Kalalau Beach
Encyclopedia
Kalalau Beach is a beach on the Nā Pali Coast at the base of the Kalalau Valley
in north-west Kauai
in Hawaii
. It is the final destination of the Kalalau Trail
, one of the most difficult trails on the Hawaiian Islands
. The beach is approximately 1 mile long, with trails snaking through the rest of the valley where people in hiding are rumored to live. There is a camp site on the beach, with a waterfall providing fresh water and composting toilet
s available. Camping requires a permit. All trash must be packed out. The beach is beautiful and secluded.
The beach has high surf, due to the lack of off shore reefs to break the waves. There are strong rip currents making swimming near impossible. In years past, companies offered a landing service, boating hikers in and out of the beach so that they could hike the trail easily. It is still possible to kayak
into and out of the beach.
The trail ends at Kalalau Beach, as the ocean comes up the cliffs at the western end. Kayaking and swimming (by strong swimmers with fins) from Kalalau Beach are the only ways to reach Honopū
Beach.
People in the valley, including nudists, hippies and Vietnam vets, seek out the solitude and relief from civilization that the pure nature of Kalalau Beach offers. There are year-round residents, who hike out every 6 months to get food and supplies, who create a local culture. There is even a library
with over 200 books. Park rangers occasionally clear them out or chase them into hiding.
Water from the waterfall should be purified
by boiling or iodine
pills, due to the threat of leptospirosis
, a bacterial disease spread through contact with infected rat and goat urine. There are herds of feral goats roaming the beach and valley. The goats are a non-native species, and to prevent overpopulation the Department of Land and Natural Resources allows hunting on weekends in August and September. Visitors can find field-dressed pelts hanging around, as hunters pack out only the meat.
Mango
, guava
, passion fruit, and cherry tomatoes are abundant in the valley and are cultivated by the locals.
Kalalau Valley
The Kalalau Valley is located on the northwest side of the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. 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...
in north-west Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. It is the final destination of the Kalalau Trail
Kalalau Trail
The Kalalau Trail is a trail along the Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii. The trail is very strenuous and runs approximately along the island's north shore from Kee Beach to the Kalalau Valley...
, one of the most difficult trails on the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. The beach is approximately 1 mile long, with trails snaking through the rest of the valley where people in hiding are rumored to live. There is a camp site on the beach, with a waterfall providing fresh water and composting toilet
Composting toilet
A composting toilet is a dry toilet that using a predominantly aerobic processing system that treats excreta, typically with no water or small volumes of flush water, via composting or managed aerobic decomposition...
s available. Camping requires a permit. All trash must be packed out. The beach is beautiful and secluded.
The beach has high surf, due to the lack of off shore reefs to break the waves. There are strong rip currents making swimming near impossible. In years past, companies offered a landing service, boating hikers in and out of the beach so that they could hike the trail easily. It is still possible to kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
into and out of the beach.
Honopu Valley
Honopū Valley is a landmark valley within Nā Pali Coast State Park along the northwest shore of Kauai, Hawaii. It is known for its distinctive natural arch, which at approximately tall is the tallest in Hawaii...
Beach.
People in the valley, including nudists, hippies and Vietnam vets, seek out the solitude and relief from civilization that the pure nature of Kalalau Beach offers. There are year-round residents, who hike out every 6 months to get food and supplies, who create a local culture. There is even a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
with over 200 books. Park rangers occasionally clear them out or chase them into hiding.
Water from the waterfall should be purified
Water purification
Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, materials, and biological contaminants from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose...
by boiling or iodine
Iodine
Iodine is a chemical element with the symbol I and atomic number 53. The name is pronounced , , or . The name is from the , meaning violet or purple, due to the color of elemental iodine vapor....
pills, due to the threat of leptospirosis
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Leptospira, and affects humans as well as other mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.The...
, a bacterial disease spread through contact with infected rat and goat urine. There are herds of feral goats roaming the beach and valley. The goats are a non-native species, and to prevent overpopulation the Department of Land and Natural Resources allows hunting on weekends in August and September. Visitors can find field-dressed pelts hanging around, as hunters pack out only the meat.
Mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
, guava
Guava
Guavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
, passion fruit, and cherry tomatoes are abundant in the valley and are cultivated by the locals.
External links
- Na Pali Coast State Park (contact for camping permits)
- Hawaii State Parks: Kalalau Trail
- Extensive Journal With Photos