Lovely, peaceful trails at this park. In this visit we only had time for the nature trail which was…read morewell maintained and had a number of interpretive signs describing the various trees and shrubs. Also near the nature trail is the arboretum of native plants with additional interpretive signs, be sure to visit both areas. If you have more time, do the jeep trail to gulch trail as a loop.

This place is pretty confusing and also empty so we were afraid to explore too much. We checked out…read morethe garden but it seemed a bit under maintained and dead. Seems pretty easy to get lost and no reception so come prepared. Plenty of parking but for some reason gave kind of eerie vibes.

Gorgeous place, loved swimming in the waterfall. The cabanas are adorable and it was a great place…read moreto glamp but still use the shared kitchen house. It was not particularly private, but thankfully the staff were all fantastic, helpful, and kind. It felt like staying with friends.

Five Stars for expectations met, not a five star resort…read more A charming house in the rainforest that is truly off the grid. There is a fully equipped kitchen inside the house so bring your provisions and enjoy home cooked meals. There is a farmers market in nearby Hilo for stocking up. The "included breakfast" is actually a voucher for a nearby bakery that makes delicious pastries and coffee. A perfect stop before heading up to Akaka Falls. You will experience everything the rainforest is known for, sudden downpours, humidity, bugs, and amazing night sounds. Fortunately, the mosquitoes didn't bother us because we had a half a dozen geckos patrolling our room. The aromas of flowers and foliage waft into your room on the ever present tropical breeze that comes up from the ocean. No man made A/C here, just nature. The semi-outdoor bathroom makes this a Hawaiian Fitzcarraldo adventure destination. Don't worry there is a second shared indoor bathroom for the city folk. I've stayed in plenty of European hostels when I was younger and this sort of reminds me of a grown up version. I've never booked an airbnb property before so I'm assuming most guests are stupid. There seems to be a sign on every wall reminding you of various house rules. I'm hotel people so I found that odd. I'm glad we found this place and had the chance to spend a couple of nights closer to nature.

Absolutely the best way to experience the Big Island! We rented our van, Kilo Lani, for 10…read moreglorious days. It was clean, ran well and was a comfortable refuge and travel machine. The vans come with nearly everything you need for travel: dishes, towels, grass mats, etc. For a reasonable rate you get a rental car, a place to sleep and a kitchen all in one. The owners really take care of their customers. Vans are each named and each one has a unique character. It is best if you can drive a stick shift but some automatics are available. Book yours early, they go fast during busy times on the island.

We rented one of Happy Campers' VW vans for 24 days in January/February 2012. The van was fairly…read moreclean and in good condition outside and inside. It was an automat. There were no mechanical problems, but not working were: ventilation, air conditioner, reverse lights, shift lighting. The water pump switch was hard to turn, almost impossible with wet hands. The two flames stove is supplied from a 1 1/2 lbs propane container, which allowed cooking for 4 to 5 days. We were given 6 full containers, changing of which was easy. The inside table was too far away from the convertible bench, so that we had to use the additional very small folding table (for outside use) inside the van and to put the flat part of the inside table on top of it, which was complicated and unpractical. There was very little storage space, so that a lot of moving-about of things was necessary. The (not working) air conditioner under the rear part of the roof took up lost storage space, and the bench was as long as the width of the vehicle, taking up additional storage space (the Happy Campers' website picture of the inside does not show the interior of our van). Their vans all have individual names. Ours was the "Wiki Wiki Kai" - not the most ideal van, as we realized when we saw other ones while traveling. We tried to swap the van after two days, but Teri of Happy Campers strictly refused, although there were 4 campers ready, all of which we would have accepted. When we tried to insist, her partner (husband?) said that we were "big RV or hotel people" and offered to give us the money back. All that "aloha" and lei-around-the-neck friendliness was wiped away. This was one of the annoyances of our holiday. So if you consider renting one of those campers make sure you are getting one of the better ones. We had asked for more detailed photos of the interior before we booked, but Teri did not supply any - it seems that she knew the reason well. Compare my entry about Aloha Campers Maui on this topic. Camping on Big Island: Hilo: The only place where campervans are accepted is Arnott's Lodge. Vehicles are not allowed on the tent lawn, so we had to park the van on the paved carpark near the reception or on the gravel area near the lawn. The fee of $ 20 for two people plus tax included the use of hot showers, kitchen, covered dining platform, and free WiFi internet. People did free vehicle camping in the "no name" beach park at the very end of Kalaniana'ole Ave (continue east from Arnott's Lodge). Volcanoes National Park: Both campgrounds are nice, but in Kulanaokuaiki vehicles must stay in the small paved carpark near the pit toilet, where there is not much shade. State parks: Mackenzie State Recreation Area in the Puna District: Nice big shady area on the lava coast. The pit toilets were disgusting. Kalopa State Recreation Area in Hamakua District: The campground is for tents only. We stayed for free on the level carpark near the trailhead and the cabin buildings. A caretaker's vehicle parked beside us in the morning but we were not bothered. Kiholo Bay in North Kona District: The formerly informal camping area is now a State Park with numbered "tents only" sites under trees on the beach. We had no permit (internet only), but a merciful ranger allowed us to stay one night on a very rough gravel carpark on the roadside. County Parks: The only county park campground where a fee was collected (at 8 p.m., $ 10) was Ho'okena Beach Park. Campervans must stay in the carpark. We also stayed in most of the other county park campgrounds, but no one ever wanted to see a permit or collect a fee, not even in Spencer Beach Park. Wild camping: There are very few spots! Some good ones are on Napoopoo Beach on the southern end of Kealakekua Bay in South Kona District. The access dirt road is lousy but not impossible for VW campers. We also stayed on a small level area near the power line off the Saddle Road, ca. mile marker 19. Hard to understand why the rental contract excludes that newly paved three lane highway, one of the island's best roads. The general camping situation for vans is less than ideal. We got the impression that in many of the campgrounds RV's are not welcome.

Where to start. My girlfriend and I rented for 4 nights and 5 days and had an incredible experience…read morecircumnavigating the island. Doug's campers have the authentic charm of island life. Everything you need and nothing you don't. Doug's island map is filled with amazing recommendations but Doug also went above and beyond talking us through recommendations based on our interests when we arrived. I'm sure there are lots of other camper van rentals on the island but we both would rent with Doug again. If you want to live a bit of aloha, you should too .

Pricing needs to be re-evaluated. Dug is a super nice dude, but he really over-values his…read morecraftmanship. He claimed you had to close the windows to keep bugs out. But, there was a large hole in the trash storage/under sink, and no side window screens. Lots of things that were obviously last minute work-arounds. He gave us microfiber sheets and fleece blankets evenings that never got below 70 degrees. His mosquito netting is random pieces of mesh with misc. small magnets and no placement guide. He also had mentioned just changing the oil, but neglected to address the bearing that squealed during our entire trip. Lastly, and kinda funny, but he has you watch a 30 minute video of him explaining the vans features while seemingly 2 joints in.

I came here as a volunteer in March of 2012 knowing nothing about Hawaii or the Big Island. I…read moreintended to stay for only 2 weeks, but ended up living here for about 6 months. This place was the most amazing experience of my life. This is where I met lifelong friends, travelers and business contacts. Hedonisia attracts eccentric, interesting, talented hippie types and the like who all have something to contribute to the "community of individuals" that comprises Hedonisia. At Hedo, I learned how to do yoga, cook curry, tend tropical gardens, build structure from re-used and re-purposed materials, build trails, hula hoop, among many other fascinating hobbies that I would have ordinarily never have tried, all in one place, none the less! The most amazing aspect of this place is the people. Without them, Hedonisia would not be as enriching of an experience. Hedonisia is on roughly 4 acres of tropical rainforest and it's built in a whimsical play land sort of way. There are fun funky nooks and crannies to explore, lots of colorful art, cooky but functional structures, a converted hippie school bus, the works. One of my friends I met here described it perfectly once: This place feels like adult hippie summer camp. You work hard, you make friends, and most of all you have so much fun! In addition to all the property has to offer including fresh fruit, beautiful flowers, vegetables, it is located in an amazing spot in Lower Puna which is rich with folklore and culture, as it is in the wake of Kilauea (active volcano's) path. There are geothermal warm ponds just up the street, black sand beaches, amazing camping, cool farmer's markets and night markets and overall the most interesting mix of people you'd ever hope to meet. This place is somewhere to go if you have an open mind and an open heart, if you are eager and hungry to learn, explore, adventure and have fun. The owners are open, honest, fun, youthful and amazing people who I have become lifelong friends and business contacts with. They have an open door policy and often get their hands dirty themselves doing work, weeding around the property, getting to know all their volunteers, all their guests, and generally opening their little slice of paradise up for everyone to share and enjoy. Do yourself a favor and volunteer here. Now.

From the first moment I got to Hedonisia I felt at home. I came as a volunteer with no return date…read morein mind so far from home I was so glad to feel comfortable as soon as I arrived. Everything is rainbow colored and mostly open air, even the kitchen which was one of my favorite parts! The property has multiple levels and its own volcanic crater! I stayed in the Avocado Tent which to my surprise was a large tent with carpeting and a real bed inside! Over my time as a volunteer I got to meet lots of really great and interesting people. This is a great place to spend some time at getting to know people. You wouldn't really get a chance to appreciate this place if you only stay for a couple of nights. If you are looking for something truly unique I would highly recommend checking this place out!

Located just south of Lahaina, Maui. I love this camp! This was my first time to Maui and to this…read morecamp site. They offer tent camping, car camping, tent-a-lows (glamping) and cabins. I did the tent camping option for $36 a night. Tent-a-lows are about $165 a night. I came around valentines day February 2026. The temperature is 65F low, 75-80F high. The night was super windy for a tent, but was only windy between 6-9pm, meaning 20-25 mph winds. If you can hold out at that time, it was calm winds all night afterwards. Next time, I may prefer doing a car camping site, which comes with a picnic table, and there are around 20 sites near the gate. I may also prefer a tent-a-low in order to not pack a tent, sleeping pad. They are also less windy, as they are located farther from the beach. Pros: - private beach - it was prime whale watching season, but i was the only one on the beach. 95% of the tent sites were occupied, I believe all the tent-a-lows were occupied. - hot showers, no roof...but it's great - clean and nice bathrooms with a roof - free coffee and hot water in the morning. Get it when it opens at 7:00am, cuz it will run out in 15-20 minutes - plenty of parking - approx. 35-40 minutes from Kahului Airport - super fun to rent an E-bike from Krank Cycles, and ride south to Olowalu. It was pretty. You can ride E-bike through the campsite. It wasn't as pretty to ride north from Krank Cycles to Lahaina to Honokowai Beach, but all good. Cons: - getting to some of the more remote sites was hard with a roller luggage. I stayed at Tent Site 25, which was lovely, but the rolling luggage had to go over dirt, which is ok, but bark chip piles - hard to find tent site at night. Arrive in daylight if you can. It's impossible to navigate at night or find the restroom - they staff is really accomodating, and even took my call at 1:00am as that is my arrival time. - It is approximately 15 minute car drive to Lahaina dock for whale watching, and 35-40 minutes from Kahului airport - there are not much cons I had such a pleasant experience, I'll be back for sure!

I did NOT feel safe. There was a group of people and two of the men were up late after their…read morefamilies went to bed and harassed me in my tent by yelling and screaming into the tent at midnight and tried to open our tent and come in while I was sleeping. NOT safe for women or solo travelers. Management did nothing when we informed them.

Located just south of Hana Town, Maui Hawaii. I highly recommend this if you're on a budget. Note,…read moreyou will probably need a rental car or a moped/motorcycle to get here (the moped can't carry luggage). Most tour companies stop at Hana Town, but this is about 12-15 minutes south of Hana Town. Here is what I like...it's so remote, it's countryside here. Most cell phones won't work will near Hana, actually about 6 to 7 miles towards Hana. I got 1 bar with AT&T at Kipahulu Campground near the Visitors Center, and can send text messages or surf the web, but don't expect to stream video or music, or send video, cuz it won't go through. It costs like $20 per night for tent camping, what a bargain! These are tent camping sites. It was quiet. I came in peak whale season in middle of February 2026. I only saw 6 or 7 other cars here, and everyone was quiet and peaceful. Book it on recreation.gov. I saw some people do RVs, but most were tent camping. Campsites 12, 13, 14, 15 are great for ocean view if you peek over the ancient stone wall. Campsites #16-20 are for walk ups, i couldn't see a way to get to those. Campsite #1-#6 have the most protection from the wind. It wasn't too windy here, more windy at Camp Olowalu. Pros: great value, large open space, serene, country-like setting, quiet, friendly and helpful check in park rangers, camping here includes hiking the Pipiwai Trail the next morning and the Ohe O Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), which I did the night I arrived before sunset. Cons: No running water (bring baby wipes, bleach wipes) or walk 10 minutes to visitor center if you really need to wash face/brush teeth. They have toilets, without plumbing. Tips: bring large jug of water. There is BBQ grill. I didn't bother to buy a propane gas for my Jetboil mini stove, so you can get hot water in Hana Town restaurants, if you decide to bring backpacker dehydrated camping food. Another huge plus, is Laulima Farm's coffee, just 5 minutes drive south of Kipahulu Campground. You won't regret this coffee and fresh fruit, worth the drive alone.

Easily some of the cheapest camping you'll find on the island. Pit toilets were clean and there was…read more24 hour flush toilets nearby where you can refill your water. Lovely little park to wander around. Close to Hana too which has restaurants and beaches, although we brought food with us as well.

We stopped by Hosmer Grove on our way down from the Haleakala Summit and are glad we did! There was…read morea short nature trail with a lot to see -- felt like an old growth forest which was dramatically different than the landscape up at the top. Seems like a great place to camp as well although we didn't do that.

The hosmer trail is a half mile loop to observe non-native trees, planted before the park's…read moreestablishment, and native shrubland. It's also a unique habitat for honeycreepers found nowhere else on earth.

4 Stars Cool Spot, 1 Star Mouse Poop City!…read more We found out about this place in Lahaina from some people who stayed here years ago and showed us pictures. It appears to have been pretty nice before time and mice and little maintenance took over and beat the place to death. We arrived to find our SS Camaro (Bumble Bee) barely could enter the rutted driveway. No worries the owner was already on the way to meet us. I rode in the back of his Toyota pickup up he hill bouncing along a couple minutes and we arrived to Treetops Treehouse. Upon first glance this is an eclectic treehouse with Sone old patio furniture with some good jungle mold growing away and an outdoor kitchen that he seemed surprised someone stole the campstove from. Bonus the outdoor bathroom does have hot water for showers! We went to the bedroom and got situated and all appeared to be fine until we realized you cannot go barefoot unless you like to step in piles of mousepoop from the other residents. Nor can you utilize the tables or shelves for the same reason! The bedsheets were freshly applied so no mousepoop there! I was unable to use the towels as mousepoop was stuck to one probably from being placed on the table. The bed was cozy and the ambiance was cool. I was pretty cozy otherwise. Other bummers were the rooftop patio has rotted out so you cannot go up there anymore for the treetop views.... The mosquito net seems to be for a twin bed so it runs on you all night as you try to sleep... In the middle of the night there was this crazy loud gnawing sound and finally I had to investigate since I could no longer sleep. A huge mouse appears to have been nesting for quite some time a the top corner wall near turned and closet. They have reapplied several layers of screen to keep it out but it is eating through he wood now. Disclaimer: We are both camping, rock climbing outdoor enthusiasts and also 5 star resort people with realistic expectations for a treehouse. For the $150 a night he asked for after being told it was $79 a night when referred we ended up getting it for $100 cash. We left after a night because of the conditions. In all fairness this place was probably great when it was new but could have had some modifications to the design to reduce jungle rot, rodents and etc.... If it was $50 a night it would be what it is, but if you paid $100-$150 a night it's pretty rough for that price with no cleaning or maintenance.

Like Lunar said - Rustic, fine. Run down, not cool…read more My husband and I booked a stay at the treetops for two nights of our honeymoon. We are avid campers/outdoors people and have never considered ourselves "fussy" by any means, so when we heard about Hana Lani we KNEW it would be the perfect place for us to spend our first nights as husband and wife enjoying the beauty of the rain forrest. How WRONG we were. We were prepared for bugs, and dirt and mud and camp like conditions. What we were not prepared for was the sad disrepair of the accommodations. When we arrived we found that our sheets were visibly dirty. The mosquito net hung over the bed was held together with duck tape and had visible stains on it as well. The furniture was broken and dirty. The observation deck overlooking the ocean that we had been so looking forward too was furnished with two rusty lawn chairs, the back broken off of one of them. I told my husband it looked like they had gone shopping at a dump. And the toilet paper - ew. There was a small amount on the roll in the bathroom, which was gone after one use. The extra toilet paper left for us in the tree house was covered in dirt and bugs. Thank goodness we had come prepared with a small pack of travel tissues. We wanted to be good sports about the whole situation, so we decided to stay the first night. We asked management for new sheets and they provided them (although he gave us quite a bit of attitude when we voiced our concerns about the condition of the tree house). The new sheets appeared clean, but when we put them on the bed we found they were holy. Eh - whatever, at least they had no suspect stains. In all fairness, I have to say that we were rewarded for sticking it out with a massive and very impressive rain storm that night, and an incredibly beautiful sunrise the next morning. Plus - the coolest spider I have ever seen makes his home in the corner of the treehouse. He was a highlight of our very short trip. Those amazing nature given things, however, were just not enough to make up for the disappointment (and yuck-ness) of the treehouse itself. The next morning we packed up our gear and were on the road before 7am. Bottom line - this place is no where near worth the $120/night we were forced to pay. Honestly, the place would be a lot better if they chucked all the furniture and hauled in some cool logs to sit on. And of course it would help to invest in some new sheets every once in awhile, and at least try to keep the TP clean.

Man, when you stay driving from Hilo to Kailua-Kona, what if you gotta pee real bad, or do numba…read more#2??? Thank goodness for da Gilbert Kahele Recreation Center! You are my savior!!! I don't know if the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Center is considered a "half-way point" when driving from Hilo to Kona, but what I can assure you of, is a fairly clean public restroom when ya need it! Lol! Looking around at this facility, it appears that you can actually camp out here, as I see some structures that appears to be cabins, and there is also a playground for the kids. The Gilbert Kahele Recreational Center is just off of the Daniel Inouye Highway and is quite east to find, as the Pohakuloa Training Center is nearby. I've been up here many times during the winter, as well as during the hot summers. Be aware that coming up here in the winter can get pretty cold due to the elevation. Aside from the pit-stop restroom, there's not too much up here to do, but if you have a chance to camp up here, I can imagine this place to be pretty peaceful.

Super convenient, clean, not crowded, right off the highway 200…read more It's the Hilbert Kahele Recreation Area. It's the perfect rest stop! Amazing! Thank you so much for such keeping super clean!