A view worth the trek

Its sharp crags and canyons softened by green velvet, the Nā Pali Coast is a primordial wonderland like no other. A showcase for the unique 5 million-year-old geology of Kauai, this expanse is shaped by both its volcanic origin and continual weather and ocean erosion. Human influence is scarce here: Only hikers with permits are allowed into this Hawaii state park wilderness, leaving just sailors, paddlers, pilots, and their passengers to share in the forested shores' splendor.