Who wants to go on a camping trip to Hawaii?
Are you interested in camping in paradise? It seems like a beautiful existence, doesn’t it…pitching a tent on the beach, waking up in the morning to the sun shining and birds chirping? Well….it definitely can be!
The key to having a good time camping in Hawaii is to come prepared. Do your research before you even leave your home. Which campgrounds are you going to stay at? What amenities, if any, do they offer? Do they require permits? What kind of gear do you need? It’s one thing to show up at a hotel with nothing but the clothes on your back, but that’s not really a fun time when you’re roughing it!
The island of Hawaii has a number of possibilities for campers. There are camping options in Hawaii State Parks, including Kalopa State Recreation Area, Kiholo State Park Reserve, and Manuka State Wayside beginning at $12/$18 per night. There are shelters that can be rented at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area, and Kalopa State Recreation Area for $30/$90 per night. Check out a map of camping options at camping.ehawaii.gov.
If tent camping is more your jam, check out the campsites that are maintained by the County of Hawaii. They charge for their permits per person, and rates are cheaper for Hawaii residents. They have a pretty good selection of locations all around the island, and their website shows which amenities are available at each campground. Some campsites are known to be safer than others. Do your research beforehand; search the web and ask around for opinions, especially if you’re planning on travelling alone. The County of Hawaii website is currently slightly out-of-date in one area as well: Isaac Hale is not currently available for camping due to being cut off by the eruption in Leilani Estates.
Camping isn’t for everyone. If you love your comforts– your plush bed, your television, and four walls around you–roughing it in a tent is probably not for you. But, if you’re an outdoorsy type who loves adventure and sleeping out under the sky, we recommend camping on the Big Island. There’s also an intermediate version: come camp at Arnott’s Lodge!. We are the only campground in Hilo, and we offer a cushy lawn to pitch your tent on, as well as free wifi, free parking, and warm showers. We are a 5-minute walk away from a small beach, and we also offer discounts on our adventure tours for our guests. It doesn’t really count as roughing it, though :).
Some basic gear to bring camping:
- Tent (waterproof!)
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Insect repellent
- First aid kit
- Food/water
- Flashlight
- biodegradable soap
- Sunscreen (FYI, Hawaii is phasing out non-mineral sunscreen. Please help save our coral reefs and choose mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide, NOT the kind with oxybenzone and/or octinoxate!)
Some helpful links to check out:
- Hawaii State Parks
- County of Hawaii website: plenty of info about the island!
- USGS Website: keep up to date on current volcanic hazards
- LoveBigIsland.com
- HVNP’s website on camping (the park is currently closed, but will hopefully open again soon)
- Wander Wisdom, a travel blog
- Frommer’s, another travel blog
Author: S. Garcia
