Yesterday we hiked the Hanakapiai trial along the Na Pali Coast here on Kauai and it is hands down the most beautiful hike I've ever been on. If you're ever here, then I would highly recommend doing this hike because it is other worldly. I took all these photos yesterday and they in no way do it justice.
The trail starts at Ke'e Beach at the very end of the road (the only road) past Hanalei Bay. The hike itself can be pretty treacherous at times. We started late, which I don't recommend especially if you're not an experienced hiker, but at the same time we saw the sunset on the way back so it was worth it. The hike that we did was eight miles overall. Two miles in along the coast and you reach Hanakapiai Beach and then you can take it another two miles to this truly amazing waterfall which unfortunately I didn't get a good photo of sadly. Just trust me on this, it is incredible. The second part of the hike to the waterfall though, just to warn you, is gnarly and at times you're scaling large rocks and boulders so be prepared! The hike took us about 4 1/2 hours round trip, but we were hustling.
So a couple of reasons why this hike was so freakin magical. First of all, you're in the jungle, like literally, you feel like you're in the middle of Lost. We got rained on and saw multiple huge rainbows right there in front of you falling down into the sea. There were these little cats down at Hanakapiai beach who live there I guess by themselves. I think they get fed by all the hikers because they were just kicking it there, not scared of anyone.
Hands down, this is a must if you're in shape and want a little adventure while on Kauai. Just be prepared for rain (even though it definitely wasn't cold), wear very sturdy hiking or running shoes because it gets slippery, bring snacks and a lot of water (coconut water is even better). Lastly, start early so you're not rushing, because you want to be able to take in and enjoy this gorgeous place.
We have two more days here and I don't want to leave (sigh).
xoxo...Kate
