Hāʻena State Park / Kēʻē Beach / Kalalau Trailhead· Start here
All Hanakāpīʻai Falls hikers with a valid Hāʻena State Park entry reservation, parking reservation, shuttle booking, or qualifying permit.
Northwest end of Kūhiō Highway (Route 560), Hāʻena, Kauaʻi, HI · The only practical public start for the 8-mile round-trip hike; the falls themselves have no road, dock, or alternate public entrance.
Kalalau Trail, Kapaʻa, HI 96746, USA
Shuttle
North Shore Shuttle — Waipā Park & Ride · Hāʻena State Park / Kēʻē Beach shuttle drop-off
10 min walk
Book Shuttle + Entry; Waipā departures generally begin at 6:20 a.m. and run about every 20 minutes. The drop-off is about 0.33–0.4 mile from the Kalalau Trailhead.
Shuttle
North Shore Shuttle — Princeville route · Princeville Makai Golf Club pickup to Hāʻena State Park / Kēʻē Beach
10 min walk
Useful for Princeville lodgers, but outward departures are only 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.; book Shuttle + Entry and use the exact purchased departure stop.
Car
Hāʻena State Park day-use parking lot
10 min walk
A Day-use Parking + Entry Reservation is required for nonresidents driving. Do not park on Kūhiō Highway or roadside shoulders.
On foot
Hāʻena State Park / Kēʻē Beach / Kalalau Trailhead
10 min walk
Walk-ins, cyclists, and private drop-offs need a Park Entry Reservation; there is no road or public entrance at the falls.
Step 1
Reserve legal Hāʻena access before travel
Nonresidents need either a Park Entry Reservation, a Day-use Parking + Entry Reservation if driving, or North Shore Shuttle + Entry. Reservations open 30 days ahead at 12:00 a.m. HST and parking may sell out immediately.
Step 2
Download or print reservation and bring matching photo ID
There is no dependable cell service at the park. Reservations are non-transferable; every nonresident must be listed, and the booking name must match the adult’s ID.
Step 3
Arrive by the booked method and time
For a parking booking, all named visitors must arrive together in the reserved vehicle. A shuttle reservation is valid only for its purchased route and departure stop.
Step 4
Pass reservation and ID check at Hāʻena
Expect reservation and adult-ID checks. The parking lot opens at 6:00 a.m.; allow enough daylight for the full falls hike and return.
Step 5
Walk to Kēʻē Beach and begin at the Kalalau Trailhead
From the lot or shuttle drop-off, allow about 10 minutes to reach the trailhead. Continue only if weather and stream conditions are safe.
Fine
Not allowed
No official cloakroom, lockers, or park storage service is published. There is no storage at the park.
Source: gohaena.com
Hanakāpīʻai Falls is not accessible: the route has steep ascents and descents, mud, rocky ground, fallen trees, and stream crossings. Hāʻena State Park has ADA parking near the beach, trailhead, and restrooms for qualifying placard holders with a reservation or Hawaiʻi ID; the shuttle can arrange a wheelchair lift with advance notice. However, the approach from the main lot/drop-off is about 0.4 mile on boardwalk and unpaved path, most park paths are unpaved, and beach access includes a steep embankment.
Source: gohaena.com