Princeville & Hanalei, Kauaʻi, HI at a glance
- Hāʻena State Park
- Reopened Oct 15, 2026; reservation needed
- Hāʻena reservations
- gohaena.com, 30 days ahead
- Kalalau Trail (Oct 2026)
- Open to Hanakāpīʻai (2 mi) only
- Kīlauea Point refuge
- Timed ticket on Recreation.gov
- To Poipu
- About 40 miles, 1 to 1.5 hours
The North Shore at a Glance
Kauaʻi's north shore runs from Kīlauea and ʻAnini west through Princeville and Hanalei to Hāʻena, where the road ends and the Nā Pali Coast begins. It gets much more rain than the south shore, which is why it is so green. The water follows the seasons. Summer is usually calm enough for snorkeling and paddling, while winter swells, typically from about October to April, can make the beaches dangerous for days at a time.
Kūhiō Highway (Route 56) runs up the east side to Princeville. Past Princeville the road becomes Route 560, crosses the Hanalei River on the one-lane Hanalei Bridge, and continues west over more one-lane bridges. At a one-lane bridge, let the waiting group of cars cross together, then take your turn. Heavy rain can flood the road near Hanalei: Kūhiō Highway at the Hanalei Bridge was closed by flooding during Hurricane Lowell in September 2026.
Princeville
Princeville is the planned resort community on the bluff above Hanalei Bay. It is mostly condos and vacation homes, many with views across the bay to the mountains. The resort hotel at the point, long the St. Regis Princeville, is now 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Makai Golf Club is Princeville's public course. The Prince course has been closed since 2015, so don't plan a round there.
Queen's Bath, a lava-shelf tide pool below Princeville, has drowned visitors who were swept off the rocks. Stay away when there is any surf, which is most of the winter.
Hanalei
Just past Princeville, the Hanalei Valley Lookout shows the valley floor as a patchwork of taro loʻi. Much of the valley is the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, which protects Hawaiʻi's endangered waterbirds. Below it, Hanalei Bay is a two-mile crescent of sand with the town at its center. People surf, paddle and kayak the river mouth, and on clear days the Nā Pali ridges stand at the far end of the bay. The town itself is small: a few blocks of shops, food trucks and restaurants.
Hāʻena and the Road's End
Route 560 ends at Hāʻena State Park and Kēʻē Beach, the trailhead for the Kalalau Trail. Out-of-state visitors need an entry or parking reservation from gohaena.com, released 30 days in advance, and a shuttle can also be booked there. Hawaiʻi residents don't need a reservation. Hāʻena State Park reopened on October 15, 2026 after Hurricane Lowell.
As of October 2026, all Kauaʻi state-park camping is closed. DLNR requires a camping permit to hike beyond Hanakāpīʻai, so only the first 2 miles of the Kalalau Trail are open. Hanakāpīʻai Beach has no lifeguard and dangerous currents, so don't swim there. Hanakāpīʻai Stream can flood within minutes in rain. Check DLNR's park notices, and see the Kauaʻi guide for the trail and permits.
Kīlauea and ʻAnini
East of Princeville, Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge protects a seabird colony and the 1913 Kīlauea Lighthouse on the island's northernmost point. Entry needs a timed ticket from Recreation.gov. The refuge is open only some days of the week, so check the dates before you go. ʻAnini Beach, between Kīlauea and Princeville, sits behind a long fringing reef, and its lagoon is one of the calmer places on the north shore to swim and snorkel.
Winter Surf
From late fall to spring, north swells can bring surf of 20 feet or more to Hanalei Bay and the reef breaks. Experienced surfers come for it. For everyone else, it means staying off the rocks and out of the water at unguarded beaches. Swim at lifeguarded beaches, ask the lifeguards about conditions, and remember that the same beach can be calm in July and deadly in January.
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Search stays on CielStay →Frequently asked questions
Do you need a reservation for Hāʻena State Park?
Yes, unless you are a Hawaiʻi resident. Out-of-state visitors need an entry or parking reservation from gohaena.com, released 30 days in advance, and a shuttle can also be booked there. Hāʻena State Park, the Kalalau Trail trailhead, reopened on October 15, 2026 after Hurricane Lowell.
Can you hike the full Kalalau Trail right now?
No, as of October 2026. DLNR requires a camping permit to go beyond Hanakāpīʻai, 2 miles in, and all Kauaʻi state-park camping is closed during Hurricane Lowell recovery. Day hikers with a Hāʻena reservation can still walk to Hanakāpīʻai Beach. Check dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/important-park-notices for changes.
Is the north shore of Kauaʻi safe to swim in winter?
Often not. From about October to April, north swells can bring big, dangerous surf to Hanalei Bay and other north-shore beaches. Summer is usually calm. Swim at lifeguarded beaches, ask the lifeguards about conditions, and stay off exposed rocks such as Queen's Bath in Princeville when there is surf.
Is the St. Regis Princeville still open?
The former St. Regis Princeville, at the point in Princeville above Hanalei Bay, was renovated and reopened as 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay.
How far is Princeville from Poipu?
About 40 miles by road, through Līhuʻe and up the east side. Plan on one to one and a half hours, and more in Kapaʻa traffic. No road crosses the island's interior.
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Nearby landmarks & attractions
Key destinations and attractions in the Princeville & Hanalei, Kauaʻi, HI area.
Hanalei Bay ↗ Maps
A two-mile crescent beach below Princeville, with Hanalei town at its center.
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge ↗ Maps
A seabird colony and the 1913 lighthouse on Kauaʻi's northern tip. Timed tickets are on Recreation.gov.
Hāʻena State Park ↗ Maps
The road's end at Kēʻē Beach and the Kalalau Trail trailhead. Entry is by reservation for non-residents.
This guide was assembled from the local knowledge of hosts with properties throughout Princeville & Hanalei, Kauaʻi, HI, as indexed by CielStay. The descriptions of restaurants, trails, swimming holes, and local tips reflect what hosts share with guests in their listings — not the observations of a travel journalist or guest reviewer. Photos are sourced from host listing images and are credited to their respective listings. Information about permits and trail conditions may change; always verify with official sources before your trip.