Hiking the Awaʻawapuhi Trail on Kauaʻi’s Nāpali Coast
Distance: 6.6 miles / 10.6 km
The Awaʻawapuhi Trail in Kōkeʻe on Kauaʻi is, undoubtedly, one of the best hikes in the world!
That being said, I personally put the Awaʻawapuhi Trail up among my most favorite trails I’ve done anywhere around the world, which also includes the Weeping Wall, the Kalalau Trail, Pēpēʻōpae on Molokai, and the Bear Creek Overlook in Montana!
This is all to say that if you have the opportunity to catch sunset on clear evening, you’ll easily be seeing one of the best sunsets you can experience anywhere on the planet!
Awaʻawapuhi Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Awaʻawapuhi Trail is located in a small parking lot off of Kōkeʻe Road, about 1.0 mile (1.6 km) before the first Kalalau Lookout.
Know that the parking lot/ trail can be fairly busy during the day, but the crowds tend to clear out the closer to sunset you plan to hike, which is what I recommend!
Google Maps Directions: Awaʻawapuhi Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Awaʻawapuhi Trail
The Awaʻawapuhi Trail is typically an easy, light, and fast hike, as the majority of the trail from Kōkeʻe Road to the end is all downhill.
However, this obviously means that the hike back is all uphill, but if you hike Awaʻawapuhi for sunset, I think you’ll find that the uphill hike on the way back in the dark is much more tolerable when it’s cool out!
For the first 3.0 miles (4.8 km), it likely won’t make sense why I say that Awaʻawapuhi is one of the best hikes in the world, but just know that it’s all about the viewpoint at the end!
Other than this, there isn’t much to know about Awaʻawapuhi, except that the trail can be very muddy if it has recently rained in Kōkeʻe, which happens often.
This small viewpoint to the north should give you an idea if the clouds will be high enough to see the view at the end.
If it’s looking borderline, just know that the trail continues downhill, so there may still be a chance to see the view at the end!
On a different note, you may get lucky and see a Pueo (Native Hawaiian Owl), which I have been fortunate enough to see multiple times on the Awaʻawapuhi Trail.
At this split, go left to continue on the correct trail.
These mile markers truly help on the uphill hike back in the dark!
Toward the end of the Awaʻawapuhi Trail, there will be a few switchbacks, followed by the Nualolo Cliff junction shortly thereafter.
Awaʻawapuhi-Nualolo Cliff Junction
At the split for the Nualolo Cliff Junction, go right to continue toward Awaʻawapuhi viewpoint.
The Nualolo Trail to left leads to an alternative viewpoint, eventually leading to the Kōkeʻe Lodge.
Awaʻawapuhi
The very end of Awaʻawapuhi is the infamous Awaʻawapuhi ridgeline!
That being said, Awaʻawapuhi may be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it is also one of the most dangerous! Simply put, one cannot fall, or it would almost certainly be fatal.
Furthermore, if you or anyone in your group isn’t comfortable with the exposure, don’t proceed past these signs. Awaʻawapuhi only gets more and more dangerous the further you hike out on the ridge.
Enjoy the view, but be sure to make every step count!
Native Plants on the Awaʻawapuhi Trail
Awaʻawapuhi is one of the few trails in Hawaiʻi that actually labels a number of the native plants along the trail.
A few that I noticed, both labeled and not, were Lapalapa, Kōlea, ʻŌhiʻa lehua, Kōpiko, ʻAʻaliʻi, and ʻĀlaʻa, to name only a few.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
More Kauaʻi Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Kauaʻi adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Vacation Rentals on Kauaʻi
Since the best things to do on Kauaʻi are located on all different sides of the island, I recommend starting your search on VRBO.
You may want to stay some nights in Poʻipū, some nights in Kapaʻa, and even some nights on the beautiful North Shore, but this way you can plan out places to stay and adventures on all different sides of the island!
Kauaʻi
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Kauaʻi
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Kauaʻi or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
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