The Na Pali Coast on Kauai, Hawaii (with Map & Photos)

Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii - The Na Pali Coast is a sacred place characterized by extraordinary natural beauty. These razor-sharp emerald cliffs rise above the Pacific Ocean, revealing beautiful beaches and waterfalls that plummet into the lush valley floor. The rugged terrain seems the same as it did centuries ago when Hawaiian settlements thrived in these deep, narrow valleys, subsisting only on the food they could grow and the fish they could catch. There are many ways to explore the Na Pali Coast, but the safest access and the best views are by sea or air. Boat tours depart from Port Allen in the west, and during the summer months, guided kayak trips bring you up close to the soaring cliffs of the cathedral.

Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii
Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii

When conditions are right, rafting tours are available, which will take you to hidden sea caves and remote beaches. Air tours, most of which depart from Lihue Airport, are perhaps the best way to understand the scale of the Na Pali Coast. You will also see the majestic Manawayopuna Waterfall. Whichever tour you choose, the natural splendor of the Na Pali Coast will leave a deep impression on your soul.

Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii
Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii

The impregnable cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, part of the beautiful island of Kauai, have long guarded the solitude of this lost corner of the planet. However, the publication of a short article and just one photograph in National Geographic magazine in 1960 changed the situation radically. The authors of the article about Hawaii for the first time told the world about the coast of Na Pali, about its amazing winding beaches and emerald valleys, surrounded by tall picturesque cliffs. From that moment on, adventurers from all over the world rushed to the island of Kauai, wanting to get in touch with the still untouched nature of these places.

Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii
Na Pali Coast Kauai Hawaii

Volcanic Kauai is the oldest of the main islands of Hawaii. Its age is about 6 million years. Due to such a solid age, Kauai has the longest sandy coast among the islands of Hawaii. The Na Pali Coast is a chain of picturesque valleys, bounded on one side by the sea, on the other - by rocks and mountain ridges that rise high above the Pacific Ocean.

Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park Map