The Na Pali Coast starts at the end of the road on Kauai's North Shore, and so do we. Na Pali Kayak is the only Na Pali kayak outfitter based in Hanalei — you check in fifteen minutes from the launch, not ninety minutes across the island.
Most Na Pali tours leave from the west or south side of Kauai — Port Allen, Kikiaola, Polihale. That is a long way from the North Shore, and if you are staying in Hanalei, Princeville or Kilauea it means a pre-dawn drive most of the length of the island before anything begins.
Ours starts in town. Park at our shop on Kuhio Highway, meet your guides, and take a fifteen-minute van ride to the sand at Ha'ena Beach Park. The coast begins about twenty minutes after you launch.
| From Hanalei (us) | From the west or south side | |
|---|---|---|
| Your drive | Minutes, if you are staying on the North Shore | 45 minutes to 90+, before check-in |
| Check-in | Our shop on Kuhio Highway, Hanalei | A harbour or a beach car park |
| Getting to the launch | 15-minute shuttle, included | You drive yourself |
| Where you paddle | East to west, with the trade winds behind you | Out and back from the western end |
| Parking | At our shop | At the harbour or trailhead, at your own risk |
“We felt safe and cared for the entire time, even though it was a windy day — rain, sun, rainbows, wind — we had it all.”
Most of what we run starts here in Hanalei — the Ha'ena day trip, the camping trips and private charters all check in at the shop. Only the Polihale day trip meets on the west side.
Embark on the most popular Napali Day Trip from Hā'ena to Polihale, a 17-mile paddle that takes you along the breathtaking northwest coast of Kauai. This adventure offers a unique opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes and vibrant marine life of the Na Pali Coast. Whether you're an experienced kayaker or a first-timer, this trip promises an unforgettable experience filled with natural beauty and excitement.
For the adventurous and daring explorers, our Na Pali Coast Camping trip offers a unique opportunity to camp in the remote regions along the secluded beaches of Kauai. This experience combines the thrill of camping with the excitement of kayaking, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Na Pali Coast.
We are on Kuhio Highway in Hanalei, the second building on the left as you come into town, next to Postcards. Rough drive times, and Kauai's one-lane bridges mean you should always add a buffer:
Check-in for the Ha'ena day trip is 6:00 a.m. If you are staying south, that is an early start — plenty of guests book a night on the North Shore before the trip, and we would recommend it.
The night before matters more than you think. A 6:00 a.m. check-in and a twelve-hour day on the water go better after a night on the North Shore than after an alarm at 4:30 in Poipu.
Ha'ena Beach Park is a county beach and needs no reservation — that is where we launch. It is not the same place as Ha'ena State Park at Ke'e, which is the Kalalau trailhead and does need one.
Do not schedule anything for the next morning. You will be sore. This is not a complaint anyone has ever made twice.
Anini Beach Park is the North Shore's county campground, about ten to fifteen minutes from our office, if you are camping the night before a trip. Camp Naue in Wainiha is the other nearby option.
Yes. Our Na Pali day trip checks in at our Hanalei shop at 6:00 a.m. and shuttles to the launch at Ha'ena Beach Park, fifteen minutes away. A handful of boat operators also run Na Pali trips out of Hanalei Bay in summer; most Na Pali boat tours leave from Port Allen or Kikiaola on the other side of the island.
We are the only Na Pali kayak outfitter based in Hanalei. The other two operators on the state's permitted list are based on the east and south sides of the island and shuttle guests from there — one of them launches from the same North Shore beach we do. The practical difference is your morning: you check in fifteen minutes from the sand rather than driving across the island first.
5075 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei — the second building on the left as you come into town, next to Postcards. Call us on (808) 826-6900.
No. We launch from Ha'ena Beach Park, the county beach, and we shuttle you there from Hanalei. The gohaena.com reservation system covers Ha'ena State Park at Ke'e, which is the Kalalau Trail trailhead — a different place, and only relevant if you are hiking or camping.
No. Nobody paddles this coast in winter — the state's season runs May 15 to September 7, and North Shore surf outside that window regularly runs 20 feet and more. Between November and April, see the coast on a west-side boat tour or from a helicopter.
