Christine Hitt
For the past five years, visitors have had to make an advanced paid reservation through Go Haena to visit Haena State Park on Kauai's north shore, oftentimes boarding a shuttle to take them there.
The park is home to Kee Beach. It also includes the trailhead to one of Hawaii's popular hikes, the world famous Kalalau Trail. Though it's an 11-mile trail, most visitors do the 2-mile hike to Hanakapiai Beach on the Napali Coast.
Haena State Park is the entryway to the Kalalau Trail. Photo Credit: Christine Hitt
But one thing visitors aren't taking full advantage of is the Go Haena shuttle. It can make multiple stops along the way, either going to or coming from Haena State Park. However, the stops aren't automatic — riders need to request them.
Joel Guy, the executive director for the Hanalei Initiative, which manages the shuttle, says visitors should communicate that they want to make a stop to the attendant in either direction. It also must be a stop that is along the route and is safe.
"We only stop at lifeguarded beaches and merchant places. We don't want to stop at Lumahai (Beach). We don't want to stop at places that don't have amenities," Guy said. "We don't want visitors getting off in these places that they're not supposed to, you know, that are too dangerous, at least not on our watch."
He said that if people want to stop at Limahuli Garden & Preserve, they can request it, but he suggests walking. It's about a 200-yard walk from Kee Beach, and he describes it as a "pretty little hike."
Guy does recommend asking to stop at Wainiha Store or at Opakapaka Grill and Bar, which is on the beach. "It's the only beachfront dining on the North Shore, one of the few on the island, so if you want to get out there and get a burger, that would be really cool.
So, if you finish the hike early, or are done spending the day at the beach, talk to the attendants and consider other stops.