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Camping on the Big IslandThe and Hawaii ... Travel Ezine, dated 06/11/01, by Lisa Weber
++++ In this Issue ++++ 01. Title Article - Camping on the Big Island 02. Travels deals - 11th hour fares, kona, air-inclusive 03. Hawaiian Word - wai, anuenue 04. Hawaiian article - waipio valley 05. Website - 101 things to do 06. Featured Links - 07. Features Guidebook - Hawaii the big island revealed 01. ---Camping on the Big Island--- When I go camping, my husband and I load up the truck with the fishing poles and a tarp and we just go. We normally go to very remote places, accessible with our four-wheel drive and only stay for two days. We pull a tarp off the truck and sleep underneath it on a cot or an air mattress. Bugs aren't usually a problem near the ocean, and neither is rain if we camp at the drier parts of the island. The two exceptions to this are South Point, and the Hilo side. If we camp in either of these places we always take a tent. At South Point, there are seasonal runs of field (lava) mice or big bugs that will torment you without a tent. On the Hilo side, it will probably rain. We stow all the gear in the truck, and sleep in a tent under the tarp. Just a tent probably will *not* stand up to a Hilo downpour (as we learned on our honeymoon) and if you don't have a way to set up a tarp over the tent, just bring it with you and drape it over the tent if it starts to rain (a rain slip is not enough). Whether you want to hike in or drive up, there are plenty of places to camp on the Big Island. ** Within the National Park: http://www.nps.gov/havo/pphtml/camping.html Camping is available at Namakani Paio campgrounds and Kulanaokuaiki. Namakani Paio is a small area off Highway 11 just outside the National Park entrance. There is room for tents, with bathrooms and grill areas and there are small cabins operated by the Volcano House. This is a good place to stay for National Park access - but pretty far from everything else. Kulanaokuaiki is a campsite 5 miles down Hilina Pali road - good for hiking in the park, but that's about it. http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/2000/00_04_06.html An article about earthquakes in the area of Kulanaokuaiki There is other camping in the National Park available by permit only. It is very important you get a permit - the rangers will come looking for you if you don't come out when you said you would. Many in-over-their-head people have been rescued this way. One couple was camping near a quiet volcanic vent WHEN IT ERUPTED in 1997. The rangers went in with a helicopter and got them out amid lava fountains at daybreak. I was the military medical liason during that event in the volcano's history and remember it as very exciting. http://starbulletin.com/97/01/31/news/story3.html ** Camping in State Parks http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/fees.html State park fees and permits guidelines You can camp at Hapuna Beach Park (A-frames available) Kalopa Park Mackenzie Park Mauna Kea Park http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/hawaii.html State park information. I would suggest Hapuna Beach A-frames. Cheap, rustic, and right across the street from what is one of the best beaches in Hawaii. Be the first in the water in the morning! ** Camping in County Parks http://www.hawaii-county.com/parks/parks.htm Good list with camping details I would suggest Spencer Beach Park - good beach, little rain Laupahoehoe Beach Park - no beach, but good fishing and a HUGE field for other acitivities Punaluu Beach Park - black sand, easy ocean access, little rain, practically guaranteed to see turtles ** Others http://www.imua-tour.com/ Rent a VW camper van for camping http://www.harpershawaii.com/motorhomes.htm Harpers motorhome rentals If you are interested in camping in Waipio Valley, permits are available through Kamehameha Bishop Estate Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate P. O. Box 495 Paauilo, HI 96776 Tel. (808) 776-1104 (no web site that I could find) ** A note about crime - In Hawaii, we are blessed with a very low rate of person on person crime. It is one of the reasons I love this place, but it is no cause to let your guard down. Stay together, or near other people and keep an eye on your stuff, just to be safe. Don't leave anything valuable in your car, there is some vehicle break-ins in quiet areas, just like any other tourist area. -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ ---Internet Travel Deals Watch--- ** check the web sites for details and restrictions --------------------------------------------- http://www.11thhourvacations.com/fmv.php3?RP=97938&dest_loc=775 11th hour Hawaiian cruise --------------------------------------------- http://www.11thhourvacations.com/fmv.php3?RP=97938&dest_loc=625 11th hour Big Island trip --------------------------------------------- http://www.leisurelinkintl.com/Templates/product.cfm?unit_id=237 Holua resort in Kona for $77 a night --------------------------------------------- http://www.costatravel.com/AffordableHawaiiandMexico.htm air-inclusive packages from $499 --------------------------------------------- ---Hawaiian Word of the Week--- anuenue - (ah new ee new ee) - rainbow wai - (why) - water, liquid I find it interesting, when looking at these two words, to surmise where the street name Waianuenue Ave. in Hilo came from. This is the road that leads to Rainbow Falls, where the water dropping over the cliff causes rainbows to form at the bottom during certain times of day. 04. ---Hawaiian Article/Information Watch--- http://www.waipio.com/goingdown.htm Information about Waipio Valley on the Big Island, including pictures of the coast area, seen at the end of Waterworld. 05. --- Hawaiian Website Watch --- http://www.101things.com/ 101 things to do this is the online ego of the printed magazines 101 things to do on each of the major islands. It can be picked up free in Hawaii, and usually provides a good guide to some alternative, and some popular things to do in the islands. Interestingly enough, they provide a link to buy the printed magazine, when it appears all or most of the information in the magazine is on the website. Just click on an island, and check out the 101 tips. 06. --- Featured Links --- http://alohagoodies.com/ - ALOHAGOODIES.COM http://www.iike.com/acottageinparadise/ - A Cottage in Paradise, on the Big Island 07. --- Featured Guidebook --- http://www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigisland.html Hawaii the Big Island Revealed Visit this site if for nothing more than to see the cover of the book - On the lower right area, just above the name of the authors, you'll see a whitish streak running up and down. That is vog (emmissions) from the volcano! At the bottom of the streak is where Pu'u 'O'o, the current active vent, is located. Oh, yeah, the book is really good too. Buy it at a discount at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0963942964/explorehawaii/107-4607913-0003767 Have a story or a question you'd like to share? E-mail me at ezine@andhawaii.com . Until next week, Lisa. http://www.andhawaii.com |
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