IF THE EARTH IS AN ARTIST’S PALETTE……NĀPALI COAST IS A PERFECT PIECE OF ART!

My recent posts have been dedicated to this rugged and largely inaccessible part of Kauai, but these views from an open door🚁 are my favorite. There is something breathtaking about this magnificent coastline that photos from above are the only ones that really do it real justice. The bird’s eye view you get from a helicopter, which so beautifully shows the sheer size and height of these cliffs, is definitely one not to be missed. I have hiked these mountains and valleys (Kalalau Trail is consistently listed as one of the 10 most dangerous hikes in America), I have seen them twice from a boat and snorkeled at their feet, but the enormity of this area can only be appreciated from high above.
Looking at the colors (and yes, they are real!) one cannot help but wonder: how did these cliffs form? How much more perfect can nature get?

These picturesque mountains stretch for 17 long miles along Kauai’s northwestern coast. Nāpali means “many cliffs” in Hawaiian. They rise up to 4000 feet (1200m) and are second only to the ones on Molokai. Deep green valleys that are perfectly positioned between them, give an incredible color contrast to the orange and black/brown tint of the waterfront cliffs beside them. The shapes and forms they take on are truly unusual and eye-catching. It took millions of years to create this beautiful piece of art. Erosion has been caused by surf, especially strong during winter months, as well as flowing streams and trade winds.
The area was inhabited by native Hawaiians for hundreds of years until about 1930. Local communities lived off the land, farming, fishing, and trading their goods between them. In the 1960s it became popular among hippies, and in response, the state of Kauai decided to intervene and create a permit system that functions until today. It regulates all camping, hiking, and hunting activities. Permits to hike the area cannot exceed 5 days and are getting harder and harder to get.
If you are planning on hiking 🥾 in this area, make sure you arrange your permit way in advance since the amount of people allowed on the trail is limited to 60.