Kauai paradise, Na Pali Coast. Seen here is the iconic landmark Honopū Valley which is within Nā Pali Coast State Park along the northwest shore of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. It’s known for its distinctive 90 feet (27 m) tall natural arch which is the tallest in Hawaii.
A huge hole in the lava along Na Pali coast.
Dramatic Hawaiian scenery: Na Pali Coastline.
“Nā Pali Coast State Park encompasses 6,175 acres (2,499 ha) of land and is located in the center of the rugged 16 miles (26 km) along the northwest side of Kauaʻi, the oldest inhabited Hawaiian island.” This rugged coastline on the shore of Kauai literally means “the Cliffs.”
Fire on the Na Pali coast.
Rainforest near Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii. Photo #6 by Lukas from Tokyo, Japan
Kaua’i – Helicopter Tour, Nā Pali Coast – Honopū Arch and Honopū Beach. For people who want to see scenic Na Pali from other than a helicopter, you can get out in nature to camp, hike, bike, kayak, para-sail, hang-glide, para-glide, windsurf, farm taro, surf, snorkel, dive, suntan or walk along the beach paradise.
Views like this incite spring fever and a thirst for getting out in nature and heading full-speed ahead to the gorgeous waters.
Kauai: Aerial view of Napali. Much of Na Pali Coast is inaccessible. Its characteristic sheer cliffs drop 4,000 feet (1200 m) straight down into the ocean.
While at Nā Pali Coast State Park, adventurers always check out Honopū Beach. Honopū means “‘conch shell’, and the valley’s name is derived from the conch shell-like sound its arch makes when hit by winds from the north.”
Cool perspective, “Napali kayaks safe from the sea.”
Napali Sea Breeze Tour – waterfall over the sea cave.
Inside Napali Sea Cave which was formed by giant crashing waves attacking the coastal cliffs.
Seclusion.
A view of the Nā Pali Coast from the ocean.
Double rainbow over Hanalei River Valley.
Looking inward along the coast.
Na Pali Coast Rainbow.
Napali Coast Morning by Chris Taleye; aerial – orientation map.
The Kalalau Trail which DailyVenture described as “Coming around the bend is Hanakapi’ai Beach then Ke’e Beach where the road ends (or begins, from our point of view). This is also the trailhead of the Kalalau Trail. Winding along the cliffs, through valleys and over streams, the Kalalau Trail is a rugged 11-mile (18 km) trek to Kalalau Beach. It takes 4 – 8 hours to do it, depending on speed and experience. In certain aerial photos the trail is visible, razor-sliced into the ridges in bright red strokes.”
Napali Coast, Garden Isle of Kauai. “The Kalalau Valley is located on the northwest side of the island of Kauaʻi in the state of Hawaiʻi. The valley is located in the Nā Pali Coast State Park and houses the beautiful Kalalau Beach. The Nā Pali Coast is very rugged and is inaccessible to automobiles. The only legal ways to access the valley are by kayak or by hiking the Kalalau Trail. The valley is renowned for its natural beauty; it is surrounded by lush cliffs more than 2,000 feet (610 m) high.” Photo #24 by wallpaper-s
The photographer wrote, “Overlooking the Kalalau Valley and the eroded, green cliffs of the Na Pali Coast in late-afternoon light. Hikers and backpackers camp in Kalalau Valley. Both the Beach and Valley are genuinely natural Kauai.”
Hanakapiai Beach.
Na Pali Coast is a slice of isolated, tropical paradise.
Honopū Valley is so fertile, “a castaway could survive there simply on the large amount of wild fruit, such as guavas and grapefruit, that grows along its coast.” Photo #29 by wallpaperpimper
Rainbow over Na Pali Coast taken from the top of the Waimea Canyon. Be prepared to get wet on the panoramic island and tropical forests of Kauai. But those heavy rainfalls swell the magnificent waterfalls along the rugged coastline.
Na Pali History – A Natural Fortress: “Because of the remote location of the coastline, only accessible by water or strenuous foot trails, the people that lived in these valleys were well protected. Outrigger canoes provided convenient travel by water in the summertime’s small surf. Over hundreds of years, Polynesians, and eventually the Tahitians, migrated to Na Pali by canoe, bringing influences that became the basis of Hawaiian culture. Outrigger canoes are still a part of Hawaiian culture today.”
Incoming tide.
Na Pali panorama. Honopū Valley, “As the valley is so hidden and isolated, it is believed to be spiritual: it is a place of temples and burial grounds, and the source of many Hawaiian legends and myths. The burial site for the local chiefs was located on the surrounding cliffs. It was believed that once a chief died, his bones held a supernatural power, and if found by others they could be used against the chief’s tribe. When chiefs died, their bones were collected and taken to the cliffs, and the warrior who transported the bones had to die in order to ensure the secrecy of the location of the bones.”
From the river to the seacoast.
Haena Point: “Hāʻena State Park is a state park located on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. It is often referred to as the “end of the road” and marks the end point of the Kuhio Highway. The park provides access to beaches, trails, and several ancient Hawaiian sites, including sea caves estimated to be more than 4,000 years old.”
Pacific Breezes: Kalalau Valley as seen from the Nā Pali Kona Forest Reserve Pihea Trail.
Hanalei homesteads. Population of Hanalei? A whopping 478 as of the 2000 census.
Honopū Valley, aerial view. Wikipedia reports, “No landing of any aircraft or boat is allowed in Honopū Valley or on its beach, so visitors must swim from an offshore boat or from neighboring Kalalau Beach. The valley, because of the mystery surrounding the exodus of the people who lived there until the mid-19th century, is sometimes called ‘The Valley of the Lost Tribe.’ In 1922, visiting archaeologists found several skulls thought to be primitive, pre-Hawaiian people. Later studies of the valley and its artifacts determined all of its residents were clearly Hawaiian, but the erroneous legend endures.”
Ruggedly beautiful Nā Pali Coast State Park and famous-in-films Honopū Valley. “Aircraft and boats that are part of Hollywood film productions are the only ones allowed in Honopū Valley. Honopū Valley is perhaps most famous for its appearances in the 1976 remake of King Kong and in the 1998 movie Six Days Seven Nights. In the 1976 remake of King Kong the beaches and jungles of Kauai, Hawaii were made to stand in for South Pacific…The producers and production crew of King Kong were told that Honopū Valley was uninhabited, but on the day that they arrived to start filming, they were shocked to find honeymooners on the beach. Scenes that involved filming in the ocean were hard to film due to the 12-foot-high waves. Most of the crew got seasick and one filming boat almost capsized. Examples of involved scenes are when the party arrive on Skull Island and the nighttime arrival to rescue Dawn; other scenes are the arrival of equipment to capture King Kong and Fred Wilson directing the rescue mission…For the film Six Days Seven Nights Hawaii was made to stand in for French Polynesia. Among the scenes filmed on Honopū Beach is the one where Harrison Ford runs from pirates. The arch is also included in the film. Other Hollywood movies with filmed in Honopū Valley are Honeymoon in Vegas, Acapulco Gold, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Sunset. Spring fever yet?
Glass Beach — Hanapepe, Kauai. The photographer noted, “A beach in the industrial section of Hanapepe, Kauai called ‘Glass Beach’ due to tons of smooth glass pebbles on the beach.”
Secret Kauai Beach
Napali Coast at Sunset, Kauai, Hawaii.
Source
