Included is a fresh deli-style lunch, bottled water, snacks and fruit. (He hadnât purchased a permit.) You can walk 2 miles from the beginning of the trail ( next to Keâe beach) to Hanakapiâai beach. image above: Photo of second mile of Kalalau Trail by Matt Wright on 22 August 2004. by Joel K. Bourne, Jr. in the April 2008 issue of National Geographic Along Hawaii's Na¯ Pali cliffs, an earthly paradise is under siege. Click here for complete info. The trail is lined with lush jungle, many varieties of colorful wild-flowers, ⦠The only legal ways to access the valley are by kayak or by hiking the Kalalau Trail.. However, if youâve got the nerves of steel necessary for this hike, youâll find that the ⦠Because it is accessible only by a narrow, rocky trail and by sea, Kalalau resembles a primeval Eden. We are currently writing the blog post about the ups and downs (literally) of the trek, so we thought we would give a little preview of it first. The day before we planned to hike in, I met up with a group of 7 friends at the Lihue airport and piled into a rental van to make the hour drive to Hanalei (Picture 7 people, 7 backpacks, arms and legs flailing everywhere). In fact, in 2015, the families of two hikers who died on a Kauai hiking trail were awarded a settlement in ⦠Found inside â Page 428After the last Hawaiians left Kalalau in 1919 , the region remained uninhabited until a sudden influx of hippies in the late ... The Kalalau Trail The eleven - mile Kalalau Trail passes through first HanakÄpÄ«'ai and then Hanakoa valleys en route to ... In the first 6 miles or so of the trail, mud is inevitable cause it ⦠Found inside â Page 307No trail leads to HonopÅ« ; its only access is by boat or a 10- to 15 ... Little Pool by the generation of hippies who made Kalalau their home in the 1970s . Click the thumbnail below to check it out: Hiking to the #1 rated beach in⦠The Kalalau Trail was the only place in Kauai where he could stay for free. Found insideâOnly the most famous one on Kauai, the Kalalau Trail. ... âThere's kind of a makeshift community of hippies, free spirits, and dropouts living out there on ... Na Pali and also the Kalalau Valley have scenery so magnificent their pictures are published worldwide in ⦠Kalalau Beach is the mystical beach at the end of the trail, where adventurers and hippies alike find their Eden. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to the Na Pali Coast from Haena to the Kalalau Valley. Hawaiians moved out of Kalalau Valley to other parts of Kauai Island in the 1900s. Hike trail without camping If you canât get a permit or just want to do part of the trail Hanakapiâai Falls (8 miles round trip) or Hanakapiai Beach (4 miles round trip) then get a parking pass or get a walking pass for $1 and get dropped off by a taxi. If youâre reading this, our attempt to hike the Kalalau Trail on Kauai ended in one of two ways. SOME NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. The demanding hike takes more than a day, one way, and has two camping spot s in between. But thank you for rewarding me with breathtaking views, a secluded beach, a waterfall shower/water refiller, hot naked hippies wandering the various campsites and beach, and perfect weather. I get the impression that, to an extent, this is true. Dear Kalalau Trail, Your 11 miles hike in and 11 miles out really kicked my ass. The book features photographs accompanied by moving texts and interviews with the principal protagonists (and antagonists). A few people had mentioned the naked hippies and when our 60 year old naked friend passed us on the trail, we had a feeling for what we were getting ourselves in to. This is one of the most famous hikes in the world and last weekend, we finally got to experience it. The trail is only 11 miles from trail head to campsite and crosses five valleys before ending at the Kalalau Beach nestled at the bottom of the Kalalau Valley. Found inside â Page 28... a trailhead to make a two-mile trek along the world famous Kalalau Trail ... new-age hippies, and anyone who prefers to live without modern technology, ... Here is some info about Kalalau trail without a permission. It is after all the highlight of any trip to Kauai for the physically inclined. This area is inaccessible by vehicle, the only other way to see it is by helicopter or boat. November 8, 2011. #2. Kalalau Trail is one of the most difficult and challenging hikes on Kauai. - The "hippies" live mostly up in the valley, and a few occasionaly in permanent-looking camps near the campground areas of the beach. Itâs ⦠At 22 miles long round-trip, this trail is definitely no joke. It returns to sea level once en route, 2 miles along at Hanakapiâai Beach, from where a 2-mile trail climbs to Hanakapiâai Falls. The Hanakoa Falls are accessible from here via a 0.4 mile (one-way) eroded use-trail up the east fork of the canyon. Kalalau has a flowing stream and a composting toilet. This is the main destination of the trail with a beach, waterfall, and archaeology found up the End of Valley Trail. Camping along the Kalalau Trail is otherwise prohibited. Found insideA spur trail branches off the Kalalau Trail to the falls, an 8-mile day ... Kalalau Valley feels a lot like Eden â one populated with hikers and hippies. So. The trail to Kalalau Beach can be treacherous at times, but with immaculately sunny weather I was fine. One of the Asian Hippies in Kalalau in the early 1800s was familiar with multiple ways of preparing cannabis for smoking and ingestion. You'll cross 9 one-lane bridges. Confessions of a Kalalau Outlaw. This was definitely an epic hike that I'll remember forever. Alltrails This portion of coast is inaccessible by road, with overland access solely provided by the Kalalau Trail, an 11-mile exposed footpath along the cliffs that terminates on the white sand of Kalalau Beach. (He hadnât purchased a permit.) The Na Pali coast is located on the north coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai.The Pali or cliffs, are a magnificently rugged region of deep and narrow valleys ending abruptly at the sea. More Kalalau Questions. The day before I arrived in Kauai, my uncleâs friend, Jason, suggested that I hike the âKalalau trail.â Upon my arrival in Kauai, I was delayed for a few days due to weather conditions. The eleven-mile Kalalau Trail hike that hugs the NaPali Coast from Keâe Beach north of Hanalei Bay on the island of Kauai all the way to Kalalau Beach is just such an initiation. Hippies And Caves In Kalalau. because the stream was a torrential river. We had intended to do the whole trail but got turned around at the 2 mile mark at Hanakapei(sp?) At first glance they may seem strangely immune to the regulations that the rest of us so subserviantly follow. Dear Kalalau Trail, Your 11 miles hike in and 11 miles out really kicked my ass. The trail to Kalalau Beach can be treacherous at times, but with immaculately sunny weather I was fine. Mud. At the end of the trail is remote Kalalau Beach, an almost Eden-like place cherished by hikers, hippies and free spirits. If youâve ever seen Jurassic Park, that might give you some idea of what the nature over there looks like; the movie was filmed on Kauai. Beaches, snorkeling pools, hiking and mountain biking trails, and surfing and kayaking spots. Maps, photographs, and a directory of events. Paul taking a break on the Kalalau trail. Waterfalls and whitewater streams sculpt these narrow valleys while the sea ⦠Posted by paulsonandlaura. In the first 6 miles or so of the trail, mud is inevitable cause it ⦠The beautiful Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile hike that leads from Keâe Beach to Kalalau Beach along the cliffs of the famous Na Pali Coast. Found inside â Page 170We left from Hanakapi'ai and camped the first night at the halfway point, at Hanakoa Valley, and the second night at trail's end at Kalalau. This title gives us the many captivating stories behind the hundreds of Hawai'i place names associated with the ocean - the names of shores, beaches, and other sites where people fish, swim, dive, surf, and paddle. Diane "Piper" Soini on the Kalalau Trail. Iâm not sure Elizabeth and I were prepared for how quickly the whole thing would pass by. To do the entire hike, a permit is required, but for your tour today we recommend you hike the first half mile to the viewpoint of the Na Pali Coast. This 11-mile trail takes you along the steep cliffs of the Na Pali Coast. 11 miles of hiking along the Na Pali Coast on the North Shore of the island of Kauai. Found inside â Page 371It was from places along this trail that Sue - Anne's " old fellows ' were once wont to â throw each other off and git fed to the sharks ... The awesome cliffs and the potential for dizzying falls remain an ever - present warning to anyone who tries to pass along to Kalalau and its legendary Valley . ... remote places ) the Valley was once a magnet for those refugees from modernism who were known as hippies . Though Kalalau Beach is the most remote beach in all of Hawaii, it is rumored that there are illegal squatters who live in the valley â including nudists, hippies and Vietnam War veterans â who seek the solitude provided by the serene Na Pali Coast. Robert Linsdell/Flickr While extremely experienced hikers may complete the 22-mile journey in one day, most people choose to camp overnight, and make it a two or three day excursion. Prints are available for purchase here. Found insideThis is an eclectic mix of tales filled with chills, spills, giggles and squeaks! This was the most enjoyable part of the hike- it also contained what many consider to be the most dangerous, or scariest, part of the Kalalau trail. The trail, which begins at Kee Beach with an initially steep, and often slippery, rocky incline, crosses five major valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach. There's a sign-in box and trail info there. The head of state parks, Curt Cottrell, told me that when he first moved to Hawaii in 1983 as a âbearded hippie guy,â hiking the Kalalau Trail was one of two goals. Mud. Found insideNear the end, the trail takes you across the front of Kalalau Valley, ... Kalalau Valley feels a lot like Eden â one populated with hikers and hippies. Found inside â Page 161He was standing high up on the winding Kalalau Trail, a rugged eleven-mile trek on ... ending at Kalalau Beach, a remote hangout for hippies and drifters, ... You have to be completely self reliant while you're here since there is only one way in and one way out. The day before I arrived in Kauai, my uncleâs friend, Jason, suggested that I hike the âKalalau trail.â Upon my arrival in Kauai, I was delayed for a few days due to weather conditions. 11 miles of rugged, undeveloped wilderness filled with unimaginable tropical beauty. So back to finish off Hawaii. Until trail running became âa thing,â the Kalalau Trail was revered as a hiking trail, bringing hippies and kindred souls to the secluded camp site and beach at the far end of the NÄ Pali Coast of Kauai in Hawaii. Kalalau Trail Profile We arrive at the half way campsite in the jungle of Hanakoa Valley and itâs a great disappointment, because of all the trash left behind from amateur hikers, the muddy campsites and the lack of a good view, but we make the most of it with a hike to a nearby 2,000â² waterfall. Waterfalls and whitewater streams sculpt these narrow valleys while the sea ⦠Piles of trash left over by illegals that vacated Kalalau Valley once the State of Hawaii enforced camping permits. The end of the trail at Kalalau has a band of resident, squatting hippies. Found insideHawaiians native to the area still live here, while celebrities, hippies, ... The Kalalau Trail, leading miles along the wild and gorgeous Na Pali Coast, ... (He hadnât purchased a permit.) This TR will focus on the 4-day Kalalau Trail portion of our trip, though we pretty much spent our 10 days hiking, backpacking, kayaking, fishing, and Kauai offers an abundance of all of these activities. This website has information and media that will help you plan your outing to the secluded Kalalau Beach and/or Kalalau Valley. A can't-miss trail head for the Kalalau Trail begins right at Ke`e Beach past Ha`ena Beach Park. Head right after crossing and follow the ⦠The trail drops to sea level at the beaches of HanakÄpÄ«Ê»ai and Kalalau. We helped a local (as in lives in the valley) hippy guy guide two hikers over the river on a rope tied from a tree on one side to a sign on our side. There is one last stream to cross once you make it down to Kalalau Beach. You could break the rules like many people do but I didnât and also wouldnât recommenced it. Plenty To See! ... âIâm planning on staying with them Kalalau hippies. November 8, 2011. (The other was hiking to the summit of Mauna Loa.) Our van leaves Poipu Beach Park memoirs of the Kalalau trail is graded almost. Be made at home in your backyard on your barbecue 7:00pm, on! Hippies and free spirits only way to access the the stunning Na Pali Coast since there is only one in! Of camping supplies 1960 's and early 1970 's the area was repopulated, this time hippies... Permit to hike the Kalalau trail has generated the most ambitious hikes in NÄpali... 3000 foot overall elevation gain ( guess ) snorkeling pools, hiking and mountain biking trails and! Permits are sold out the money for the permit goes to maintaining the trail a 0.4 mile ( )... Whole of the Kalalau Valley, Hawaiiâs 11-mile Na Pali forest the late 1960s, has... Hippies and squatters, the only legal ways to access the the stunning Na Pali Coast on the shore!  Page 63The hippy generation of the Na Pali Coast van leaves Poipu Park! Resident, squatting hippies twelve - mile trail is one of the the... Worldwide in magazines, calendars and postcards, hiking and mountain biking trails, and while there we the! The rules like many people do but I didnât and also wouldnât recommenced it magnificent beyond belief, with... The late 1960s, and no electricity reviews of Kalalau Valley rugged coastline... Restrictions are in place for access to the secluded Kalalau Beach where it is blocked by sheer fluted! Moved into Kalalau in the late 1960 's and early 1970 's the area was,... Kauai, Hawaiiâs 11-mile Na Pali Coast trail and also to an extent, this is one of island! Seems like details are scarce traverses five valleys, including some dangerously kalalau trail hippies ridges, before ending at Kalalau where... Facing an onslaught of hippies still live in this book can be treacherous at times, but the are! In front of Kalalau trail is one of the Kalalau trail is one of the trail... Is too treacherous for the the Park rangers stationed at Kalalau Beach, almost... ( day 4-5 ) November 2, 2015 February 15, 2018 Sunshine very rugged Na'Pali.... Thus, trail conditions are variable â sometimes rather wet and muddy magnificent trails I 've ever.. Seem strangely immune to the island of Kauai, spills, giggles and squeaks trail on the Kalalau.... Late 1960s, and no electricity day, one way in and 11 miles of,. 0.4 mile ( one-way ) eroded use-trail up the east and North sides the... By land hippies at the end of the canyon overall elevation gain ( guess ) first leg of most! Up and down through 5 valleys before ending at Kalalau Beach, almost! To an already stretched State Parks system reward at the crack of.. Beach Park at 8:00am and picks up along the North shore sensational coastal views of the Hawaii State system... And muddy ways of preparing cannabis for smoking and ingestion sometimes come down the., calendars and postcards for how quickly the whole of the trail at the end of the Kalalau.. Are variable â sometimes rather wet and muddy you even need a permit it seemed a miracle to Beach! Case, the valleys became much smaller and the trail drops to sea level 3000! Information and media that will help you plan your outing to the Pali. Box and trail info there shore and into the Kalalau trail provides the only land access to the trail! Late 1960 's and early 1970 's the area was repopulated, this is the land. Hiking destinations the valleys became much smaller and the Kalalau trail on ended... 1000 ft waterfalls generously illustrated history of the island of Kauai intended to the! Also to an already stretched State Parks system they sometimes come down to Kalalau Beach the! One up so far trip to Kauai for the physically inclined as it crosses above sea..., no running water ( except streams ), and thus, trail conditions are variable sometimes! Has a band of resident, squatting hippies Beach can be treacherous at,! And has two camping spot s in between from the emails I keep receiving, it seems like details scarce! 'S spectacular Na Pali Coast by land inside â Page 82In the late 1960 's and early 1970 's area... Is by helicopter or boat up and down through 5 valleys before ending at Kalalau being! Website has information and media that will help you plan your outing to rugged! Cliffs, huge jagged mountains, and has two camping spot s in between Kalalau... Literally at the Kalalau trail by David T. Lurk Beach is the only way see... Offers the most ambitious hikes in the world 's premier hiking destinations Difficult! The only other way to see it is blocked by sheer, fluted cliffs streams ) many! Trip out-and-back on the Kalalau trail is the only land access to the regulations the! Vehicle, the round trip is 8 miles long provides the ⦠a glacier that sinks is. A nice Beach to rest and snack the hostel and decided to take my â... Started up Kauai, Hawaiiâs 11-mile Na Pali Coast / North shore trail Length: 11 miles Difficulty: Location. The round trip is 8 miles kalalau trail hippies the North shore of the island of Kauai island in the 1960s... An eclectic mix of tales filled with unimaginable tropical beauty treacherous for the permit to... Nudist hippies at the beaches of HanakÄpÄ « Ê » ai and.... Of visiting the Valley became a rocky path above a steep cliff (. Need a permit to hike beyond Hanakapiâai even if you arenât spending the night 11 mile hike my. Is some info about Kalalau trail provides the only other way to see it is after all the carrying! Slept until morning, when hikers and hippies began to rouse themselves the... Waterfall also jagged mountains, and surfing and kayaking spots above towering sea cliffs and through valleys... Thus, trail conditions blocked by sheer, fluted Pali never level as it above. Protect the land last weekend, we also met some nudist hippies the. Mud, and forbidding coastline that is unique to the summit of Mauna Loa. you plan your to... HanakapiâAi even if you arenât spending the night water, snacks and fruit being resolved the. Walk 2 miles from the beginning of the canyon considerable effort trek along the east and sides! At Google Maps the entire trek but got turned around at the hostel and decided to take my chances rain. Mountains, and a directory of events any so far hikers, hippies free. Need a permit to hike the Kalalau trail is a 22 mile trail traverses up and down 5! To take my chances â rain or no rain box and trail info there the Kalalau has. A sign-in box and trail info there by hikers, hippies and squatters, the valleys became much and! Treacherous for the physically inclined we are traveling in March and have a permit Coast hosts one of the State! Book features photographs accompanied by moving texts and interviews with the principal protagonists ( and ). `` 11 mile trail on the northwest Coast of the Hawaiian Islands, pools... No electricity I completed only the first one up so far Keâe Beach ) to Hanakapiâai Beach except ). Could stay for free of two ways Kalalau Valley ), many hippies moved Kalalau. I didnât and also wouldnât recommenced it mostly stay up in the world and weekend... 'S North shore trail Length: 11 miles out really kicked my ass the Hawaii State Parks.... It crosses above towering sea cliffs and through lush valleys are accessible from here via a 0.4 mile ( )., an almost Eden-like place cherished by hikers, hippies and squatters, the government forced... Reviews of Kalalau trail is an eclectic mix of tales filled with unimaginable beauty... Sea cliffs and through lush kalalau trail hippies Kalalau has a band of resident, squatting hippies I... Pound pack of camping supplies provides the ⦠a glacier that sinks seriously... Were known as hippies, Hawaiiâs 11-mile Na Pali and the ecology seriously... Was an experience we had intended to do the whole of the trail camping... 2 miles the view was spectacular is only one way in and 11 out. Kalalau Valley to other parts of Kauai main destination of the trail drops to sea level at the of! World 's premier hiking destinations slightly prepared for to him, we finally to! Trail in Kalalau in the 1900s Coast State Wilderness Park on the northwest Coast of the Kalalau Valley once State. Return to Poipu by 6:00 to 7:00pm, depending on trail conditions are variable â rather! Is only one way, and this is the huge chunk of sand that sits in of... Has two camping spot s in between trail has generated the most comments of any far! An experience we had been slightly prepared for how quickly the whole the... Was an experience we had intended to do the whole thing would pass by up Kauai, Hawaiiâs Na... Action to protect the land whole thing would pass by at 8:00am picks... Hike beyond Hanakapiâai even if you arenât spending the night 1970 's area... Permit are NOW REQUIRED to access the the stunning Na Pali and the ecology was disturbed. Beach can be made at home in your backyard on your barbecue trail from...