Honopu Beach & Valley

One of the most dramatic and mysterious sections on the Napali Coast is Honopu, which consists of two pristine white-sand beaches, backed by steep 1,200’ cliffs and separated by the famous 90’ Honopu Arch. The name Honopu means “conch shell” in Hawaiian, because of the sound the northerly winds make when they blow through the arch.

Because it’s extremely difficult and dangerous to access, most visitors to Hawaii will never step foot on the beach at Honopu. Boats and even kayaks are not permitted to land on the beach, so anyone wanting to go has to literally swim there, which is quite dangerous given the strong rip currents and pounding surf.

This is just as well since Honopu is most definitely sacred.

Archeological evidence discovered in the 1920s suggests that a human population flourished in this valley but then disappeared suddenly, which is why Honopu is sometimes called the Valley of the Lost Tribe. It’s also rumored in some circles that Honopu Valley was the last home of Kauai’s fabled Menuhune tribe of little people.