Kalalau Trailhead Parking (Hāʻena)
The Kalalau Trailhead is inside Hāʻena State Park. Non-Hawaiʻi residents need an advance entry reservation for each person and a parking reservation for the vehicle, or a GoHaena shuttle booking. Hiking beyond Hanakāpīʻai Valley requires a Nāpali Coast camping permit. Overnight cars need a separate Hāʻena overnight parking reservation.
The facts
- Trail served
- Kalalau Trail, 11 mi one way to Kalalau Valley; Hanakāpīʻai Valley is 2 mi from Hāʻena
- Cost / pass
- Day use: Hāʻena entry and parking reservations. Overnight: Nāpali Coast camping permit plus separate parking reservation.
- Lot size
- Limited Hāʻena parking; the state does not publish a simple space count
- When it fills
- Summer weekends and holiday morning inventory go first
- Overflow option
- GoHaena shuttle for day use; no legal highway-side parking
- Tow / citation risk
- Do not leave a car on Kuhio Highway or assume a camping permit covers day parking
- Restrooms
- Facilities at Hāʻena; composting toilets farther along the trail; carry water
- Road to the lot
- Route 560 to Hāʻena State Park at the northwest end of Kauaʻi's north shore
- Busy season
- Dry-weather windows are safer; check weather, ocean and stream conditions before leaving
Getting there
Kuhio Highway (Route 560), Hāʻena, Kauaʻi, HI
Get directions →The trail permit and parking booking are different
A day hike to Hanakāpīʻai uses Hāʻena State Park entry and parking reservations, or the GoHaena shuttle. Going beyond Hanakāpīʻai Valley requires a Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park camping permit. The camping permit solves the trail access problem; it does not automatically reserve a daytime parking space.
The famous name does not change the gate
Kalalau is one of Kauaʻi's best-known hikes, but the arrival rule is the same as the rest of Hāʻena: buy the correct time slot, arrive with the voucher and leave before the park closes unless you have the separate overnight permissions. Roadside parking is not a backup.
Plan the return before the first mile
The trail runs 11 miles one way to Kalalau Valley. Day hikers who turn at Hanakāpīʻai still need an 8-mile round trip plan for the waterfall. Check the current access page for park hours, road status and ocean conditions before committing to the drive.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a reservation to hike the Kalalau Trail?
Yes. Day hikers need Hāʻena State Park entry and parking reservations or a GoHaena shuttle reservation. Anyone going beyond Hanakāpīʻai Valley needs a valid Nāpali Coast camping permit.
Does a Kalalau camping permit include parking?
No. Overnight parking at Hāʻena requires a separate reservation tied to a valid Kalalau camping permit.
Can I park along the road for the Kalalau Trail?
No. Kuhio Highway shoulders and private access roads are not legal overflow parking. Use a Hāʻena parking reservation or the shuttle.
How long is the Kalalau Trail?
The trail is 11 miles one way, or 22 miles round trip, from Hāʻena to Kalalau Valley. Hanakāpīʻai Valley is about 2 miles from the trailhead.
Facts on this page last verified August 2, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.