the place
The Nāpali Coast: sixteen miles of cliff with no road beside it
What the coast is, how people reach it on foot and by sea, and why Kalalau Valley matters.
Reserve the Nāpali sail ↗The coast in a few facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | About 16 miles (26 km) on Kauaʻi's northwest side |
| Runs from | Keʻe Beach in the east to Polihale State Park |
| Cliff height | Up to 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above the Pacific |
| State park | 6,175 acres, set up to protect Kalalau Valley |
| On foot | The Kalalau Trail: 11 miles, five major valleys |
| Beyond Kalalau Beach | Reached only by boat or helicopter |
Where it sits
The coast runs along the northwest side of Kauaʻi, the second-oldest inhabited Hawaiian island. It stretches southwest from Keʻe Beach all the way to Polihale State Park.
The cliffs
Nā pali means "many cliffs" in Hawaiian. Along the shore they rise as much as 4,000 feet above the Pacific, which is why the coast looks so different from the water than it does from a map.
No road, one trail
Vehicles cannot reach the shoreline. The Kalalau Trail, which begins where Kūhiō Highway ends, is the only land access, and it covers 11 miles and crosses five major valleys on the way to Kalalau Beach.
Kalalau Valley and the park
Nā Pali Coast State Park was formed to protect the Kalalau Valley. Camping inside it needs a valid permit.
Between Kalalau Beach and Polihale
That stretch cannot be walked and can only be reached by boat or helicopter. Kayak trips are a popular way to see it, and charter catamarans leave from Port Allen and Hanalei Bay.
Why a sail suits the coast
Because no road runs beside the coast, the water is where its cliffs and valley mouths line up in one view. The evening sail from Port Allen is one way to get there.