Founder of HawaiiGuide & certified travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
Most Beautiful Views in Hawaii
Kauai Points of Interest
Kalalau Lookout isn't just another Waimea Canyon lookout, as many first-time visitors often believe. It's a view into the heart of the Kalalau Valley- one of the most-photographed and well-recognized valleys in all of Hawaii. This is primarily because the valley and surrounding coast have served as the backdrop for countless films including "King Kong" (the original), "Mighty Joe Young," "Jurassic Park," and "Six Days Seven Nights." Kalalau Lookout is also the highest elevation most people reach in Kauai by road, at 4,000 feet. As we mentioned before, here you will find one of the greatest views in all of Hawaii. Kalalau Valley is the largest valley on the island at two miles wide. Amazingly, it was inhabited up until 1919.
Today the only way to visit the beach or valley is by the Kalalau Trail as it stretches 11 grueling miles along the Na Pali coastline (see our Kauai trails page). From this vantage point though you can just bask in the view of all that is between you and the blue hues of the Pacific Ocean. We have found that the best time to view the valley is before 11 AM, as clouds are constantly moving in and out of the valley and are especially thick in the afternoon and evening. However, you also don't want to get there too early because the valley won't have full sun on it until around 8 AM most mornings (seasonal changes apply of course).
If you arrive to a cloudy or mist-filled valley, consider the direction of the trades when you arrive. If the wind is blowing from the land towards the ocean, the clouds will usually enter the valley and fall (thus disappearing into the warm air below). However, if the wind is blowing from the ocean inland, the clouds will bank up inside the valley and not dissipate but rather thicken into cloud soup. So keep that in mind during your visit.
Take Highway 50 west from Hanapepe toward Waimea. Turn right on Waimea Canyon Road just after Mile Marker #23. Kalalau Lookout is located near the end of the road at Mile Marker #18. Pu'u o Kila overlook, which is the start to Pihea Trail is just a little further at the end of the road.
