Kalalau Beach during a north Pacific winter storm (January). A strenuous 11 mile hiking trail, follows the rugged and spectacular Na Pali (lit. *Big cliffs)* north-west coast of the island of Kauai, ending at the Kalalau valley and beach, inaccessible except by boat or hiking. While the coast is spectacular, the seas and beaches along this part of Kauai are treacherous, characterised by strong currents, unseen rips and dangerous shorebreaks, unsafe for swimming.