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.

Beautiful park with a well-marked and well-maintained trail system; great for a day hike. It…read morewasn't nearly as remote or primitive as I had been led to believe by online descriptions of it. There are flush toilets, several cabins, and a nice covered picnic area. We saw one other couple there, but there were also rangers and maintenance workers around. The forest is very dense, with ferns, moss, VERY large trees and a lot of birds. We saw some exotic "sea anemone" mushrooms and a lot of ginger flowers. There is an easier nature trail near the picnic area near the bottom of the park. The rest of the trails are all uphill from the entrance. We hiked most of the trails in the park in less than four hours. The park is basically laid out in a rectangle maybe a little more than a mile from top to bottom and maybe less than a mile side to side. You start at the bottom; the parking lot is near the middle of the bottom side. There is a four-mile-or-so loop that goes around the perimeter of the park - part of that loop is called the horse perimeter trail. On the other side of the rectangle is a "gulch" trail that runs uphill mostly along a deep gulch said to have been formed mostly by pleistocene era glacial ice-cap runoff. The gulch trail is connected to the "perimeter" trail by a trail across the top of the park. There is an old "jeep trail" that runs straight up the middle of the park from the parking lot to the top of the rectangle, and a couple shorter transverse trails that run between and perpendicular to the jeep trail and the gulch trails. There are signs located at all of the trail intersections. There are a few places where water can run through the park during up-mountain rains, leading to possible flash-flooding. Some descriptions of the park say the flash-floods can be dangerous, and in at least one place there is the potential to be washed down into the gulch. Some descriptions say that the trails can be muddy. When we were there in August, the trails were hard-packed and the streams dry.

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.

The entire experience was so wonderful. Everything at the property is well organized and with the…read morehelp of strategically placed signs, guests are able to navigate the property easily. The cabanas are very nice - sleeping in the hammock actually ended up being some of the best sleep and best dreams I have ever had. My husband is 6'2" and he loved it too. We are getting hammocks at home asap. Even when it rains at night, you stay dry inside and cozy with the blankets provided. The amenities available at the main house like food storage, a fridge, coffee and French press and grill - are amazing. There are stores, markets and even a wal mart near by with prices that are reasonable and very similar to Indiana. There is a bakery, Mr Eds, down a beautiful rain forest road- that sells amazing breakfast foods, baked goods and other goodies. The entire little town of Honomu is perfect and we loved Hilo in every way. It is possible to get your laundry washed while staying here, go for walks, play with the kitties who live there and interact with other residents staying for one night or more. The open shower/bathroom turned out to be an awesome experience. There is a lot of parking available and it's an easy drive any where you go. You definitely need a car. The entire place is beautiful, colorful birds and dragonflies are everywhere! Of course with any place , it is important to be realistic. Like I mentioned earlier, there could be multiple people staying there on the property while you're there so there could be some noise at different times of the night or day, but for the most part it's not major. You might have to wait for a restroom- but there are two restrooms . This is the rainier side of the island so you might get more rain than what you might've expected And inside the cabana if it's very windy, the curtains will move some. Because it's the wet side of the island there's a chance that you'll have some mosquito interaction. Just make sure you bring your (natural) repellent. This location is earth friendly with multiple people there so that means you're not going to take a 30 minute hot shower and you're not going to just have unlimited power usage, etc. The entire Island has an increased capacity for mold, so ya, you might see mold. There might even be a roach from time to time on the island. Overall, love it. We plan on staying here frequently!

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.

I drove here to take a picture of the sign…read more Mackenzie is my niece's name, my sisters name and my man's last name so it was only fitting that I get a photo of the sign. What a crazy drive to get here but worth it. I drove in and out of the park- very pretty. The drive is only that crazy due to the blockage from 2018/2019 volcano ruins.

I challenged the lava rock trail here and the lava rocks won. Just ask my scraped up knee, calf,…read morewrist, hands and wounded pride ;p. I blame the ghosts! That's right. It turns out this spot is known to be haunted! I didn't even know this until I looked up information on this area after our hike here. It's rumored that the souls of the prisoners who died repairing the trails in the 1800s are here, and it's also known generally as a place where wayward souls ('uhane) congregate. It's also rumored that the prisoners who died were also buried here in unmarked graves. It's safe to say you shouldn't camp here when the zombie apocalypse comes. There's also a history of some serious crimes committed here at night which is another reason to be wary if you stay here from dusk til' dawn (Unless you're with the brothers From Dusk Til' Dawn). This spot was actually closed for months due to the volcano but reopened just a month ago on Sept. 8. GPS "Fastest time" directions will not work here for the recommended route. The most direct path is closed due to the volcanic eruption so the roundabout detour route will feel like you are Lara Croft or Drake from Uncharted, driving through a lush green jungle of vegetation on narrow roads, dodging multiple mongoose (Mongooses? Mongeese?), and seeing native birds flit by. We certainly felt like we were in an adventure game driving on the detour route, especially when the torrential downpour of rain hit! We came here as a recommendation from the owner of the B&B we stayed at. I had wanted to see the lava flow but since a lot of the previous sites were now off limits due to the recent eruption our local expert mentioned that if you hike about an hour into the trail here, you can see the new lava formations. Note that this is not a trail for those with mobility problems or those that aren't used to hiking trails with minimal path markers. The trail itself consists of uneven lava rocks. Our local guide said "Make sure you stay on the trail!" quite emphatically. We got off the trail unintentionally a few times though and I see why he was so concerned. While the trail is rocky, a bit hazardous and requires some careful stepping to make sure you don't slip and fall, the rocks on it, while still craggy and rough, aren't sharp enough to do any major damage. Now the lava rocks that are off the trail are a different story. Those haven't been worn down by shoes and can splinter off quite easily. They are razor sharp. The rocks are also quite unstable. What you might think is a solid rock might actually be a lava rock "shell" or bubble that is hollow on the inside. Just imagine stepping on a rock like that when you think it's solid to have your foot sink down, getting various scrapes, bruises, and deep cuts along the way. Believe me, you don't want to be picking out lava rock splinters and dust from your wounds on vacation. The only trail markers are the white stones/coral and sprouting palm tree seeds scattered sporadically. It's like Hawaiian Hansel and Gretel made this trail. You will be walking on rough uneven surfaces so wear sturdy shoes. The experience of walking the trail here was a little freaky because you can feel the heat radiating from underneath the rocks in certain spots due to the volcanic activity. I hiked maybe 3/4 mi, passing by 2 beaches before I headed back. I later found out you have to hike about 5 miles to get to the lava flow. I'm not sure how the rest of the trail fared after the first mile but it did get rockier and harder to follow after reaching the first beach. I wasn't really expecting the trail to be this rugged. Had I known in advance I probably would have worn long pants since I tend to be accident prone. I did see most people walking the trail in shorts and even some wearing a dress and sandals. I also probably would have brought some gloves to make it easier to grip onto the lava rocks. Regardless of your gear, make sure you have plenty of water. It's very easy to overheat here. Equip yourself with a sense of adventure, some sturdy shoes and give it a shot!

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!

After visiting the green sand beach, we headed to the Volcano National Park. We had heard there was…read moresome recent activity and ultimately saw some lava from a hiking trail we took! The lava tube was so unique and such a quick, fun experience! I'm not sure what I expected but it was so interesting to see what the lava had once created. Definitely a must see while visiting the Big Island!

Another one of the things in Hawaii that we did wrong simply because we had a lot of crap packed…read moreinto our schedule over a very large area of the island, so things had to get cut or modified and this was one of them. We made two visits at night, which I highly recommend. Why? No $30 entrance fee - amazing views of the night sky - superb vent glow We had, like everybody, hoped to see an eruption. Kilauea was building up for episode 53 and we missed that by hours. That episode started while we were on the tarmac in Kona getting ready to depart. So, what did we see? Visit #1 - The most amazing clear night sky. Not a cloud out there and the difference in temperature compared to Hilo was fantastic. There was also a good bit of smoke and vent glow and while there were some people out along the Crater Rim West trail, it wasn't crazy for 8pm on a Friday. Visit #2 - Very cold and blustery and completely clouded over. Pitch black darkness along the roads and trails and very spooky taking the drive over to the overlook on Crater Rim Drive East since nobody else was there. Who would have thought episode 53 would start the next day? The amount of smoke and glow from three days prior was remarkably less. If there is ever a next time, I'll make it a priority to be here during the day for all of the traditional things like the Visitors Center, Steam Vents and more of the trails and lookouts. Either way - five stars - easily

Beautiful scenic park. Please stop and read about the park's history. Clean and very well…read moremaintained bathrooms. Friendly local families during the weekend.

Visiting many beaches and finding that most are Lava Rock base and the Sandy ones have you in for…read morehikes. Love the beach and views.

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.

(Reviewed on: 12/14/2022) The Team Members working at the…read moreVisitor Center is extremely friendly, and knowledgeable about the area. We would love to see more support and growth in the merchandise and other displays featured here. There is great opportunity to grow the Visitor Center and have small picnic, gathering areas right outside for visitors to enjoy the surrounding trails, waterfalls, hikes, views. The reason why this is only 4/5 stars, in order to reach the center, you must pay the $30 USD entrance fee (per vehicle). This fee will give you parking and direct access to multiple hikes (Pipiwai trail all the way up to Waimoku Falls). If you're visiting Maui and are enjoying the road to Hana and if this is the end goal, please try to get here early (10am latest) to start your hike, as there will be a lot of sunlight still and we estimate at least 2 hrs for moderate speed (this takes into account time to pause for pictures, relaxing, and random off trail adventuring). A must if you're visiting from the mainland.

Locals recommended we drive by Hosmer Grove on our way to Haleakalā~! Loved this short detour. We…read morespent maybe 45 mins walking the short loop trail and sightseeing. Birds are constantly darting from tree to tree-- waaaay overhead and nowhere within reach, but still fun to see and hear (so much chirping). Along the trail are signs labeling tree origins and species, most trees being non-native from Europe and mainland. Near the end of the loop are a few binoculars (free to use!) and benches to take in the view of the valley below. Bathrooms available at the parking lot. Nearly no one here around 4pm Sunday, so we enjoyed a tranquil hike surrounded by only birdsong and the breeze.

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.