Join the fun near Kailua. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Kailua is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Kailua, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
Sandy beach, rocky shoreline. Overnight parking pass required and can be picked up at the guard shack with a valid camping permit.
Gate closes at 9pm and reopens at 5:30am. Security guards on duty 24hours
Camping at Kiholo is allowed on weekends only (Friday-night through Sunday-night). Camping sites may be reserved up to 30 days in advance.
Campsites are located along an unimproved gravel access road in a shaded kiawe (mesquite) grove fronting an ‘ili’ili (pebble) beach. This is a remote area with no facilities and NO WATER. Portable toilets are provided.
This area is under park reserve status and still undergoing conceptual planning for future public use. The area is a stark, lava-covered coastal park with small bays, sparsely vegetated coastline, historic lava flows, and wide open spaces. Gates are locked nightly. When entrance gates are locked for the night, vehicles will not be able to enter or leave the park.
$20 - $30 / night
Nāmakanipaio Campground is located 31.5 miles south of Hilo on Highway-11 at 4,000' elevation. It is a large, open grassy area with tall eucalyptus and 'ōhi'a trees. This campground has restrooms, water, picnic tables and barbecue pits. Campfires are permitted in the barbeque pits only. If there are more than 2 people in your party, you can expand to 4 people per site with another tent. Maximum stay is 7 days.
Ho`okena Beach Park is the historical site for one of the last active Hawaiian canoe fishing villages in Hawai'i. Ho'okena has a rich cultural history and remnants of its old commercial steamship pier remain. There are canoes strewn across the beach owned by the fishermen who continue traditional Hawaiian fishing practices passed down from their ancestors, if you are lucky you may see the fishermen launch their canoes or come back with a bounty full of fish.
The beach is an exotic blend of a wide variety of coral and fine, gray sand. Depending on the time of year, the ocean is placid and the clear, blue waters reveal spectacular underwater landscapes and a colorful array of fish, when there is a south swell, watch the local boogie boarders masterfully ride the near shore break. The sunsets are amazing and the sunrise above the pali (cliffs) are breathtaking.
Ho`okena Beach Park is an excellent place to camp under the stars, listening to the soothing, sound of waves crashing on the beach then waking up to a gentle, sea breeze to a spectacular view found nowhere else.
Camp Ho'okena offers clean and spacious sites on the beach for tent camping. You can reserve a camping permit online. In addition to a spectacular beach and ocean campers may enjoy the following amenities:
• Concession Stand with ice, hot foods, cold drinks, ice cream, snacks, reef safe suntan lotion & beach rentals (kayaks, stand up paddleboards, beach chairs, boogie boards, snorkel and fin sets and life jackets) for campers and beachgoers. All proceeds from the concession go to Friends of Ho’okena Beach Park (FOHBP), a non-profit, community organization dedicated to the preservation of cultural and natural resources. • Outdoor showers. • Portable toilets provided for campers only • Barbeque fire pits throughout the campgrounds • Wifi is available for purchase ($3.00 for 2 hours on one device and $10.00 for 24 hours on 2 devices) • County restroom facilities. (including a sink for washing dishes near the entrance of the park) • A phone to make emergency phone calls • Parking (Please inform the Ho’okena Beach Patrol personnel on duty that you have a reservation to camp and they will let you know where to park, please have your license plate number available to expedite check in) • Picnic tables. • The Concession Stand Accepts Credit Cards.
$6 - $20 / night
The Waimanu Campground is located at the end of the 7.6 mile Muliwai Trail. There are nine designated campsites accommodating up to 48 campers total with 2 composting outhouses available. Camping in Hawaii's Forest Reserves is usually in remote, mountainous locations providing a wilderness experience. Campsites are accessed by hiking and have few or no amenities. Check site details closely to ensure you are informed and have everything you need before heading out.
At-A-Glance Trail Info:
Measured from the trailhead, the Muliwai Trail is approximately 15.2 miles round-trip. Measured from the Waipiʻo Lookout, it is approximately 19 miles round-trip. The trail is minimally maintained, steep, eroded in places, rocky, and slippery when wet. There are four emergency helipads along the trail used for maintenance and fire and rescue teams only. There is also a shelter about half way into the hike. There are nine designated campsites accommodating up to 48 campers total. There are 2 composting outhouses.
Sandy beach, rocky shoreline. Overnight parking pass required and can be picked up at the guard shack with a valid camping permit.
Gate closes at 9pm and reopens at 5:30am. Security guards on duty 24hours
Nāmakanipaio Campground is located 31.5 miles south of Hilo on Highway-11 at 4,000' elevation. It is a large, open grassy area with tall eucalyptus and 'ōhi'a trees. This campground has restrooms, water, picnic tables and barbecue pits. Campfires are permitted in the barbeque pits only. If there are more than 2 people in your party, you can expand to 4 people per site with another tent. Maximum stay is 7 days.
Kulanaokuaiki camping area is free and is available on a first-come basis. No reservations and No permits are necessary. Stays are limited to 7 days in a month and cannot exceed 30 days per year.
Request to BookAs all the land here is born of lava, many moons ago this land began to host plants and critters. Long after, it was sculpted and a number of families and farmers have contributed to what we have today. An abundance of fruit and vegetables within sight of the ocean. Peaceful breezes and warming sun make for unparalleled tranquility. Today the land still gives back to its visitors. Come recharge.
