The Kalalau Valley is located on the northwest side of the island of Kauaʻi in the state of Hawaiʻi. The valley is located in the Nā Pali Coast State Park and houses the beautiful Kalalau Beach. The Nā Pali Coast is very rugged and is inaccessible to automobiles. The only legal ways to access the valley are bykayak or by hiking the Kalalau Trail.
The valley is renowned for its natural beauty; it is surrounded by lush cliffs more than 2,000 feet (610 m) high. The valley bottom is broad and relatively flat, with an accessible region about 2 miles (3.2 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide. The abundant sun and rain provides an ideal environment for flora and fauna. Many native Hawaiians lived in the valley into the 20th century, farming taro from a vast complex of terraced fields. Today, its designation as a state park forbids anyone from residing there.
In spite of the efforts of the state of Hawaiʻi, many people illegally hike the Kalalau Trail and even live in the valley. These long-term campers live the lifestyle of Naturalists and are suspected by some to cause serious harm to the ecological balance of the valley by theirwaste and propagation of introduced species.
