In fact, thats what happened in This blog post will provide a complete guide, including directions and tips on what to do when you get there. There are three major parts of the trail. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. On the other side of the Honopu arch is anotherbeach. for (var i=1; i<=5; i++) { Suite 5A The One Hikeable Lake In Hawaii Thats Simply Breathtaking, The One Little Known Beach In Hawaii That Is A True Utopia, One Of Hawaiis Last Remaining Freshwater Springs Is Hiding In Plain Sight, This Restaurant In Hawaii Is Surrounded By A Lagoon And Will Simply Enchant You, Youll Want To Visit This Tiny Hawaii Island Overflowing With History, The Underrated Hawaii Beach Thats Perfect For A Summer Day, This Secluded Beachfront Restaurant In Hawaii Is One Of The Most Magical Places Youll Ever Eat, Some People Call This Beach In Hawaii A Little Slice Of Paradise, Country Livings 27 of the Most Beautiful Places In America,. Movies like, After viewing all the famous sites of Napali, the captain points the boat west toward the, Click here to visit Niihau & Napali Boat Tour, Click here to email reservations@holoholocharters.com, Click here to view location Port Allen Marina Center Honopu Beach is as hard to get to as it is dramatic. Trying to reach Honopu Beach is an adventure that is certainly not for everyone. The total distance depends on how far you hike out on the ridge at the end, but we estimate that to the logical and safe stopping pointit's about 2.4 miles one way. So for me, being surrounded by a bunch of confident swimmers was very comforting. } According to Country Livings 27 of the Most Beautiful Places In America, one of the best beaches in the country also happens to be one of the most remote. On one side a waterfall flows onto the beach from Honopu Valley. Travel in comfort and style to dramatic locations around Kauai and Hawaiis Forbidden Island of Niihau off uninhabited Lehua Crater. Aloha! Photo: Ben Schmit. Holo Holo Charters was voted the best boat tour in the entire U.S.! The only way to get to Honopu is by swimming, either from Kalalau Beach or from a boat. WebWe have also Kayaked the coast during Summer 3 times. else if(i=='3'){ ny.src="../../../reviews/images/star.gif"; } document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Makana Charters is a native Hawaiian family owned business that takes pride in providing the best possible experience for visitors to Kauai. }, Private and Quiet Luxury Beach House 3 minute walk to beach TVNC#5151, Hale Kahakai: Beachfront home on the Magical North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii Life Rentals presents Modern beach style vacation house, with A/C, Affordable Beach House Just Steps to the Beach Children Welcome! ny = document.getElementById(image); As morning sun rose over the towering cliffs surrounding Honopu, it lit up the arch with warm glow. }, Adventure Tours 2020 All Rights Reserved Site Map Disclaimer, Honopu Beach is one of the most beautiful and, You dont have to make the intense swim to the beach to enjoy the uniqueness of the area. It stands 90 feet in the air and makes a conch shell sound when the winds are right. Were obsessed and we believe that its the best thing to do on Kauai and no visit to Kauai is complete without experiencing the island from the water. Maintaining the best vessels and equipment on island. WebHonopu Beach | Kauai Boat Tours Honopu Beach & Valley One of the most dramatic and mysterious sections on the Napali Coast is Honopu, which consists of two pristine white-sand beaches, backed by steep 1,200 cliffs and separated by the famous 90 Honopu Arch. selectedVal = '5'; These spots are better appreciated through a helicopter tour or a. Skip the restaurant and enjoy a delicious Kauai sunset tour including dinner and drinks, while basking in the glory of the Napali Coastrainbows, cliffs, valleys, beaches, waterfalls, wildlife. function mark(star_img,rid) This is rated a difficult trail based on the fact that the trial is not officially maintained. The land on Honopu Valley is highly fertile, making it a great base for communities and even castaways! Honopu Beach Kauai } } Honop Valley - Wikipedia We had to be mindful of time so that we could swim back to Kalalau Beach before the wind came and ocean current picked up. Daily, The Honu (Sea Turtle) and Its Importance to Hawaii, 6 Tips for Photographing the Na Pali Coast, 5 Interesting Facts about the Na Pali Coast, View From the Top or From the Waters: Discover the Best Way to Explore the Na Pali Coast. These links do not cost you anything and help provide the necessary funding to maintain this website. Honopu Beach Kauai Sea Tours has been providing award-winning tours since 1991. Above: Kauais Honopu Beach as seen on a Kauai helicopter tour. Breakfast, lunch, and beverages are included in this action-packed adventure for the whole family. Andonce the winds pick up around midday, theres no way anyone (fins or not) is making that swim back, no matter how good a swimmer they are. It was just us and the occasional crab. Native Hawaiians began abandoning their culture and simple lifestyle and eventually moved to more populated communities on Kauai to take advantage of emerging opportunities. } On one side a waterfall flows onto the beach from Honopu Valley, while sand dunes can be found on both sides. Voyage with us today on one of our Kauai boat tours and see why we were voted in the top 10 Best Boat Tour in the US for three years in a row (2021, 2020, and 2019). We didnt GPS it or anything but the open ocean swim along the rocky coastfelt like a good 350-400 yards. document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML=" "; During our brief time exploring Honopu Beach, I tried to keep in mind how lucky I was to be here.If you factor in the effort it takes to get to Kalalau, and that you then have to swim a few hundred yards to access this beach, Honopu is really hard to get to. Kauai Sea Tours has been providing award-winning tours since 1991. Copyright 2023 Guide of US, LLC. WebFrom $285 Niihau + Napali Super Tour On our signature tour, well explore Kauais extraordinary Napali Coast, and then voyage across the channel to snorkel the world-class waters of Lehua Crater off the Forbidden Island of Niihau, all in one incredible day. No landing of any aircraft or boat is allowed in Honop Valley or on its beach, so visitors must swim from an offshore boat or from neighboring Kalalau Beach. var ny; In this article, well take you through the stories surrounding this mysterious valley and equip you with tips on visiting the spot, as well as the two beaches located by the valleys fascinating arch. Then, cross the 17-mile Kaulakahi Channel to Hawaiis Forbidden Island of Niihau to do some world-class snorkeling at Lehua Crater. Holo Holo means to explore, to travel, and to go! Only the strongest, most ocean-hardened swimmers should attempt a swim to Honopu, with fins highly recommended. image = 'qw'+rnid + i; Honopu Beach A dramatic arch in the cliff connects two white-sand beaches, with a waterfall nearby. Being burial grounds for Hawaiian royalty, its essential that you remain sensitive to your surroundings while visiting the beach. Winds pick up at around 11am or noon. With the rugged scenery, waterfalls, beaches, and much more, it is easy to see why. The dykes act as aquifers and store water. Tour boats and catamarans glide through the white caps. Honopu Beach Keep an eye out for the orange and pink ribbons that others have tied up to mark the trail. This is rated a difficult trail based on the fact that the trial is not officially maintained. Tours Napali Coast From the water, we could look back and peer into the sacred Honopu Valley. { Makana Charters A dramatic arch in the cliff connects two white-sand beaches, with a waterfall nearby. From the water, this arch looks modest in size, but that is only when compared to the massive landscape that surrounds it. In fact, this is exactly what happened in the James Bond movieThe Man With the Golden Gun. Around the corner is a large waterfall, cascading down the sea cliff, through the arch and into the ocean. Honopu Beach Everything is larger than it appears once you walk up to it. With swim fins and snorkels in hand, we prepared for a long swim to a secluded beach. Its said that, to this day, the bones of these warriors can be found in the sand dunes, underneath the cliffs, after being exposed to heavy rains or winds. (Be warned they may tryto dissuade you from doing the hike since it's not an officialtrail). The further in he walked, the bigger the arch looked. In olden times, it was believed that once a chief died, their bones were collected and taken to the cliffs, and the warrior who transported the bones had to die in order to ensure the secrecy of the location of the bones. "@type": "WebPage", 4353 Waialo Rd Honopu Ridge Trail There may be more legends surrounding the valley, but it does make sense for it to have served various island tribes in the past. The Honopu Arch is one of the best parts of Honopu Beach. WebHonopu beach and valley have been made famous by several feature films. Over the years, weve earned ten consecutive TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards. In any event, you may want to consult the rangers at Koke'e VC before heading out on this hike. We recognize the proper use of the Hawaiian language including the okina [], a consonant, and the kahak [] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawaii such as Npali). Napali Coast WebHonopu actually consists of two beaches, which are backed by majestic 1200-foot (365 m) high sea cliffs and separated by the Honopu arch. The channel between Kauai and Niihau is very deep and offers the best opportunity to see an abundance of sea life that resides in these Hawaiian waters. When you get a chance to step foot in this gorgeous landmark, always keep in mind to respect each element in the area, as well as the history that encompasses years and years of Hawaiian culture. Tour It must be accessed by swimming from a boat or the neighboring beach in the summer months. Honopu Beach They were very knowledgeable and we learned a lot of information about the island and the sea life. No landing of any aircraft or boat is allowed in Honop Valley or on its beach, so visitors must swim from an offshore boat or from neighboring Kalalau Beach. Boats (including kayaks) are not allowed toland here. Hours: 8:00a.m. Around the corner is a large waterfall, cascading down the sea cliff, through the arch and into the ocean. There was a massive landslide this past winter and a couple hundred yards of Kalalau Beach is now gone. The two hidden and pristine white sand beaches at the end of Honopu Valley are joined by a 90-foot high arch through the base of the rocky outcropping separating them. But if there was one location that has seen more action than anywhere else, it is probably Honopu. var selectedVal = ''; for (i=1; i<=5; i++) { document.getElementById('rat').value="3"; Trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. With approximately 750 miles of stunning coastline, the Hawaiian Islands are easily home to some of the best beaches in the country if not the world. There are many myths surrounding this unique scar, but it is mostly credited to the volcano goddess, Pele, leaving her volcanic signature. Boats and even kayaks are not permitted to land on the beach, so anyone wanting to go has to literally swim there, which is quite dangerous given the strong rip currents and pounding surf. Every single day, from sunrise to sunset, Kauais coasts sing a unique symphony of natural wonder. However, these have been omitted from this website for the best online experience for our visitors. for (i=1; i<=5; i++) { Over the years, weve earned ten consecutive TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards. Honopu Beach. As if Honopu Beach couldnt get more breathtaking, theres also a waterfall here. "author": { } WebWe have also Kayaked the coast during Summer 3 times. else if(i=='5'){ Kauais South Shore vs North Shore Which One to Choose? If you come with us and feel that deja v, it is probably because you have seen it, in Hollywood movies. Explore the beauty and adventure on one of our Kauai boat tours to the Napali Coast, Niihau and Lehua Crater. Around the corner is a large waterfall, cascading down the sea cliff, through the arch and into the ocean. Providing the highest degree of quality customer service available in the industry. WebHonopu beach and valley have been made famous by several feature films. This cliff is easily distinguished, as it hosts radar and tracking equipment and cellular phone sites you can see from a distance. Holo Holo Charters offer Kauai private boat tours to sightsee and snorkel locations like Napali Coast, Niihau, Lehua Crater, Honopu, Kalalau, and Kipu Kai. Just as beautiful as the valleys surroundings are the legends that have formed from its mysterious location. On the third day of a recentcamping trip in Kalalau, Kauai, we woke up early and walked to the end of Kalalau Beach. Nualolo is probably steeper going down than Honopu; though Honopu does have some very steep areas. Check out our Google Earth Honopu Ridge Trailmap for more an overview. document.getElementById('t0').innerHTML="Excellent"; This is rated a difficult trail based on the fact that the trial is not officially maintained. For over 20 years we have been offering tours of the Na Pali coast on custom-built touring catamarans that were designed to provide the ultimate touring experience. Whether you're looking for a professional hiking guide or need some maps to take along, you'll find them right here. The erroneous legend endures up to this day, but the isolated valley is also widely believed among locals to be a place of temples and a burial site for the islands chiefs. } else WebHonopu Ridge Trail is a 4.2 to 5 mile (round trip, depending on how far you go) hike that takes you to incredible views of Honopu Valley and a portion of the NaPali Coastline. Click here to Recently Voted the Best Boat Tour in the US! Overall though, we feel the trail is fairly easy to follow and is well marked. "headline": "Honopu Beach, Kauai: A Complete Guide", We hope to see you out there. The name Honopu means conch shell in Hawaiian, because of the sound the northerly winds make when they blow through the arch. The Holo Holo snorkel/sail was a great excursion! It can be difficult to find, but it is definitely worth the effort! It basically fell into the ocean. WebHonop Valley and Beach sit along the northwest shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, on the Na Pali coast. For over 20 years we have been offering tours of the Na Pali coast on custom-built touring catamarans that were designed to provide the ultimate touring experience. Honopu Beach is one valley past the famous Kalalau Valley and Beach, which is only accessible via a strenuous 11-mile backpacking trip. WebHonopu Arch is one of the most amazing sights you will see along the Napali Coast. WebHonopu Beach One of the most remote shores in the world, Honopu Beach, located on Kauais Na Pali Coast, can only be accessed by swimming. A GPS can come in really handy as well when retracing your steps out, as there are opportunities to get lost coming out, too. Honop Ridge Trail { } although you can not land on the beach, it is still enjoyable getting real close and taking in how majestic Honopu is. One could survive in the area simply on the large amount of wild fruit, such as guavas and grapefruit that grows along its coast. } document.getElementById('rat').value="4"; Honopu Beach. At approximately 10 minutes or so into the hike you'll come to a junction in the trail - you'll want to bear to the right at this junction and from that point follow the most worn portion of the trail (again, look for the orange and pink ribbons). These cliffs were created millions of years ago when Kauai was formed and have since been shaped by years of withstanding the elements. document.getElementById('rat').value=selectedVal; Providing the safest, most unique, and memorable ocean experience available. Hiking along the shore from Haena Beach Park to Tunnels to Ke'e and back would also be a beautiful and rewarding experience. DISCLAIMER: UnrealHawaii.com is an independent resource for Hawaii focused content. 4516 Alawai Rd. "dateModified": "2022-10-21" The cliffs directly behind Kalalau beach are known as the cathedral cliffs, for the cathedral-like spires jutting towards the heavens. A dramatic arch in the cliff connects two white-sand beaches, with a waterfall nearby. By providing genuine aloha hospitality, were determined to earn and keep the reputation from our guests and our community of being the most professional and forward-thinking Kauai boat tour company, that we may exist and thrive for decades to come.