Deaths & Safety On The Kalalau Trail: What To Know

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The infamous Kalalau Trail in Hawaii is as dangerous as it is beautiful. People have died from falling off cliffs, drowning in rivers, being carried away by rip currents, and other causes. Some have even disappeared without a trace.

This is a very weather dependent hike and the conditions can change in an instant. I’ve hiked Kalalau three times now, and I had a close call one of those times.

So how many people have died on the Kalalau Trail? As of 2026, there have been 17 confirmed deaths if you exclude drownings at the beaches, or 59 including the beaches.

Don’t get me wrong, Kalalau is a wonderful hike and I’m glad it’s open to the public, but it’s not for everyone, and you should definitely be aware of the risks before you go.

The list of fatalities in this article is the most thorough list of its kind available on the internet at the time of writing (2026), although some details may still be incomplete. Each of these stories are tragic. Some may have been avoidable with more awareness and better planning.

I’m not trying to scare you out of doing this trek if you’re able. It’s such a special adventure. I just want to help you make informed decisions, and remind you to keep safety front-and-center during your time in Kauai.

My Guide For The Kalalau Trail

Before we talk about the trail deaths and safety tips, I also wrote a complete guide for the hike and how to do it step by step.

It has lots of tips, info, and photos for the hike. Definitely give it a read if you plan to do Kalalau! You can check it out in the link below.

Read More: How To Hike The Kalalau Trail

 

How Many People Have Died On The Kalalau Trail?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how many people have died on the Kalalau Trail, but these seem to be the most accurate statistics:

• There have been 7 falling deaths from steep ledges on the Kalalau Trail, and possibly more.
• There have been 3 drowning deaths in streams along the trail (Hanakapiai, Hanakoa, and Kalalau stream).
• There have been 42 drowning deaths at beaches along the trail (Hanakapiai, Kalalau, and Honopu Beach).
• There have been 2 health related deaths, which were possibly caused by heart attacks, heat exhaustion, etc.
• There have been 5 deaths with unknown causes. These were cases where either a body was found and couldn’t be identified, or someone disappeared on the trail and was given up for dead after being missing for decades.

In total, that means there have been 17 accidental deaths at Kalalau if you exclude the beaches, or 59 deaths with the beaches included.

In the next section, I’ll review each of these cases and see what we can learn from them, and hopefully we can all be a bit safer as a result.

 

List Of Deaths On The Kalalau Trail (2026)

This list of fatalities at Kalalau is the most thorough list of its kind available on the internet at the time of writing (2026), although some details may still be incomplete:

• 2024 December – Lauren Cameron, age 32, of Alaska, was swept away by currents and drowned at Hanakapiai Beach. (Source: Kauai Fire Department)
• 2024 January – Matthew Wu, age 30, of New York, was hiking on the Kalalau Trail near Hanakapiai Falls when he fell 30 feet and died. (Source: Kauai Police Department)
• 2021 April – Jeremy Kanoa Hughes, age 43, of Hawaii, drowned while swimming at Hanakapiai Beach. Two bystanders jumped in the water to try to help, but they weren’t able to reach him. (Source: Kauai Now)
• 2020 June – Andrew Jardine, age 41, of Hawaii, was hiking to Hanakapiai Beach when he collapsed and died about 200 yards from Ke’e Beach. CPR was unsuccessful and a cause of death wasn’t released, but there were no foul signs of foul play. (Source: Kauai Police Department)
• 2020 June – Amber Philips, age 32, of Hawaii, drowned in the Kalalau Valley stream. She also had injuries consistent with a fall. (Source: Kauai Now)
• 2019 December – An unidentified man from China, age 27, drowned while swimming at Hanakapiai Beach. (Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser)
• 2019 September – An unidentified man from Hawaii, age 41, drowned while trying to swim from Kalalau Beach to Honopu Beach. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
• 2018 January – Timothy Axtelle, age 57, of Washington, drowned while swimming at Hanakapiai Beach. (Source: Kauai Police Department)
• 2017 January – Ramona van Schendel, age 39, of the Netherlands, fell and died while hiking the Kalalau Trail in an area known as Space Rock, roughly three miles from the Ke’e Beach trailhead. I was actually hiking the Kalalau Trail with some friends when this happened, and we noticed her abandoned backpack near the cliff, but we didn’t hear the news of what happened to her until later. My guess is that she may have been trying to peek over the cliff or take a photo when she fell, but that’s just speculation on my part. It’s normally easy to avoid the cliff at this section of the trail. (Source: Kauai Police Department)
• 2016 November – Janet Ballesteros, age 53, of Hawaii, drowned at Hanakapiai Beach. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
• 2014 August – Zachary Rose, age 29, of Hawaii, was hiking near the 7 mile mark in an area close to Crawlers Ledge and the red hill, when he fell off the edge and landed on rocks 50 feet below the trail. A hiker in his group tried to climb down the cliff and help him, but he was unresponsive. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
• 2014 August – An unidentified woman from Hawaii, age 19, was swept away and died while trying to cross the Hanakoa stream (Source: Hawaii News Now)
• 2014 April – Daniel Foster, age 31, of Texas, fell from a cliff and died while hiking deep into the Kalalau Valley. (Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser)
• 2013 August – An unidentified man from Germany, age 61, collapsed of fatigue and died near the 8 mile mark of the trail. (Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser)
• 2013 February – Norka Villacorta, age 43, of New York, was swept away and drowned while trying to cross the Hanakapiai stream during a flood. (Source: New York Post)
• 2013 January – Ilya Nikolayevich Lomov, age 42, of California, disappeared on the Kalalau Trail. He was last seen camping in the valley, and hasn’t been heard from by anyone since. (Source: SFGate)
• 2012 June – Rose Schlegel, age 30, of Hawaii, was walking after dark near her camp site in Kalalau Valley when she fell 20 feet down a cliff and landed on rocks. (Source: Kauai Now)
• 2008 March – Jesse Glen Pinegar, age 22, of Utah, disappeared while hiking the Kalalau Trail. His campsite was found near the 5 mile mark with some of his belongings, but he’s never been seen again, and his family believes he died on the trail. (Source: SFGate)
• 2004 January – Bradford T. Turek, age 28, of Ohio, disappeared on the trail. He was last seen at Kalalau Beach. (Source: SFGate)
• 1979 March – A hiker on the Kalalau Trail found two decomposed bodies lying next to each other in the Hanakoa Valley, with no identification and no cause of death. They’re still listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. (Sources: SFGate, NamUs)
• 1971 – A rappelling biologist found two separate remains off a cliff in Kalalau Valley of people who died years apart. (Source: SFGate)
• 1970-2012 – A total of 29 hikers drowned at Hanakapiai Beach from 1970 to 2012, and 7 drowned at the Kalalau/Honopu beaches in the same timeframe. Most of these deaths happened in the winter. At one time, there was a makeshift sign with tally marks at Hanakapiai Beach that claimed 80-100 people have died there, but that’s unsourced and unverifiable since anyone could add tally marks to it. (Source: Honolulu Civil Beat)

 

Other Incidents At Kalalau

Hundreds of injuries and rescues have taken place on the Kalalau Trail over the years, plus there have been a few unusual stories.

It would be impossible to list every case here, but these are just some of the more notable examples:

• 2025 December – A 65 year old hiker from Utah was rescued near Hanakapiai Falls after falling 10 feet and getting a 6-inch laceration to his head. (Source: Kauai Fire Department)
• 2025 October – A 57 year old man was rescued by helicopter after a spider bite turned into an infection. The hiker had fever, weakness, and wasn’t able to hike out on his own. (Source: Kauai Fire Department)
• 2025 October – A 58 year old hiker with a head injury was rescued near the 1.5 mile mark of the trail. (Source: Kauai Fire Department)
• 2025 September – A 72 year old Swiss hiker with a head injury was airlifted from the trail near Hanakapiai Beach. (Source: Kauai Magazine)
• 2025 April – Approximately 50 hikers had to shelter in place overnight on the far side of Hanakapi’ai stream after heavy rain made it impassable. The trail was also closed for the weekend. (Source: Kauai Fire Department)
• 2024 August / September – At least 50 hikers got sick with vomiting and diarrhea after a norovirus outbreak along the Kalalau Trail, and it was closed for a one week disinfection. (Sources: Ars Technica, Department of Health)
• 2024 February – Three hikers were rescued with injuries after falling from the Kalalau Trail. (Source: Hawaii News Now)
• 2023 November – A hiker from New York was injured and rescued after falling 60 feet from the Kalalau Trail. Later on social media, an eyewitness described seeing the incident unfold, and said the woman was ‘lucky to be alive.’ (Source: Kauai Now, Facebook)
• 2016 February – A dozen hikers were stranded and rescued after the Hanakapiai stream flooded. According to eyewitnesses, some people almost got swept away when they formed a makeshift line and tried to cross the river in chest-deep water. (Source: DLNR)
• 2014 August – A hiker’s neck was broken by strong waves while swimming at Kalalau Beach, but friends and bystanders were able to pull him to safety. (Source: The Garden Island)
• 2014 April – The Kauai Fire Department had to rescue 121 hikers (including children) by helicopter in two days, after flooding made the streams impassible. One of the hikers wrote a book about their close call surviving the experience. The trail was temporarily closed until conditions improved. (Sources: Seattle Times, Kauai Now)
• 2013 February – A group of 55 hikers were stranded on the far side of Hanakapiai stream and had to be rescued. (Source: New York Post)
• 2012 December – A Japanese tourist was critically injured when she was thrown off a cliff by a drifter at the Kalalau Trail. The suspect was caught after a 4 month manhunt and charged with attempted murder, but it was later changed to reckless endangerment and he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. (Sources: KCBY, Hawaii News Now, Honolulu Star Advertiser)
• 2006 – A man hiking the Kalalau Trail with his daughter slipped and fell down a slope, but a rock stopped his fall and saved him from tumbling off the 300 foot cliff. The impact on the rock ‘separated his nostrils from his face,’ but he survived. (Source: Backpacker)

 

What Can We Learn From This?

As you can see, Kalalau is a pretty crazy trail, and there are lots of ways to get hurt if you aren’t careful.

The biggest danger by far is swimming in the ocean, especially at Hanakapiai Beach. You should never swim there during the winter months, or when the waves are big.

In fact, personally, I wouldn’t swim at Hanakapiai even when the water is calm. There have been way too many people killed there by dangerous currents over the years.

I understand swimming may sound like a nice way to cool down partway through the trek, but it’s just not worth the risk at Hanakapiai. Better to wait and swim at one of the waterfalls instead.

The second big risk at Kalalau is the streams. Don’t be tempted to try to cross any of the main streams when they’re flooded. It’s not safe. Sit back and wait for things to improve.

Falling rocks are usually not a major problem at Kalalau, but keep an eye out for goats walking above the trail. On my last hike, when I reached the camp, there were goats above the Ho’ole’a waterfall, kicking down fist-sized rocks into the pool. We decided to wait and take our bath later.

Last, but not least, there is some danger of slipping and falling off a cliff at Kalalau, although it’s probably been a bit overstated.

The main factor again is bad weather. You shouldn’t be hiking near any steep cliffs when it’s raining, or after dark. You should also come prepared with grippy shoes and a proper headlight.

One of the most infamous sections of the trail is the so-called ‘Crawlers Ledge,’ but I wouldn’t say it’s actually the most dangerous cliff at Kalalau. You’re walking on solid rock, and the path is wider than a person.

Keep in mind, some of the videos you see online are taken with fisheye lenses that exaggerate how narrow the path is.

Would a fall kill you? Yes, it probably would, but it’s easy to keep from falling as long as you walk slowly and hug the wall; and it only takes 5 or 10 minutes to pass the narrowest section, even with a slow pace.

If someone else happens to be coming across Crawlers Ledge from the opposite direction, let them pass. Don’t try to go around them or do anything fancy. The trail isn’t always wide enough for two people to cross each other safely at the same time.

In my opinion, the red dirt sections before and after Crawlers Ledge are actually worse. Between the 7 and 8 mile marks, the path is covered with loose dirt crumbs that can be slippery when dry, or muddy and slick when wet.

I was hiking this section with my cousin during a light rain, and we had a really scary close call at approximately 7.4 miles. He started to slide toward the cliff with mud caked on his shoes, and I thought he was going to fall off the edge.

It all happened very fast, but at the same time it felt like slow motion. For a split second, I was sure my cousin was going to slide off the cliff, and I remember it crossed my mind that I’d have to tell his parents he died hiking with me.

Thankfully he was able to crouch on all fours for more traction, and that stopped his slide. I was able to do the same by sitting and scooting along the trail on my butt.

Since it’s a dirt path, the conditions can change over time, and during this particular episode in 2018, the path was not even flat; it was eroded and sloped toward the cliff. That made it even harder to hold any traction.

Here’s a video on YouTube that shows what the trail looks like in bad weather. It’s a real mess.

In retrospect, we should’ve waited for the rain to stop and the path to dry a bit. It’s easy to get tunnel vision on this hike because it’s so long and we wanted to get to Kalalau Beach before dark, but it’s always better to arrive safe than not at all.

On the way back, when we crossed the same section, it was dry and we had no issues at all; but we moved very slowly and carefully just in case.

 

Is Kalalau Dangerous Or Safe?

Kalalau is an extreme hike by most people’s standards, and there are plenty of risks involved.

By the numbers, I think it’s fair to say it’s one of the most deadly hikes in the U.S. There are hikes that are objectively more dangerous, but way fewer people attempt them.

When you read some of these scary stories about Kalalau, though, keep in mind it’s also been safely hiked by hundreds of thousands of people over the years.

I’ve done it myself three times in the rainy season, including a solo hike, and I had an amazing time without getting hurt at all.

If you’re a fit and experienced hiker, and you respect the weather, there’s a very good chance you’ll be fine at Kalalau.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. Kalalau is a massive hike that almost anyone will find challenging, and you should train and prepare for it.

I wouldn’t suggest this trail for young kids, older people who aren’t in good shape, or anyone who isn’t steady on their feet and comfortable with heights.

You need to take the weather seriously, and don’t get tunnel vision. Know when to stop if the conditions are getting too bad. Don’t hike next to cliffs in the rain, and don’t try to cross streams when they’re flooded.

If you follow those rules, you should be just fine at Kalalau.

 

Side Note: Don’t Waste State Resources

In the past, there have been some issues with people taking helicopter evacuations for questionable reasons like ‘general fatigue’ and then refusing treatment at the hospital afterwards.

EMS isn’t a taxi service for tourists. Please don’t call for help at Kalalau unless it’s absolutely necessary.

People who do this tie up state resources, waste local tax dollars, and make it harder to send help to those who might actually need it.
 

Why Do People Hike The Kalalau Trail?

Kalalau is easily one of the best hikes in the United States, and it’s probably one of my favorite hikes in the world.

You get up close views of an incredibly beautiful coastline (Na Pali), plus multiple waterfalls, white sand beaches, and more.

All of this would be amazing in itself, but the fact that you also get to camp and sleep there makes it even more special. It’s truly an adventure.

With that said, only you can decide if it’s worth the risks involved.

If you don’t feel like you can do the full Kalalau Trail, then you could just hike the first 2 miles to Hanakapiai Beach and the waterfall. That’s a lot easier, and the permit is easier to get too.

However, the best views are only unlocked later in the trail, when you get to Kalalau Beach. The further you go, the better it gets. The end of the trail is when you really see the Na Pali mountains in all their glory.

If you want to try another amazing hike in Kauai that’s easier and safer than Kalalau and has similar views, check out the Awa’awapuhi Trail. It’s short enough to do in one day, but still has plenty of challenge and exotic scenery.
 

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More Hawaii Travel Guides

Thanks for looking! I hope you were helped by this safety guide for the Kalalau Trail in Kauai.

Don’t forget to check out my other Hawaii travel guides before you go!