7-miles of Paradise

The stretch of coastline past Hanalei is without a doubt the jewel of Kauai and perhaps the entire Pacific. The seven-mile strech of road winds through luscious valleys and past stunning beaches before ending at the Na Pali Coast. We'll take day trips to beaches in this area: Ke'e, Tunnels, Lumahai, and Haena beach are all as good as it gets. You'll be able to snorkel, catch a wave, catch some rays, try rope swinging, check out waterfalls and caves, swim in a fresh water stream or even take a quick hike. In the winter, its very common to see whales breaching; they come to the warm waters of Hawaii to give birth to their young. Throughout the year, you can see turtles, loads of fish and birds, and even the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Na Pali Coast History

Once densely inhabited by native Hawaiians, the Na Pali coast is now a haven for hikers, kayakers and boaters who appreciate its rugged, remote beauty. The movie South Pacifc made Na Pali and Hanalei world famous and since then over 50 hollywood films have been shot in the area. The Na Pali cliffs are the second highest and fastest eroding sea cliffs in the world! This rapid erosion creates the dramatic beauty that makes this area of Hawaii a must-see.

The Kalalau Trail

The famed Kalalau trail is an 11 mile hike showcasing the stunning Na Pali coast. We'll spend an afternoon on the trail hiking the first two miles to Hanakapii beach. Na Pali is home to many species of plants which can only be found here on its cliffs. Keep an eye out for mountain goats as they like to scale the mountainside. While you're getting a great workout, you'll see some epic views of the Na Pali coast's striking "Cathedrals."

Na Pali Coast Geology

As the volcanic island of Kauai was forming about 6 million years ago, lava traveled through the island in tubes called lava dykes; the dykes cooled slower than the surrounding rock making them harder and more resistant to erosion. Then as the Na Pali Coast begins to erode, the lava dykes are exposed forming Na Pali's amazing "fingers" or cathedrals as they are sometimes called.