Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Coast doesn't register on many tourists' itineraries; its beach parks are blessedly free of
crowds, save for locals.
State parks include iconic Diamond Head State Monument, where hikers can summit a
landmark volcanic tuff cone, and idyllic, crescent-shaped Hanauma Bay, the island's
premier snorkeling spot. At Oʻahu's lesser-known state parks, you can visit ancient heiau
ruins and rebuilt fishponds or take panoramic photos from beaches, lighthouses and
clifftop lookouts.
Although Oʻahu has no national parks, the federal government oversees WWII Valor
in the Pacific National Monument (including the USS
Arizona
Memorial) at Pearl Har-
bor, James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on the Windward Coast and the Hawaiian
Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary encompassing offshore waters.
Camping
You can pitch a tent at many county and some state parks spread around the island, but
none are close to Waikiki. Most private campgrounds and those county beach parks that
have recommendable campgrounds are found along the Windward Coast.
All county and state park campgrounds on Oʻahu are closed on Wednesday and
Thursday nights; some are open only on weekends. Ostensibly, these closures are for
park maintenance, but also to prevent semi-permanent encampments by homeless people,
especially along the Waiʻanae Coast.
Choose your campground carefully, as roadside beach parks can be late-night hangouts
for drunks, drug dealers and gang members. Oʻahu's safest campgrounds with 24-hour
security guards and locked gates are Malaekahana State Recreation Area (
Click here
)
and
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden (
Click here
)
on the Windward Coast and Keaʻiwa Heiau
State Recreation Area (
Click here
) above Pearl Harbor. Of the 14 county parks that allow
camping on Oʻahu, the most protected is weekends-only Bellows Field Beach Park
(
Click here
)
in Waimanalo on the Windward Coast.
Walk-in camping permits are
not
available at either state or county campgrounds. You
must get permits in advance from one of the following agencies:
Hawaii Division of State Parks
CAMPING PERMITS
(
587-0300;
www.hawaiistateparks.org
; room 131, 1151 Punchbowl St, Honolulu; 8am-3:15pm
Mon-Fri)
Apply for state-park camping permits (per night $12 to $30) in person or online
up to 30 days in advance.
Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation
CAMPING PERMITS
