The Na Pali Coast on Kauai’s north shore is a 17-mile stretch of fluted sea cliffs rising up to 4,000 feet from the Pacific, accessible only by sea, air, or on foot via the Kalalau Trail. The scale is difficult to convey in a single image — the key is finding a vantage that includes a foreground element against the towering ridgelines behind.

Best Time to Shoot

Summer (May-September) when the north shore is calm enough for boat access. Afternoon sun from the south illuminates the cliff faces on boat tours heading west from Port Allen. Morning helicopter flights catch the eastern cliff faces in direct light. The Kalalau Trail’s Hanakapi’ai Falls overlook at 2 miles is best in the afternoon when the valley opens to sunlight.

How to Get There

Boat tours depart from Port Allen on the south shore and Hanalei Bay on the north shore (north shore access is weather-dependent). Helicopter tours depart from Lihue Airport. The Kalalau Trail starts at Ke’e Beach at the end of Highway 560 — a camping permit is required beyond 2 miles via recreation.gov.

Camera Settings

From a boat, a 70-200mm lens isolates cliff faces and waterfalls. Polarizer reduces ocean glare and deepens the cliff color. From a helicopter with door removed: 24-70mm, ISO 400-800, shutter at 1/1000+ to eliminate vibration blur. Kalalau Trail overlook: 16-24mm to capture both the trail edge and the cliffs.

Recommended Gear for This Spot

Common Mistakes

  • Shooting from a tourist boat without a polarizer: the water washes out and the cliffs go gray.
  • Using a telephoto on a moving boat at below 1/500 — boat motion blurs the shot.
  • Visiting in winter when the north shore swells make boat access unsafe.
  • Ignoring the early morning Hanalei Bay view of the Na Pali ridgeline, accessible without any permit.

A Na Pali boat photography tour times the afternoon cliff light and includes a guide who knows which coves require a zoom vs. a wide composition. Browse Na Pali Coast photography tours to find options that fit your schedule.

For more location guides like this, see the Landscape Photography Guide on Shut Your Aperture. Browse all spots on the USA HI photo spots hub.