Camping on Oahu

Imagine waking on a crystal-clear morning to the sound of pounding surf, the trill of a dove, a mild breeze in overhead trees — or perhaps all of the above, all at once.

For vacationers inclined to choose rusticity over luxury, Hawaii offers wilderness cabins and upcountry and beach camping in some of the most spectacular settings on the planet. But if you want to try it, you have to know the rules.

State campgrounds are open Friday through Wednesday. Permits are required and applications may be made in writing, by phone, or in person and must be received at least seven days before the camping event and no earlier than one year in advance. The maximum stay per permit is five consecutive nights and a 30-day period must elapse before a new permit is issued. Permits are free. Tent camping is permitted, but mobile campers are not allowed.

State parks on Oahu with camping areas include: Kahana Valley State Park, on Kamehameha Highway in Windward Oahu; Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area, at the end of Aiea Heights Drive; Malaekahana State Park, located off Kamehameha Highway, north of La'ie; and Sand Island State Recreation Area, located at the end of Sand Island access road off Nimitz Highway. Tent camping is allowed on weekends only.

State Park permits are issued at a district office (see below). The permit can also be mailed to you or held at a district office for pickup.

There are no national parks with campgrounds on Oahu — those can be found on the Big Island at Volcanoes National Park and on Maui at Haleakala National Park.

There are 13 county parks on Oahu. Camping is free, but permits are required and you must apply for them in person at the Department of Parks & Recreation, located on the ground floor of the Honolulu Municipal Building at 650 S. King St., or at any Satellite City Hall on the island.

Oahu's State Park Permit Office:

Oahu District
P.O. Box 621
(1151 Punchbowl Street)
Honolulu, HI 96809
(808) 587-0300

• Download application for a state parks permit
(requires Acrobat Reader)

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