Kauai North Shore - Hanalei & Princeville

Island of Kauai

Adventures on Land - Hiking

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Aside from the Kalalau Hiking Trail, there are a few other good hiking trails to take a look at. There are also opportunities to take a guided hike. Guided hikes are great if you want to learn more about the area and guides tend to point out plants and animals that you might otherwise miss. They’re also good for safety reasons – if you’re an inexperienced hiker, it helps to have someone who knows the trails well to make the experience more enjoyable.
Photo Kalalau Hiking Trail

One of the more popular trails for experienced hikers on the island is the Powerline Trail. This 11-mile trail starts at Kapaka Street, up the road from Princeville Stables. It follows an electric transmission line maintenance route (hence the name) and ends near the Keahua Forestry Arboretum in the Lihu`e-Koloa Forest Reserve on the east side of the island. This is a definitely a dry-weather hike. Even with hiking poles, it’s possible to slip and stumble about in muddy conditions. It is an all day trip, but you can hike in a few miles and thenhike back to your starting point.

One of the more popular trails for experienced hikers on the island is the Powerline Trail. This 11-mile trail starts at Kapaka Street, up the road from Princeville Stables. It follows an electric transmission line maintenance route (hence the name) and ends near the Keahua Forestry Arboretum in the Lihu`e-Koloa Forest Reserve on the east side of the island. This is a definitely a dry-weather hike. Even with hiking poles, it’s possible to slip and stumble about in muddy conditions. It is an all day trip, but you can hike in a few miles and thenhike back to your starting point.

If you need to pick up hiking gear, your best bet is to buy it at K-mart or Wal-Mart in Lihu`e. Both stores have gear that’s cheap enough and you
can always ship it home. For food, stop by Foodland in the Princeville Shopping Center or Big Save in Hanalei at the Ching Young Shopping Village.

If you want to rent your gear, Kayak Kaua`i, 800-437-3507, 808-826-844, www.kayakkauai.com, in Hanalei, also offers daily and weekly rates for daypacks and backpacks.

Guided Hiking

Kayak Kaua`i, 800-437-3507, 808-826-9844, www.kayakkauai.com, offers hiking tours that include transportation from their Hanalei or Kapa`a office, deli lunch, beverages and, of course, a guide. They offer an easy hike of Limahuli Botanical Garden and Limahuli Valley for $84. You can also take a more strenuous hike with Kayak Kaua`i to Hanakapiai Beach along the Na Pali Coast for $126 or go farther down the trails to Hanakapiai Falls for $168 per person.

Kaua`i Nature Tours, 888-233-8365 or 808-742-8305,
www.kauainaturetours.com, also has a guided hike on the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai Beach or you can hike to Hanakapiai Falls, starting at $97 per person. Their hikes are guided by knowledgeable scientists and environmentalists, who offer detailed background information on the area.

Princeville Ranch Adventures, 888-955-7669, 808-826- 7669, www.adventureskauai.com, does a four-hour hike through the private 2,500-acre Princeville Ranch. This is a good opportunity to see lands you normally wouldn’t get to see since Princeville Ranch is privately owned.

If you want to hike with a group, check out the Sierra Club at www.hi.sierraclub.org. The Kaua`i chapter regularly schedules group hikes all over the island, including the Na Pali Coast area. There’s a $5 donation for the hike. They have a list of upcoming hikes on their website.

Dr. Carl Berg of HawaiianWildlife Tours, 808-639-2968, will take you on a personalized tour to see Kaua`i’s native and vanishing species, from forest birds and flora to hoary bats, monk seals, and green sea turtles. Rates are $45 per couple, per hour. Reservations one month in advance are recommended.

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