Kalalau Trail emergency & health guide: hospitals, rescue, 911 and flash floods

Emergency numbers

There is no cell coverage on the Napali Coast and no ranger on the trail, so in an emergency someone must hike out for help or signal a passing helicopter or boat. A satellite messenger or personal locator beacon is a sensible extra. Tell someone your plans, check the National Weather Service forecast for flood and high-surf warnings, and read the DLNR park notices on the morning you start.

Rules to know

• October 2026: after Hurricane Lowell, Ha'ena State Park, the shuttle and day hiking to Hanakapi'ai reopened on 15 October 2026, but hiking past mile 2 and all camping at Hanakoa and Kalalau remain closed until further notice. Permits cancelled by the closure are refunded.
• Beyond Hanakapi'ai (mile 2) you need a Napali Coast State Wilderness Park camping permit, even for a day hike; there are no day permits. Hiking past the sign without one is a petty misdemeanor with a court date.
• Permits are sold online up to 90 days ahead and often sell out in summer. In 2026 they cost $35 per person per night for non-residents and $25 for Hawaii residents. The maximum stay is 5 nights; the permit is for Kalalau and also covers Hanakoa, but never two nights in a row there.
• Ha'ena State Park (open 7:00 am – 6:45 pm): non-residents need a GoHaena entry reservation ($5) plus a parking slot ($20 per car per slot) or a shuttle ticket ($45 round trip for adults), released 30 days ahead. Kalalau campers need no entry reservation but must come by shuttle, be dropped off or book overnight parking at Ha'ena (up to 90 days ahead, paid per day).
• Camp only in the designated areas at Hanakoa and Kalalau, never on the helicopter landing pads. Open fires are banned: bring a stove. Do not move rocks, dig or take apart stone walls: they are archaeological sites.
• Never cross a flooded stream. Water can rise within minutes after rain upstream; avoid crossings above the knee and wait for the level to drop, even if it means a night out.
• Do not swim at Hanakapi'ai Beach: there are no lifeguards, and rip currents and shorebreak drown visitors there regularly, in summer as well as winter. If the sea suddenly drops, go to high ground at once (tsunami).
• There is no drinking water, trash service or cell signal in the park. Filter or treat all stream water (leptospirosis) and pack out everything you carry in.
• Drones, alcohol and nudity are prohibited in Hawaii state parks. Commercial guided hikes and boat drop-offs or pick-ups are illegal; kayak landings at Kalalau are allowed only 15 May – 7 September with a camping permit.
• Stay on the trail and back from cliff edges: vegetation hides drop-offs, the basalt is crumbly and rocks fall without warning. Keep away from the base of cliffs and waterfalls.

Rules and fees change often on the Kalalau Trail. Always check the DLNR Kalalau Trail page, the park notices and GoHaena before you go.

Nearest hospital for each stage

Hospitals

Clinics and urgent care

There is no clinic or doctor in Ha'ena, Hanalei or on the trail. The nearest medical help is Makana North Shore Urgent Care in Princeville (walk-in, daytime only, with X-ray); the nearest emergency departments are Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue and Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapaa.

Pharmacies, cash and supplies

• Pharmacies:
• ATMs:
• Shops:
• Shuttle stops: Ke'e Beach

There is no pharmacy in Ha'ena or on the trail, and the US has no duty-pharmacy rota. Buy your medicines, a blister kit, water treatment, sunscreen and insect repellent in Lihue or Kapaa before you drive to the north shore. Carry a power bank: there is no electricity on the trail.

Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.