Parking

Many Kalalau hikers rent a car to get to the trailhead and that is, in many ways, the most convenient way to start your adventure.

Gohaena.com has a special section for overnight parking, which requires a valid camping permit to make reservations. Parking can be reserved up to 90 days in advance and costs $20 per day (so with 1 night, the cost would be $40, for example). 

Due to sometimes limited availability, it’s not a bad idea to reserve parking right after obtaining the much-coveted camping permits.

Parking at the trailhead is efficient, as you can start your hike as early as you want, you don’t have to coordinate drop-off/pick-ups, and the car is right there when you roll off the trail, so you can head straight into town for some food and refreshments.

With reasonable cost and all this convenience, is there a catch?

Well, there used to be. Unfortunately, there had been somewhat regular break-ins and issues with siphoning fuel from vehicles. This could be people trying to force open the fuel tank door/gas gap, drilling a hole into the gas tank, or even cutting the fuel line. Sometimes, car batteries were the target. Certain vehicles, e.g. Jeep Wranglers, seemed to be easier targets than others. These thefts not only affected tourists and visitors, but also locals alike.

As you can imagine, the last thing you want to deal with after a few exhausting days on the trail is being stuck in the parking lot without transportation and having to deal with towing, police, and your rental car company.

The situation in the lot is admittedly difficult since, because of the remote location, power lines don’t reach this far yet, which means the lot was pitch-black at night, and there was no reliable cell service.

All of this meant that parking there was somewhat of a gamble. Many got lucky, but others had some real and challenging problems at the end of their hike.

Fortunately, there is good news: as of December 2025, thanks to coordinated efforts by Hui Makaʻainana o Makana, the Hanalei Initiative, Hawaiʻi State Parks, and Kauaʻi County, the overnight parking area has seen substantial security improvements:

• Solar‑powered security cameras with Starlink connectivity
• Motion‑activated lighting throughout the overnight lot
• Occasional overnight security presence

In addition, Starlink‑powered public Wi‑Fi is now available during the day at the Keʻe Beach lifeguard tower. This makes it far easier to reconnect after finishing the trail and coordinate pickups, and transportation. (More info: press release, news article).

Will these measures solve all the issues? That remains to be seen, but it will certainly be a significant step forward in making parking safer and communication more accessible, so we appreciate all the hard work that made this possible!

Hopefully, this will allow adventurers to focus on their hike vs. always worrying about their vehicle in the back of their mind.

All that said, for those looking for parking alternatives, note that there is also off-site parking and luggage storage available at the Wainiha Country Market (details). This can be a useful alternative for travelers who want additional peace of mind or flexibility.

Overnight parking at the Kalalau trailhead is no longer the gamble it used to be. While no remote lot is entirely risk‑free, the recent upgrades make it a far more reasonable and convenient option for backpackers.

If you’re planning a Kalalau hike in 2025 or beyond, this is a welcome improvement - and a big win for everyone who loves this trail.