Completing the Kalalau Trail is no easy feat. So you want to be prepared, bring the right gear, and make good decisions. And yet, more often than not, people make mistakes that get them into varying degrees of trouble.  

Here are the top blunders:

Underestimating the Trail

Let’s get...

With water sources being relatively frequent on the Kalalau Trail (see my earlier post), staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water should be easy. And the water looks pretty clean, so it shouldn’t be a problem drinking it, right? In fact, there are quite a few folks who claim...

The Kalalau Trail, with its 11+ miles, is obviously long, and given the temperatures, you can expect to sweat a fair bit. This brings up the question of how to approach the water situation, so you can be sure to stay hydrated and not run out. 

Many mainland trails require the hiker to bring...

The Kalalau Trail is obviously spectacular and allows the adventurous hiker to experience the beautiful Napali coast in a unique way. And yes, it’s also a little dangerous here and there and physically challenging.

However, compared to other hiking and backpacking adventures, there are...

On my first trip to Kauai, I soon heard about the famous Kalalau Trail. I remember hiking the first few miles and being struck by how beautiful it was. I recall hearing somewhere that it supposedly was one of the most difficult trails in the world. The experience was awesome even though I just...

With COVID-19 raging on the mainland, I’ve had the unique chance to spend a few months in Kauai, which unfortunately also required two weeks of strict don’t-leave-the-house quarantine with regular check-in visits from the National Guard and local police.

However, and more importantly,...