Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Permit Hāʻena State Park reservations.
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Hāʻena State Park reopened October 15, 2026 after closing September 6 for Hurricane Lowell. Go Hāʻena (Oct 24, 2026) says day hiking to Hanakāpīʻai Beach, the valley and the falls is open. Overnight camping and the Kalalau Trail past the 2-mile point stay closed until further notice. What the status labels mean
Hanakāpīʻai Falls is about 300 feet tall and sits about 2 miles inland from Hanakāpīʻai Beach on Kauai's Nāpali Coast. DLNR lists the hike from Hāʻena State Park as 8 miles round trip and says to allow a full day. Day use reopened October 15, 2026, but camping and the trail past the 2-mile point stay closed. Non-residents need a gohaena.com reservation.
About Hanakāpīʻai Falls
Hanakāpīʻai Falls (often typed Hanakapiai Falls) drops about 300 feet, according to Wikipedia; we found no agency figure. It sits about 2 miles inland from Hanakāpīʻai Beach, inside Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park.
The hike starts at Hāʻena State Park, at the start of the Kalalau Trail. DLNR's Division of State Parks manages both parks. Visitors from out of state book entry through Go Hāʻena at gohaena.com.
Hāʻena State Park closed on September 6, 2026 for Hurricane Lowell and reopened on Thursday, October 15. The shuttle restarted the same day. Go Hāʻena's FAQ, dated October 24, 2026, says day hiking to the beach, the valley and the falls is open.
Overnight camping and hiking past the 2-mile point of the Kalalau Trail stay closed until further notice, as listed Oct 2026. In normal times, DLNR says hiking past Hanakāpīʻai Valley needs a Nāpali camping permit.
Getting there and parking
Non-residents need a gohaena.com reservation for entry and parking or for the shuttle, while Hawaii residents with ID enter and park free.
Go Hāʻena reservations
Hawaii residents with a Hawaii driver's license, state ID or UH student ID enter and park free, first come first served. Everyone in the car must show ID.
Out-of-state visitors must book on gohaena.com. Reservations open 30 days ahead at 12am Hawaii time. Entry is $5 per person, and children 3 and under are free.
The parking price depends on which source you read. DLNR's park page and its October 13, 2026 release list $10 per vehicle. The Go Hāʻena FAQ lists $20 per car per time slot. Confirm the amount at checkout on gohaena.com.
Shuttle
The shuttle fare includes park entry. The Go Hāʻena FAQ lists $40 for adults 16 and up, or $45 from June 15, without naming the year. Ages 4-15 pay $25, and children 0-3 ride free on a lap. It runs from Waipā Park & Ride and Princeville.
Go Hāʻena charges a 10% cancellation fee. Cancel at least 48 hours ahead for a refund minus that fee; later cancellations are nonrefundable. If the shuttle service is suspended, shuttle bookings are refunded in full.
Overnight parking needs a camping permit and an overnight parking permit, and camping is closed until further notice. Elsewhere on Kauai, Wailua Falls near Lihue is a roadside overlook. DLNR hasn't said whether that overlook is open after the hurricane, so check its page first.
Map and nearby falls
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Hike from Keʻe Beach to the falls
DLNR lists the round trip from Hāʻena to Hanakāpīʻai Falls as 8 miles. Its Kalalau Trail description says to allow a full day for it, starting from Keʻe Beach.
Keʻe Beach to Hanakāpīʻai Beach (2 miles)
The first 2 miles follow the Kalalau Trail to Hanakāpīʻai Beach. DLNR says to allow 3 to 4 hours for the round trip to the beach alone.
Up Hanakāpīʻai Valley to the falls (2 miles)
From the beach, DLNR describes an unmaintained 2-mile trail up Hanakāpīʻai Valley to the falls. It says the trail gets harder as it crosses rocks and fallen trees. The route includes stream crossings.
DLNR says to hike the upper half of this trail only in good weather, because of flash floods and falling rocks. We found no official elevation gain figure, so pack water, food and rain gear for a long day.
Plan around your parking slot. Slots run 6:30am-12:30pm, 12:30-5:30pm and 4:30pm-sunset, and you must leave by the end of yours. A full-day hike may not fit inside one slot, so check gohaena.com for the option that suits it.
DLNR's hours are seasonal. Winter hours, from the day after Labor Day, run 7:00am to 6:45pm. Summer hours, from April 1, run 7:00am to 7:45pm.
When to visit
The park is open year-round, but floods and storms can shut it. DLNR says State Parks closes the Kalalau Trail ahead of flood warnings and during flash flooding.
Check the forecast for the mountains, not only the beach. DLNR's Na Ala Hele safety guidance says mountain rain can raise a stream suddenly, even when it looks dry where you are. It says waiting for the water to drop beats crossing a swollen stream.
Winter hours are shorter, with the park open until 6:45pm until summer hours begin on April 1. Start early so you finish in daylight and within your slot.
For a short, paved waterfall walk on Hawaiʻi Island, see ʻAkaka Falls.
| Height | 300 ftNote: about 300 ft per Wikipedia; no agency figure |
|---|---|
| Trail | 8 mi round trip from Hāʻena; DLNR says to allow a full day. Stream crossings |
| Entry fee | Non-residents: $5 per person entry plus parking, or a shuttle fare that includes entry. Hawaii residents with ID are free. |
| Permit / reservation | Non-residents need a Hāʻena State Park reservation on gohaena.com |
| Parking | Reserved time slots (non-residents); fee varies, check gohaena.com |
| Hours / season | Seasonal (DLNR): winter hours, from the day after Labor Day, 7:00am to 6:45pm; summer hours, from April 1, 7:00am to 7:45pm |
| Swimming | Not advised. DLNR warns of treacherous surf and rip currents at Hanakāpīʻai Beach, and Hawaii DOH warns against freshwater swimming (leptospirosis) |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No |
| Managed by | Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks (Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park; trailhead at Hāʻena State Park) |
Safety and swimming
Stream crossings and flash floods
Hanakāpīʻai Stream is a serious hazard on this hike. In a February 2016 release, DLNR said the stream at flood stage "has claimed numerous lives over the years". People trying to cross it have been swept out to sea.
Officials warn hikers not to cross until the water drops. If the stream is rising, muddy or fast, stay on your side and wait. Missing the end of your parking slot is better than risking the crossing.
On February 22, 2013, a 43-year-old visitor from New York City died after being swept away in Hanakāpīʻai Stream during a flash flood, the Star-Advertiser reported. Firefighters rescued other hikers stranded in the valley that day.
Beach surf and the falls pool
DLNR says the surf and rip currents at Hanakāpīʻai Beach are variable and often extremely treacherous. It does not recommend swimming or wading there, and warns in capital letters that drownings occur there regularly.
The Hawaii Department of Health advises against swimming or wading in any freshwater stream or pond in Hawaii, including the pool below these falls, because of leptospirosis. Do not drink untreated stream water. Our waterfall safety guide covers stream crossings and flash floods in more detail.
Where to stay near Hanakāpīʻai Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Hāʻena.
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Photos
Hanakāpīʻai Falls FAQ
Is Hanakāpīʻai Falls open after Hurricane Lowell?
Yes, for day use. Hāʻena State Park reopened October 15, 2026, and Go Hāʻena says hiking to Hanakāpīʻai Beach and Falls is open. Camping and the Kalalau Trail beyond the 2-mile point stay closed until further notice.
Do I need a permit or reservation to hike to Hanakāpīʻai Falls?
Non-residents need an entry plus parking reservation, or a shuttle reservation, on gohaena.com. Bookings open 30 days ahead at 12am HST. Hawaii residents with a Hawaii license, state ID or UH student ID enter free. No camping permit is needed to reach the falls.
How long is the Hanakāpīʻai Falls hike, and how long does it take?
DLNR lists 8 miles round trip from Keʻe Beach and says to allow a full day; the round trip to Hanakāpīʻai Beach alone takes 3 to 4 hours.
How much is parking at Hāʻena State Park?
$10 or $20, depending on the source. DLNR lists $10 per vehicle, while the Go Hāʻena FAQ lists $20 per car per time slot, plus $5 per person entry for non-residents. Check the price on gohaena.com when you book.
How much does the Hāʻena shuttle cost?
$40 for adults 16 and up, with park entry included, per the Go Hāʻena FAQ. It lists $45 from June 15 with no year given. Ages 4-15 pay $25, and children 0-3 ride free on a lap.
Is it dangerous to cross Hanakāpīʻai Stream?
Yes, when it's high. DLNR says the stream at flood stage has claimed numerous lives, with people swept out to sea. It says to hike the upper valley only in good weather. Do not cross rising or muddy water.
Can you swim at Hanakāpīʻai Falls or Hanakāpīʻai Beach?
It's not recommended at either. DLNR says the beach's surf and rip currents are often extremely treacherous and that drownings occur there regularly. At the falls, Hawaii DOH advises against freshwater swimming because of leptospirosis.
What time does Hāʻena State Park close?
6:45pm in winter and 7:45pm in summer, per DLNR. Leave by the end of your parking slot. DLNR's winter hours, from the day after Labor Day, are 7:00am to 6:45pm. Summer hours, from April 1, are 7:00am to 7:45pm.
Nearby waterfalls
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Sources
- DLNR: Hāʻena State Park reopening Oct 15 (10/13/26)
- DLNR State Parks: Hāʻena State Park
- DLNR State Parks: Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park
- Go Hāʻena: Info & FAQs
- DLNR: Backpackers stranded by flooded Hanakapiai Stream (2/17/16)
- DLNR Important Park Notices
- Star-Advertiser: 12 hikers rescued near swollen Hanakapiai Stream
- Hawaii DOH: Leptospirosis
- DLNR Na Ala Hele: Hiking safety
- Wikipedia: Hanakāpīʻai Falls
- DLNR State Parks: Kalalau Trail description
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks (Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park; trailhead at Hāʻena State Park) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.