traction shoes. - 1 L water per person at least. - snacks. There are no shopping until Hanalei village. - bathrooms is at Ke'e beach and outdoor shower. They are decent and have toilet papers. - it is quite strenuous hike. So, I would not recommend anyone with walking or gait problems. - kids older then 6 probably ok hiking this trail.

What a fantastic place to rest after a long drive sightseeing In the Waimea canyon and Kokee state…read morepark. There is a large next-door for eating or a snack. But it's always a great idea to stop by the museum to learn about the land. It was great to look inside this museum. No, they require a three dollar suggested donation. Best way to support the locals I stayed in here for a bit to get shelter from the rain. I learned about the flora and Fauna and the people that lived here. If you're even looking for state souvenirs or local souvenirs this is the place to get it. Or just taking a break from your long But beautiful drive here

The Kōkeʻe Natural History Museum felt really special to us. Since it is not directly funded by the…read morestate, it relies heavily on the support of visitors and the local community, which made us appreciate the experience even more. While it may be small in size, it is absolutely worth the visit. You can genuinely feel the pride and care that goes into the exhibits, the knowledge they share with guests, and their dedication to preserving Hawaiian history and nature. During our visit, we also purchased a bird book for my wife, which made for a really meaningful souvenir from our trip. Places like this deserve support, and we would definitely recommend stopping by while exploring the area. Help take care of history and the stories that come with it!

Great experience. Knowledgeable guides who are dedicated and love what they do. Fabulous food. Very…read moreinspiring experience.

We stopped by the Waipa self-serve fridge for a slice of lilikoi cheesecake and ended up grabbing a…read moresavory bread pudding as well. This little kiosk is super cute and there are signs for the self-serve fridge when you turn in from the main road. It's an honor system and they take cash or Venmo. Loved the lilikoi cheesecake which had a super buttery crust and the cheesecake was nice and creamy. The passionfruit jam on top added a great tart punch of flavor. The bread pudding was a great surprise! Such a yummy snack to share it had local purple sweet potato chunks, mushroom and local kale in the bread pudding and the pesto on the side was super flavorful. I'd come back just for the bread pudding and for $8, it was a big slice for sharing!

This is a must do lifetime bucket list. If you make it to this point two things are for sure. 1)…read moreYou are on the wettest place on earth. Fortunately it was not raining in this spot the 15 minutes I was here but chances are it will be 99 percent of the time. Its the most stunning view Ive ever seen in my life. 2) You will be inspired to the depths of your soul. It just looks unreal. If you can go to Kauai!

There are 2 ways to get there. By Nualolo Trail (between cabins and Kokee Lodge), or Awaawapuhi…read moretrail near 17 mm (past Kokee Lodge). We have been doing the Awaawapuhi trail when we come here. Awesome view of Na Pali and Forest reserve. You find mile markers by each quarter mile, that seems to make the hike easier for us. YELP 365 - 244/365

Hands down one of the best beaches on the face of the earth. Totally isolated and accessible only…read moreby a GRUELING 11-mile hike starting at the trail head at Ha'ena Beach State Park near Princeville. Even though the literature states that it has an 800 foot elevation, the 22-mile out and back hike takes two days and accumulates an 11,000 foot elevation change. To reach the beach, one has to have special permits from the Hawaii State Parks Office in Lihue, and allows the hiker to get to the beach and spend four days in paradise. The number of permits is limited so it pays to plan in advance. There are "poacher" hikers on the trails but they are subject to a stiff fine or arrest if caught. The trail is primitive. That means that all you need for the trail and stay, you have to carry in and out. All water must be filtered as feral poultry have contaminated virtually all watersheds with Giardia and Leptospirosis. A good pair of broken-in hiking boots is a must. The hike begins in a tropical rain forest on the Northern part of the round-sized island of Kawai'i. Following a marathon 600 foot climb through a dense forest of guava, taro, and native trees, the narrow trail goes up and down and meanders through rain forest for a couple of miles before a steep descent to Hanakapi'ai Beach, itself a wonderful little isolated beach with a stream in the middle. There are signs with notches signaling the number of people who have lost their lives in the heavy surf. This trail can be made as a trial to see if the hikers want to continue. Many hikers, even in great shape, choose not to... The next phase of the hike is an immediate, almost vertical trail rising almost 900 feet over the beach, featuring wet, slippery switchbacks. More ups and downs through narrow trails carved into the Pali, sheer vertical rock formations rising directly from the ocean to several thousand feet. About the 7-mile marker, the deep Hanakoa Valley stretches ahead, allowing for the tired feet and exhausted bodies to get some rest on a primitive camping area with a stream for water filtration and a good night of sleep. That part of the island gets enormous amounts of rain, so heavy downpours are possible. Following Hanakoa, an almost miraculous change happens in the terrain. Round a corner and one goes from a rain forest to a semi-desert. The trail gets dry, dusty, and even more dangerous as the lack of cover allow land slides on the side of the Pali's. Nonetheless, the sheer beauty of the place is spellbinding. Close to the 9 mile point, the Kalalau Beach area can be seen. And it is one of the most magnificent views on Earth. Towards the end of the steeply downward trail, one reaches an illegal settlement of old hippies that have been living there probably since the days of Height Ashbury. There is a hut they call the "Library" and additional temporary buildings that oftentimes get taken down by the Rangers, only to be rebuilt by the squatters. Once at Kalalau Beach, some of the most wonderful scenery on the planet is yours. The almost two-mile long beach is nestled between rock formations that end at the sheer vertical walls of the 5,000 foot cliffs, with a monumentally gorgeous valley in the background. Towards the end of the beach, a Heiau, a sacred Hawaiian altar, has been built inside a cave. The beach, made of fine volcanic sand, defies description. Depending on the time of the season, there may be from a few people to none at the beach, allowing for, if one wishes, au naturel attire... There is a large stream at Kalalau Beach close to the elevated camping area, as well as composting toilets and fire pits. There are no telephones, electricity, cars, engines, or anything resembling human engineering. One of the nicest places on earth....

After two attempts to get to Kalalau Beach - getting cheated by the seasons and the elements the…read morefirst two attempts - I finally made the backpacking trip to Kalalau Beach, albeit solo, in April 2009. The trail itself is not a big challenge - I've done more technical hiking (ie - Half Dome & back) and much longer hikes - it's important to do some practice hikes with your backpack actually loaded with the gear you plan to bring. Do not ever underestimate the weight of your pack on this trail - learn to pack and balance properly and learn to go lightweight. You really do NOT need a tent nor a sleeping bag. You don't even really need shoes but it's nice to at least wear Keens. Bring a hammock, a fly and some light weight leggings or sarongs to cover up while you are sleeping in your hammock. Don't worry about bringing too little to Kalalau Beach as hikers are always trying to get rid of stuff on their way off the trail, leaving excess food at the camp. Potlucks are pretty common. Bring food for yourself on the trail and ingredients to share potluck style with other hikers and the residents of the beach. Oh - wait - you didn't know about the beach residents? Yep - it's true. There are a LOT of people living in the valley and on the beach. I talked with people who hadn't had an address other than a PO Box or general delivery at the carry-out closest to Haena Park for over 15 years. There were people who had not even left the beach for close to 2 years - subsisting on food they could forage and get as donations - or food brought in by friends who made the trek out of the park to collect food stamps from PO Boxes and bring back provisions. People leave a lot of crap at Kalalau Beach - when I was there in April 2009, there was a MOUNTAIN of abandoned gear, clothing, furniture and other items - not a small mountain but a mountain that was more than 8 feet high and which covered an area about 20' x 10' and which was covered by tarps. The residents said the pile had been 2x larger but a helicopter raid a few months earlier resulted in a bit of a clear out. Maintenance of the pit toilets at the beach is a big issue. They were utterly disgusting. TState of Hawaii has so little money - no have rangers check or chase off people taking up residence. There is nobody to maintain the toilets or make sure people don't leave their garbage. As a result - the toilets were full all the way up and the home to a great many giant cockroaches called palmetto bugs - just like those found in New Orleans and Florida. Don't worry - the don't fly, much - and they aren't interested in you - just in your food, your poo and your woolen clothing (they loved my wool sweaters and ate the hell out of them in New Orleans). These roaches will eat through a plastic bread bag - so make sure you keep your food very tightly wrapped because these mouse-sized roaches will be climbing into your pack while you are sleeping (but they won't climb into your hammock with you - I never had that problem either sleeping on the beach or in New Orleans). When I went to Kalalau Beach - I wanted to escape things at home and find solitude and peace in the wilderness. For so remote - I found crowds of people, noisy traffic from helicopters, boats, and zodiacs and other people's neighbor problems. Friendly though they might be - the beach residents are mostly a lot of societal drop outs, many with substance abuse issues who ask about drugs to donate to their cause and a lot of people grow marijuana out there. The beach is gorgeous - but the National Parks need to take over and resolve the maintenance and overuse issues. It tends to be pretty windy and you can't always swim off the beach there. It's just so ridiculously crowded it's like being at "Earthdance" or some other camping festival where most folks are less prepared than you and asking for handouts. I'd love to return but the beach is really not in great shape these days.