Hanakapiai Beach

Hanakapiai Beach rests at the mouth of Hanakapiai Stream two miles from Ke'e Beach along the Na Pali Coast. It's big and wide and book marked on each side by steep cliff walls. You get a glimpse of the beach from high above before the trail descends to the valley floor and crosses the stream. Once on the other side you've arrived. This is the destination for most people hiking the Na Pali trail, but it's just a reststop along the way for people hiking all the way to Kalalau.

Hanakapiai Beach

Hanakapiai Beach is wide and large and covered with beautiful deep golden sand for most of the year. However, winter storms and the huge surf they create, erode all the sand at Hanakapiai and hikers that arrive during this time wonder why it's even called a beach without sand. Each spring/summer the sand is redeposited and Hanakapiai Beach is restored although it looks different to me every time I'm there.

Looking Up Hanakapiai Valley from the Beach

Many that hike to Hanakapiai continue upstream along the steam to Hanakapiai Falls which is two additional miles each way.

Hanakapiai Stream at Low Water

A sign with tally marks warns hikers of numerous drowning that have occurred at Hanakapiai. Although I question the accuracy of the tally on this unofficial sign, teok.com reports that between 1970 and 2012, there were 29 drowning deaths at Hanakapi'ai. Of these, 23 occurred in the winter (October through April) and 6 in the summer (May through September).

Several factors contribute to the large number of drowning deaths at Hanakapiai: It's remote, there isn't a lifeguard, it lacks an offshore reef, and perhaps the biggest problem is that riptides carry people to the west along NaPali with no safe place to exit for several miles. (news article) For this reason, I don't suggest swimming at Hanakapiai Beach, especially during the winter - stay high and dry on the beach. It's safer to take a refreshing dip in the stream.

The Hanakapiai Beach Hike is two miles long but it feels much much longer than 2 miles because it's steep and rugged. There are numerous switchbacks, boulders, and small streams to navigate and the trail has a lot of exposure. It's several hundred feet down to the crashing surf below you. The trail has lots of muddy spots and if you're trying to stay clean and dry forget it. I like to hike it in strap-on river sandals or running shoes that I don't mind getting dirty. I assume that those hiking in tidy-white tennis shoes and socks just put them in the garbage when they get back to the parking lot. If it is raining, or if it has rained hard within the last 12 hours or so, save the hike for another time. It'll wait for you.

Hanakapi'ai is pronounced "haw-naw-copy-eye" and means "bay sprinkling food" ¹.

Explore other beautiful Kauai Beaches.

Pictures and Comments By Doug Porter