Kalalau Trail Day Passes Keep Selling Out!!!!!

Question

Hi all! My husband and I are going to Kauai in a month. We are really excited to do the first 2 miles of the Kalalau Trail. We want to get a parking reservation.

We have woken up at midnight Hawaii time the past three days in a row and have used multiple laptops and phones to try to get a reservation annd every single day they sell out immediately. We have tried using different browsers and different Wi-Fi's, but nothing has worked. Do you have any recommendations on how to make sure we beat out the others?

Answer

Kalalau Trail day-use and parking reservations on Kauai are notoriously difficult to secure because they are in extremely high demand, especially for the first 2 miles to Hanakapiai Beach. The reservation system opens exactly 30 days in advance at 7:00am HST for the first day of your desired window, and they sell out within minutes. Here are some strategies to improve your chances:

Make sure you are fully registered with the Hawaii State Parks reservation system before the 7:00am HST opening time. Create an account, save your payment info, and log in on multiple devices if possible.
Use a reliable and fast internet connection. Multiple devices can help, but the key is timing: you need to hit “reserve” as soon as the window opens.
Set alarms to wake up a few minutes early and refresh the page just before 7:00am HST. Being slightly early to load the page helps reduce lag.
Be flexible with dates and times. Some days may sell out faster than others. If your schedule allows, try multiple days within your stay for higher odds.

If you still cannot get a reservation:

Consider visiting the trailhead without parking and plan to use paid parking at nearby locations, if available, or Uber/taxi to the trailhead. Keep in mind the trailhead parking is limited and this may not always be an option.
Some visitors join guided tours that include transport to the trailhead. This bypasses the need for a personal parking reservation and ensures access to the first section of the trail.
Check back frequently, as cancellations can occur. Some visitors manage to snag spots a few days after initial release if someone cancels.

In summary, there is no guaranteed method due to the high demand, but being fully prepared, logged in early, using multiple devices, and staying flexible with dates can improve your odds. Guided tours or checking for last-minute cancellations are good backup options if self-reservation fails.