Kalalau Trail permit guide: camping, entry and parking
An overnight trip on the Kalalau Trail runs on one permit: the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park camping permit, needed once you go past Hanakāpīʻai. According to Hawaii’s state parks (DLNR), a valid camping permit already covers entry to Hāʻena State Park, so campers don’t need a separate entry reservation; what they do need, if they leave a car, is an overnight parking reservation at Hāʻena. The Hāʻena entry reservation itself is for day hikers going as far as Hanakāpīʻai.
Who needs what
Day hikers going to Hanakāpīʻai Beach, two miles in, need a Hāʻena State Park entry reservation (with parking or shuttle). It does not allow camping or continuing past Hanakāpīʻai.
Campers need the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park camping permit for every night: US$35 per person per night for non-residents (US$25 for residents), up to 5 nights, never two nights in a row at Hanakoa. The permit is their entry to the park; if they drive, they add an overnight parking reservation at Hāʻena.
Rolling release and the daily cap
Camping permits become available 90 days in advance, on a rolling basis, and the base capacity at Kalalau is 60 people a night (the state raised it to 80 for a period in 2024). Work out which future date opens on a given day and be ready to book it.
Create your account on the state reservation system ahead of time. If you drive, book the overnight parking as soon as the camping permit is confirmed, for the same dates.
On the trail
Past Hanakāpīʻai you are in the wilderness park, and camping there without a permit is not allowed. Carry the permit printed, since there is effectively no signal, and check the DLNR page for closures before you go: the trail and the park can close for weather.
The one thing campers still book separately is parking: overnight parking at Hāʻena has its own reservation. Day hikers, on the other hand, need the Hāʻena entry reservation, which is not a camping permit and ends at Hanakāpīʻai.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for the Kalalau Trail?
It depends how far you’re going. A day hike to Hanakāpīʻai needs a Hāʻena State Park entry reservation. Going past it overnight needs the Nāpali Coast camping permit, which already covers park entry; add an overnight parking reservation if you drive.
How much does a Kalalau Trail permit cost?
Non-residents pay US$35 per person per night for the camping permit (residents US$25). Overnight parking at Hāʻena is a separate reservation with its own fee; check the amount on the official site.