The Na Pali Coast - A Must See All Three

"You probably shouldn't have done that," my sister said to me, seconds after I put my hands together under a small stream of water flowing down the side of a rock for a sip of water. "I do what I want," I said, not an atypical response from me.

We were hiking on the Na Pali coast on Kauai, Hawaii. I'd never really been on a hike, but I live in NYC and walk miles a day in flip flops, so I didn't think a four-mile hike in the wilderness, up and down the sides of cliffs, in 100-degree weather would be an issue for me.

I may have been wrong.

The cliffs on the Na Pali coast stretch 15 miles. Along some parts, they're as high as the Empire State Building. The terrain is too rough for a modern-day road, so the only ways to see the coast are from the water, the air, or by foot. My sister and I aimed to see them all three ways, because we'd heard the coast is breathtaking from every angle.

We'd gone on a boat tour to hang out with dolphins a few days before and the previous day splurged on a helicopter tour. On the third day, we decided to get down in the dirt and experience the coast from the ground, hiking in the paths that we were sure the native Hawaiians had trudged through daily.

While the boat tour was bumpy with rough waters and I'd been nervous about the helicopter tour until we made it into the air, the hiking was what took the most out of me. We'd gotten a late start and were in the middle of the trail on the hottest part of the day. I'd slipped on the mossy rocks while trying to cross a gushing stream and I fell straight into the water. My shoes and socks were soaked for the remainder of the hike. But the biggest mistake was that I hadn't thought to bring any water, hence my need for a gulp from a potentially contaminated natural stream on the rocks.

For some portions of the trail I was absolutely miserable - sweat pouring down my neck, slopping along in uncomfortable wet shoes, and delirious from dehydration. But for other parts of the trail, when I looked out through the trees to see the glistening cerulean blue water or when we reached the gorgeous Hanakapi'ai Beach at our halfway point, right after my fall into the spring, I was awestruck.

At those points, I knew this was all worth it. I should have been more careful when crossing the stream and I should have brought water, but no matter what, and perhaps even more so because it was a challenge, I would never forget it. And, even better, I didn't end up getting sick from the water I drank.