Ke’e Beach and Ha’ena State Park sell out quickly.
Parking and entry tickets for Ha’ena State Park and Ke’e beach are available 30 days in advance starting at 12:01 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time. Check availability AS SOON AS tickets become available and keep checking if at first you don’t succeed. If you cannot find parking / entry tickets, consider taking the shuttle. These tickets are more readily available.
Rental cars may be limited and expensive.
Be sure to check availability and cost of rental cars well in advance of your arrival. If none are available, check the “Turo” car rental app. Many visitors are having success finding cars there. Now that all the disclaimers are out of the way, let’s “hele” on over to Ke’e and Ha’ena!
Going to Ke’e Beach?
Heck ya! Ke’e (Key-AY) Beach is in Ha’ena State Park at the end of the (yellow brick) road, on Kauai’s verdant North shore. The whole area is nothing short of spectacular with translucent turquoise-blue water and golden sandy beaches, framed by soaring NaPali sea cliffs on the left and surrounded by jungle. It certainly deserves at least one day on your itinerary. However, advance planning is a must.
The view alone at Ke’e is one reason so many journey to this amazing destination. Even the drive here, from Hanalei to Ha’ena, offers Instagram photo ops at every twist and turn of the road. Just be careful, and keep your mind on your driving while searching for opportunities to snap that perfect vacation pic and watch out for one lane bridges, as there are several.
Island custom is 5-6 cars at a time. Be courteous and stop if there are cars waiting on the other side of the bridge. As the name implies, two cars at once is a no-go!
How the Haena State Park Master Plan saves Ke’e.
Once, Ke’e was a frantic mess of jammed parking lots, illegally parked cars and people everywhere. With an estimated 3,000 daily arrivals, it was over-used and under-managed. However, since reopening after the flood of 2018, (different from the March 2021 flood) it is now an easy and enjoyable place to visit.
This is due to the comprehensive management plan now in place; the first of its kind on Kauai. (And hopefully not the last.) If you’re a “I like to know everything about it” kind of person, you can find the 168 page Haena State Park Master Plan here.
Ke’e & Ha’ena State Park important entry information.
It’s important to know that visitors MUST make reservations in advance to enter the park. Those individuals with a valid Hawaii driver’s license or Hawaii ID (locals) do not need reservations.
Internet/cell service is limited in this area.
Do not wait until you get out to Ha’ena to make a reservation. You will be left on the outside looking in and will have to travel back towards Hanalei for internet/cell access!
What is the cost to go to Ha’ena State Park & Ke’e Beach?
Cost for “locals.”
As a Hawaii resident, with a valid Hawaii ID, you go for FREE! Yes, “locals” have free access to the park and almost everything in it. The one exception, is hiking beyond Hanakapi’ai towards the Kalalau Valley. This requires a camping permit. There are a limited number of parking spaces reserved for locals on a “first come-first served” basis. So far, we have never been “shut-out.” Just to be clear; Locals DO NOT need a reservation.
Ke’e cost for visitors.
At $10 a vehicle and $5 per person, parking and entry costs to Ha’ena State Park are quite affordable. If you are not driving a car, the cost is $5 per person for entry only. “Entry only” means if you walk, bike or carpool with a local or somehow arrive at the park entrance and are not in a car.
Visitor parking is limited to three time slots:
6:30 AM – 12:30 PM
12:30 PM – 5:30 PM
4:30 PM to sunset
To park all day, purchase all three time slots for that day. Be aware, not all the time slots may be available on any given day. In addition, parking is limited to the first 100 vehicles with reservations available up to 30 days in advance. Costs are $10 for parking for each time slot but you only pay the $5 per person entry once. Entry for all walk-ins is for the day. (6:30 – Sunset.)
Another option is purchasing a round trip ticket on the North Shore shuttle. At $35 for 14+ over and $25 for 4-14 years, the shuttle price includes your park entry. The shuttle only operated from Waipa Park & Ride. Shuttles run DAILY every half hour from first reserved departure at 6:30a until the last State Park Pickup at 7:00p. Click here for complete shuttle schedule and information, and Waipa Park & Ride location.
Check here for answers to additional questions.
Ke’e Beach & Ha’ena State Park Activities
You are here! Now, the fun begins. There is so much to do and see at Ha’ena I’m sure you will want to visit time and time again.
Walk to the beach and beyond.
It takes about 8-10 minutes to walk to the beach. A boardwalk from the parking lot goes past a restored taro field with several informational signs along the way.
The trail transitions to a pleasant shaded gravel/dirt path which meanders through the tropical jungle. Signs along the way point out various destinations as well as numerous cautions. You can preview the walk here on our YouTube channel. (Please subscribe and give us a thumbs up if you like the video.)
Ke’e Beach!
Yes, this is what you have dreamed about. You are here on beautiful Ke’e beach, with the towering NaPali Coast State Wilderness Park to your left and endless beach framed by jungle, to your right. Ke’e is reef protected, making it perfect for snorkeling and swimming. Lay in the sun, play in the ocean, sit in the shade, take a long walk along the beach; you choose. Plus, Ke’e is lifeguard protected, just in case!
NaPali Coast State Wilderness Park
If hiking is your thing, head over to the start of the Kalalau Trail which is part of the NaPali Coast State Wilderness park. It’s a short walk from the beach or you can head there directly from the parking lot. The Kalalau trail, which starts here, runs from Ke’e beach 11 miles into Kalalau Valley, and requires a permit. It is thought to be one of the most beautiful and dangerous hikes in the US. Just search for “Crawler’s Ledge” in YouTube if you’re not convinced.
Hanakapi’ai Beach
However, you can safely hike two miles in to Hanakapi’ai Beach and /or go an additional two miles beyond to Hanakapi’ai Falls without a permit. The trail to the beach is rocky and involves a lot of up and down so wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water.
You have to rock hop across a stream to reach the beach. Plan on about 1-1.5 hours to the beach plus time to sit and enjoy. Proceed with caution, as Hanakapi’ai Beach is not reef protected. This means currents are strong, waves are crashing in and riptides may be present. Swimming is NOT recommended! Sadly, many have lost their lives here, especially during the North Shores’s strong winter swells. The beach, however, is beautiful, framed on both sides by the Pali (Cliffs) with views up the river into the valley.
Hanakapi’ai Falls
The trail to Hanakapi’ai Falls departs from the beach and heads back into the valley another two miles. This part of the hike is strenuous with several stream crossings. Plan accordingly, and add at least an additional two hours to reach the falls. Again, make sure you prepare yourself with sufficient food and water and wear adequate footwear for this hike. The falls themselves are incredible, falling approximately 300 feet, and quite cold. The water quickly becomes deep so the ability to swim is a must.
Ke’e Beach viewpoint
If time is limited, consider hiking in to the .50 mile marker. The view from here is incredible and well worth the effort.
The Wet Cave
A short walk back up the main road from the beach (just before mile marker #10) and a quick hike off the road, are the Waikanaloa & Waikapalae wet caves. Created when the ocean was much higher, these caves are estimated to be about 4,000 years old. They are fed by an underground stream that flows into the ocean. Because of this, the water depth is impacted by the tides. While beautiful to look at, we do not recommend them for swimming. Ke’e beach is a much better choice for this.
Don’t forget to also view the Maniniholo dry cave on your way back, which is located directly across from the Ha’ena Beach Park. (Not to be confused with Ha’ena State Park.) This park and cave do not require any entry fee or reservation.
Ke’e Beach & Ha’ena State Park: What to bring & wear.
As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you need to purchase anything from Amazon, please click on our link and then proceed to your purchase. Every little bit helps!
We love our Columbia clothing! What started out as a search for easy care/easy wear travel clothes turned into our everyday wear. Here is one of my fav tops from Columbia:
This is a good one too.
Besides a great assortment of stuff, Columbia is very affordable, their clothing is durable and they are always running great sales.
Our recommendation is for breathable, easy care and if possible, UV protective clothing. For women, a swim suit, lightweight shorts and sleeves or t-shirt top will get you through the day. Here is an assortment of t-shirts and tank tops for women. You will also find a nice assortment of men’s t-shirts at Columbia. Men will do just fine with either hiking shorts or board shorts that double as swimwear for hiking.
Bring your hydration backpack if you have one or a small backpack where you can stash some bottled water and snacks. We have very affordable High Sierra hydration backpacks which we love. It carries 4L of water and even has room for a energy/protein bar, snacks or what have you.
If that one doesn’t do it for you, here are several other affordable ones to consider. Be advised, there is no food/drink available at Ha’ena State Park or Ke’e Beach so come prepared.
If you’d like to read up on all the Kauai adventures, here’s an assortment of good books:
Ke’e beach protocol.
We swim at the various beaches several times a week. Daily, we see people standing/walking on coral (it will kill the coral) and harassing turtles (touching, surrounding them etc.) Many people are unaware that these activities are damaging to the reef and / or prohibited. Please do enjoy the ocean and it’s creatures, but do so from a reasonable distance. Do not step or walk on the reefs/coral unless you are in danger of drowning.
Reef safe sunscreen for Ke’e beach and all of Hawaii.
If you are going in the water, make sure the sunscreen you apply is “reef safe.” Chemicals in many of the sunscreens kill the coral and can harm the ocean inhabitants. “Thinksport” is one of the more popular reef safe sunscreens. They have several different formulations for every member of the family. You can find out more about it here. Kokua Sun Care is also a good choice.
Here are some other good choices:
Rashguards instead of sunscreen.
We typically wear rashguards when swimming which saves us from the sun and also saves the coral. Rashguards come in all styles and colors for both men and women. Personally, I like a zip up jacket style rashguard because it’s easier to get off when it’s soaking wet.
Plus, it doubles as a light jacket – so two benefits in one! Means less “stuff” in your carry on. (Yes, we travel with carry ons.) Take a look at all the choices here!
When hiking, stay on the trail. Leave vegetation / flowers etc for others to enjoy. Help us preserve the beauty of our Island for visitors and locals alike. Your kokua (cooperation) is appreciated.
On the way home from Ke’e.
Don’t forget to stop at the dry cave (Maniniholo) located across from the Hae’na Beach Park. This beach is by mile marker 9. The cave goes back about 150 feet and is very easy and safe to visit. And lastly, stop in Hanalei for a tasty lunch or dinner. The views alone make the dining worthwhile. (but the food is good too!)
If you enjoyed this article or have questions, please comment below and follow us here, on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. We hope to see you out and about. Mahalo!
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Kauai is now ruined by the shuttle system which is nothing but a huge money grab under the guise of trying to manage things better? I’ve been there many times and the small parking lot and the large one just down the road took care of any overcrowding of cars and people. This is very, very user and friendly for visiting the beach or trying to hike the trail. It must be done on their schedule add a quite a cost. I mean ridiculously expensive, and that’s just for one visit. Will pay through the nose each time!I will never go back to Kauai again, which used to be my favorite place on the planet – never again!
Aloha Sandy. Thanks for your comment. It appears you are unaware of the previous damage to Ke’e caused by overuse prior to implementation of the Haena management system. Granted, there were two parking areas, and it was definitely more convenient for those who procured parking in these lots, but there were way too many people. More often than not, cars were parking all up and down the road creating more confusion. Yes, Ke’e beach and Haena are beautiful and the gateway to the Kalalau trail, but resources must be protected and preserved, which is what this system is all about.
The Shuttle, at $35 for adults and $25 for children, provides an opportunity for our visitors to access the Park when all the time slots are sold out. It is not intended as a simple “money grab” but rather a way to maintain the park, beach and trail. I’m sure you noticed the much improved parking lot, the new boardwalk to the beach and the informative signage along the boardwalk and trails. There is also a new restroom which was desperately needed. All of this and more needs to be maintained for an optimal visitor experience.
In the same way, the $10 time slot fee and $5 p/person entry fee also supports the park/beach/trail etc maintenance. Prior to the plan, it was typically mass confusion with cars parked every which way along the road, once the potholed parking lots were filled. People were everywhere, far surpassing what the area could support. We live here and see what was happening.
On a final note, I’m personally thrilled to see a plan in place. It’s about time that Hawaii, and Kauai in particular, started charging for entrance to these vastly overused, beautiful and fragile places. Did you know that prior to this, Hawaii was one of the few states that did NOT charge for entrance to their state parks? Worldwide, so many places are suffering from over-tourism, that limitations on entry are necessary for preservation. As for the entry/shuttle costs, compared to the cost of Kauai flights/lodging/food, I would hardly call it “ridiculously expensive.”
Sorry to see you go but thanks for reading our blog and commenting.
I got up at 3 am here in California and was able to get a parking slot from 6:30 to 12:30. Tried to get the 12:30 to 4:30 but it was gone.
We are seniors but in good shape. We are planning just to hike to the Hanakapi’ai Beach, not the falls. if we start early I am concerned we won’t get back to the parking lot by 12:30.
And we’d like to see Ke’e Beach, too. What happens if you don’t make it back to your car? Do they issue parking tickets?
Aloha Joanne,
Five hours should be enough time to hike into Hanakapi’ai beach. You can figure 2 hrs each way which includes time for picture taking. You may not be able to relax at the beach for as long as you hoped but you should be back in time.
Ke’e beach is right there- you can see it from the trail entrance. Just steps away. As for the question about tickets, I’m not sure. The implication is that tickets will be issued but I’m not sure if they actually do so or not.
Keep trying to get that extra slot. I’ve heard that cancellations sometimes come up. Can’t hurt to keep an eye out.
Update: You we’re right on the time. A little under two hours to the beach and two hours back with one hour left for Ke’e Beach. The nice man at the gate said it was a “goal” to be back by 12:30 but I got the sense they would not issue a ticket.. There were a lot of empty spots when we left.
Aloha Joanne,
Sounds like you had a good time, got all the awesome pictures the two mile Hanakapaia’i hike provides and still had time at Ke’e. Happy it worked out well and good to hear my timelines were helpful. Also thanks for the “tip” regarding the possibility of a ticket if not back in time. I’ll pass it along if someone asks. As for the empty spots, there are approximately 50 or so parking slots that are set aside for locals, who do not need a reservation or to pay an entrance fee. Those slots, combined with the comings and goings of guests, probably gave the impression that there were plenty of parking slots available. Thanks for all the feedback.
This is very helpful. I have searched for a clear picture of what the process from shuttle to both beaches entail and this is very clear. Thank you! Shuttle reservations made and looking forward to our visit!
Aloha Melissa, Happy to help. Hope you have a wonderful time. Any questions, just let us know. Thanks for reading our blog!
I recently tried to get a parking & entry pass. I went on line at 5:10am EST 30 days from the day I wanted to go.
All times were full. Only Shuttle was available???
Aloha Doug, You were 10 minutes too late. You have to be on-line and ready to go at 11:59PM HST so you can jump on the site right at midnight. Some people get on the site 2 or 3 at a time, that is, hubby and wife or kids all get on and ready to go and at the stroke of midnight they all try at once. Keep trying. Even to the bitter end. You never know who will cancel for some reason or another and make their passes available. Good luck!
Hi. I am trying to decide between the 6:40am shuttle and the 11:40am. Can you share any wisdom on the significant benefits of getting there earlier than later. We are thinking we’d do the 3-4 hour hike to the beach but we’d also be fine with just the half mile hike to the first overlook. The longer hike would seem to dictate the early shuttle. I guess I’m looking for an opinion as to the value of a full day(hike/beach) vs a half day(short hike/beach). The one concern with the full day is the need to carry enough food/snacks for the day. Thanks for any info you can share.
Aloha Grahme,
Many different things to consider. An earlier arrival will mean fewer people, slightly cooler temps, along with the ability to just relax and chill and/or do the hike if you’re up for it. Conversly, 11:40 arrival puts you approaching the heat of the day along with more visitors. But in the end, it really comes down to if you are a morning person or not. Some who get up early are so tired for the rest of the day it’s not worth it. Personally, I’d go earlier than later but then again, I get up at 5:30 am to go snorkel Anini without the crowds. Magical.
Hello – what time does the sun usually set? We have tickets from 4:30- sunset and dinner reservations at 8:30 – staying in Princeville. Hoping we have enough time to experience the beach a maybe hike to the first lookout.
Aloha Katie,
Sorry, missed your question so you probably have had your dinner already. Sunset in June in Kauai ranges from 7:10 on the first to @ 7:30 by the end of the month.
Hi Elaine – I was lucky enough to get a parking pass for our foursome, but only for the 4:30pm timeslot. We’re coming the first week of August and I think sunset will be around 7pm. I’ve not usually snorkeled in the late afternoon. Maybe an odd questions but do you happen to know if the good snorkeling area at Ke’e will be in shadows (from the nearby cliffs to the west) by 5pm or might we have a little bit of sun time left (weather depending) in the snorkel area?
Thanks for any advice you may be able to share. Take care.
Alan
Aloha Alan,
Go for it. One of the common benefits of doing anything “later” is that most of the other beach-goers should be gone. Plus, if it is windy or whatever, it is generally calmer later in the day. Thus, calmer water. I’ve snorkeled many times on cloudy days and, although it’s always brighter with sun, there is still enough light to see the ocean critters. Besides, you won’t have any trouble seeing the turtles as they’re pretty hard to miss. Another aspect of a late snorkel is that with fewer people in the water, there won’t be as much sand being stirred up which is what degrades visibility. Have fun!
Mahalo, Elaine!