Kauai - A week on the Nā Pali Coast
The Garden Isle
Composed of 97% undeveloped mountain ranges and rainforests, bordered by 43 miles of beaches…
To get right down to it Kauai lived up to all expectations- golden sand beaches (duh), backed by towering mountains shooting out of the sea blanketed by impenetrable green, tropical rain showers (never a nuisance always just seemingly the perfect addition to the scene), can’t forget unlimited poke, mind-blowing bbq and just quite simply that island-time lifestyle; everything was perfect down to the hula girl stuck on the dash of our 4-door Jeep, available through TURO, from a great host.
Mikaela enjoying the most mellow of afternoons, at Tunnels Beach. This was an afternoon we intentionally made zero plans, picked a beach, drove to it and didn’t move. Wearing FAE.
Wanting to get the lay of the land and a first glimpse of something highly anticipated for the trip, Day 1 consisted of heading straight to the Kalalau lookout, at 4,000 feet it offered a stunning view over what would be the week’s main objective- hiking the Kalalau trail. The drive up also offered initial glances into Waimea Canyon… you know, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Epic.
For this recon mission of sorts, I’ve got to thank LifeProof for decking us out and, in exchange for some media, covering the cost of a heli-tour we would take the following day, from Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours. It was a pleasure in fact to have a mix of NËXT and FRĒ cases with us, as I will wholeheartedly say the FRĒ is their best phone case- waterproof, full coverage with a built in screen protector and just all around bomber.
The Kalalau Trail running 11 miles along the Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai, in the state of Hawaii, lines the island's north shore from Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley. The hike has been called one of the most beautiful, and dangerous, hikes in the United States.
The first glance at Hanakāpī‘Ai Beach, and countless ridges looming far off into the distance, giving one the first sense of the long and beautiful and long journey ahead..
The grand finale, was most certainly this 3 day excursion on the Kalalau Trail; permits are required and we were fortunate enough to secure them. An early morning start saw us on the trail first thing, granted there was lots of pausing to pick our jaws up off the narrow trail, take photos and purify water as we went, this blissfully dicey 11 mile trail of endless switchbacks and views took us an honest 8-9 hours to get done. In the end, as one walks over the iconic red earth descending into the Kalalau Valley, at last, it is entirely worth it.
We pitched a tent at the edge of the tree line, with a view of the aquamarine Pacific on our front doorstep, and stayed in this remote patch of paradise for 2 nights. One full day to explore, recover and eat all the food in our packs to lighten them for the trek back out. On day 3, promise of ice cold beer, any sort of incredible bbq and a shower expedited our exit and we were out in around 6 hours; accomplished, exhausted all over again, but knowing we just got to do something world renowned, thus filled with gratitude. So with that, to anyone considering this hike, it is without question a must.
Take a moment to enjoy the video below, a simple collection of some of the most breathtaking views we were fortunate enough to experience while hiking, driving and unforgettably even flying over the Nā Pali Coast.