The North Shore of Kaua’i offers something special and enjoyable for everybody -- mauka (toward lush green mountains) or makai (toward the sea, superb beaches, and awesome shorelines and cliffs). We start exploring and planning Perfect Days on the North Shore at the former plantation town of Kilauea. In the vicinity you’ll find a wonderful variety of “Secret,” “hidden” and other scenic beaches around Kilauea north to the cliffs of Princeville and the edge of Hanalei Bay.
Each Perfect Day tries to squeeze as much as possible out of Kaua’i’s North Shore, mainly its beaches and shoreline, but also short walks or longer hikes on the Powerline Trail above Hanalei Valley and the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge and the Okolehao Trail that rises above the other (north) of Hanalei Valley. When you extend these short walks into hikes, of course the trails become more difficult and strenuous. It’s your choice, but almost everyone can walk the beginning of these trails and enjoy wonderful views without hiking all the way to “summits” at Kualapa Ridge or Kaukaopua Peak.
Of course any suggested Perfect Day can be stretched into several days or possibly even condensed into a couple of hours. For example, the lovely coastline and beaches that connect Kilauea, its picture-postcard Kilauea Lighthouse, and the fabled Princeville Resort can be visited in a day, if you’re really in a hurry, or provide several Perfect Days or as much as a glorious week. Perfect Day’s include several long beach walks – on Secret Beach, Anini Beach and Hanalei Bay.
If you have the time, we suggest spending as many as seven Perfect Days on Kaua’i’s North Shore. More adventuresome visitors will include a day on the Kalalau Trail or possibly another day on a guided 15-mile sea kayak trip along the Na Pali Coast. [See http://www.tombarefoot.com/Kaua’i/outfitters_kayak.html]
Highlights
Kilauea. Just past mile-marker 23, Kilauea Town is best known for its lighthouse surrounded by a seabird sanctuary, the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, and the nearby Kong Lung Company, Kaua’i’s oldest general store (1892), and today one of Hawai’i’s most attractive art and gift emporiums. Perhaps less well known are the scenic delights of surrounding hills, cliffs, bays and coves that attracted homes by Bette Midler and Sylvester Stallone, the charm of Kilauea itself and the town’s excellent restaurants, bakery and pizza shop. Add to this already wonderful mix the presence of many excellent vacation rentals in all price categories.
It won’t take long for you to realize that Kilauea and its environs is one of our favorite destinations on Kaua’i and in Hawai’i. Best known for Kilauea Lighthouse and the Refuge, also enjoy less well-known pleasures such as a self-guided or guided walk up Crater Hill, a trail to Kilauea Bay and its Kahili Beach, where boogie boarding often is excellent, and a mile-long kayak trip up Kilauea Stream. Cyclists can ride on the trail to Kilauea Bay, up Crater hill, around Kilauea, and inland through jungle and fruit growing lands.
Kilauea – Princeville. The Lighthouse stands on a bluff between two beaches – Secret Beach, that runs for two miles from Kilauea Point, and Kahili’s mile of sand along Kilauea Bay. No longer a Secret, the trail down to Secret Beach is easy to find. Further north, two roads head for Kalihiwai Bay's beaches that are safe for boogie boarders, surfers and snorkelers. Kayakers can paddle up Kalihiwai Stream under the highway to reach Kalihiwai Falls. Around the point from Kalihiwai Bay, Anini Beach has the longest coral reef in Hawaii, excellent snorkeling and windsurfing, scenery and shade to enjoy on picnics, and the start of a bike ride up to Princeville Resort.
Princeville’s Beaches. Above Anini, Princeville Bluff is the backdrop for exploring some overlooked destinations for snorkelers and beach lovers willing to hike down these bluffs to find several wonderful hidden beaches – Wyllie’s, Kaweonui Beach (SeaLodge), Hideaway’s (Pali Ke Kua Beach), Pu’u Poa Beach (not really hidden since it’s below the hotel) -- and black-rock tidepools at Queen Emma’s Baths.
Kalalau Trail. It only takes a half -mile of hiking up Kalalau Trail from Ke’e Beach to experience a spectacular viewpoint of Ke’e Beach and the Na Pali Coast. It’s your choice to continue on the Kalalau Trail to reach Hanakapi’ai Beach (4 miles roundtrip) and the Hanakap’ai Valley Trail to the dramatic spectacle of 100-foot Hanakap’ai Falls (8 miles roundtrip). Experiencing this awesome sight, however, will take at least six hours of hiking.
Powerline Trail. Across the road from Princeville Resort, the northerly entrance to the Powerline Trail leads to either just a short walk or a memorable trans-island hiking or mountain-biking journey up to Kualapa Ridge at a 2,000-foot elevation and scenic views of Hanalei Valley, North and East shores. Even a relatively short hike on Powerline leads to views of magnificent falls.
For mountain bikers, the Powerline Trail is a half-day trip that, for a Perfect Day, can be combined with other activities anywhere on the eastern or northern coasts. For hikers, spending at least an hour at the top of Kualapa Ridge (2128 ft.) and pausing often along the way up and down for views of mountains, the verdant Hanalei Valley and numerous waterfalls, the Powerline Trail is an all day activity.
Powerline also is very special because it is the only inland connection between the North Shore and East Shore. Powerline can be accessed from either the Princeville side or the Wailua side. If you start the 13-mile trail from Wailua, Powerline is a very tough uphill climb for five miles, to Kualapa Ridge, before descending gradually into the Hanalei Valley. Deep mud and ruts make it difficult to impossible in small sections for mountain bikers. Bicycling or hiking from either direction, the main goal is Kualapa Ridge and its marvelous views of Hanalei Valley and Bay, and Nounou Mountain (“Sleeping Giant”).
Hanalei Town and Bay. Hwy. 56 turning down to Hanalei Bay from Princeville extends to beautiful Haena, Ke’e Beach and the Kalalau Trail. Hanalei Bay and Hanalei Town are one big playground at any time of day for visitors who want to walk, cycle, snorkel, shop, enjoy delicious food, watch a sunset from the Hanalei Pier or just hang out. From Hanalei’s popular Black Pot Beach near the Hanalei Pier, Hanalei Bay offers a series of beaches near town for a stroll, picnic or dip.
Exploring Rivers and Valleys. Steep Okolehao Trail leads up the Hanalei River through a bamboo forest about 1,200-feet up to a peak called Kaulaopua, the best view of Hanalei and picnic spot on the North Shore. This 5-mile trip and its breathtaking views of North and East coastlines and mountains takes about 3-4 hours roundtrip.
Wainiha Valley. Several scenic river valleys – the Hanalei, Lumaha’i, and the Wainiha – extend across Hwy. 56 through lush hinterlands to the foothills. These rivers and their valleys attract kayakers as well as hikers. Wainiha Valley has some of the best vacation rentals on Kaua’i. Past glorious Lumaha’i Beach, the magical paradise of South Pacific, reef-protected Tunnels Beach attracts snorkelers, surfers ride the reef break at Cannons Beach, and everyone enjoys watersports at Ke’e Beach, located at road’s end on the North Shore.
Checklist
Anini Beach – longest coral reef in the islands, Kaua’i’s best windsurfing, safe kayaking, good swimming, tidepools and coves, miles of cycling, pleasant surfing, public park facilities, and shade for picnics
Black Pot Beach – surfers ride the break, swimming good in calm conditions, and kayak access to Hanalei River
Blue Room – a chamber, accessible only by swimming, located in the upper wet cave near Ha’ena where light filtered through the water turns everything blue
Cannons Beach – great surfing but mainly for experienced surfers and snorkelers
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church – in Kilauea, built of lava rock with stained glass windows
Crater Hill – great views of the coast and bird sanctuary from a few hundred feet above Kilauea Lighthouse
Dry Cave, Maniniholo – across the street from Ha’ena Beach Park, said to be dug by Menehune fishermen looking for supernatural beasts stealing their fish
Fort Alexander – beautiful sunset views of Hanalei Bay from the rim of Princeville
Guava Kai Plantation – on Kuawa Road off Hwy. 56 near Kilauea, tour, gift shop, samples, and gardens
Ha’ena Beach Park – parking, showers, good beach walking and easy access to Ke’e and Tunnels beaches
Haena State Park – includes Ke’e Beach, Wet Caves, Limahuli Botanical Gardens, and the birthplace of hula
Hanakapi’ai Beach – the first beach on the Kalalau Trail hike
Hanakapi’ai Falls – a 300-foot falls two miles inland from the Kalalau Trail
Hanalei Bay – a big, beautiful bay edged by four beaches – Pu’u Poa, Black Pot, Wai’oli and Waikoko – the Hanalei Pavilion and Pier, and the mouth of the Hanalei River
Hanalei River – offers miles of kayaking into the Hanalei River Valley
Hanalei Town – enjoyable walking and cycling to see the local scene, shops, restaurants and historic landmarks
Hanalei Wildlife Refuge – walk for birdwatchers, hike through Bamboo Forest to Hanalei River, and hike up Okolehao Trail to Kaukaopua for great views of the Hanalei region
Hideaways Beach – a small cove below Princeville bluffs with good snorkeling, surfing and scenic views
Kahili Beach – Kilauea Bay’s beach where boogie boarding and surfing is popular
Kahiliholo – a 4-5 mile road winds upward through a tropical valley that also carries the Kalihiwai River
Kalalau Trail – an 11-mile trail along the Na Pali coast from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach filled with switchbacks, ups and downs and stunning views
Kalihiwai Bay – a popular surfing spot and kayak access to the Kalihiwai River
Kalihiwai River – navigable between the two Kalihiwai roads from Kalihiwai Bay for only a short distance to Kalihiwai Falls
Kaukaopua – great 360-degree viewpoint at the end of the Okolehao Trail reached on a trail through the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge
Kauluolaka Hula Heiau – historically where ancient hula and chants have been performed
Kaweonui Beach – offshore reef makes for good snorkeling from this sandy black-rock cove
Ke’e Beach – a perfect little cove and sandy beach protected by an extensive reef, located within Ha’ena State Park at the western end of Hwy. 560
Kenomene Beach – next to Hideaway Beach below Princeville with excellent snorkeling in calm surf
Kilauea Bay – boogie boarding and surfing is popular at the Bay’s beach, Kahili Beach, and also access for kayaking on the Kilauea River
Kilauea Lighthouse – the most northerly point in Hawaii sits on the Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge 200 feet above the sea and Secret Beach, and provides a viewpoint for Moku'ae'ae Island covered with seabirds
Kilauea River – curves from Kilauea Bay through a river valley for about a mile
Kolokolo Point – where the Lumaha’i River empties into the ocean
Limahuli Tropical Garden – a National Tropical Botanical Garden near Ke’e Beach full of native Hawaiian vegetation
Lumaha’i Beach – legendary scenic “South Pacific” beach about a mile long
Lumaha’i River – a short stretch of river for kayaking
Manoa Stream – a beautiful, lush trail follows the stream for about a half-mile
Mokolea Point – part of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Okolehao Trail – rises 1,200 feet to Kaukaopua and a great view of the Hanalei region
Powerline North – an all-day hike or a challenging bicycle ride of 13-miles to Keahua Arboretum on the East Shore, with views of Hanalei Valley all the way up the 7-mile climb to Kualapa Ridge for great views of the North and East shores
Princeville – outstanding collection of small coves and beaches – Pu’u Poa Beach, Hideaways Beach, Kenomene Beach, and Kaweonui Beach – shoreline volcanic pools (Queen Emmas Baths) for snorkeling and swimming, and beautiful views
Princeville Ranch – provides horseback rides to Kalihiwai Falls and Anini Beach
Pu’u Poa Beach – situated below the Princeville Hotel and Hanalei Bay Resort, outstanding for snorkeling, a short kayak paddle from the Hanalei River, and a local surfing spot
Quarry Beach – on Kilauea Bay east of the Lighthouse
Queen Emmas Baths – several black-rock tidal pools below Princeville that can be explored with fins or snorkeling
Secret Beach – a long beach extending from Kilauea Lighthouse to Kapuka’amoi Point at the mouth of Kalihiwai Bay
St. Sylvester’s Church – in Kilauea the octagonal church of lava rock whose walls are covered with frescoes by Jean Chalet
Third Secret Beach – one of three parts of Secret Beach, closest to Kilauea Lighthouse
Tunnels Beach – located near Ha’ena Beach Park, the best snorkeling on Kaua’i, especially during the summer, for both beginners and more experienced snorkelers
Wai’oli Beach Park – middle beach in Hanalei Bay, shaded by pretty ironwoods
Wai’oli Mission House – built in Hanalei (1841) by missionaries Abner and Lucy Wilcox
Waikoko Beach – an uncrowded place to swim and picnic near Hanalei
Wainiha River Valley – between Hanalei and Haena, provides a route to cycle, kayak or walk upriver towards the Wainiha Pali
Wyllie Beach – the far end of Anini Beach, a good spot to swim, cycle or hike to and around Princeville and Anini Beach
posted by arno @ 8:18 AM
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