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.

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.

This place is pretty confusing and also empty so we were afraid to explore too much. We checked out…read morethe garden but it seemed a bit under maintained and dead. Seems pretty easy to get lost and no reception so come prepared. Plenty of parking but for some reason gave kind of eerie vibes.

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.

Five Stars for expectations met, not a five star resort…read more A charming house in the rainforest that is truly off the grid. There is a fully equipped kitchen inside the house so bring your provisions and enjoy home cooked meals. There is a farmers market in nearby Hilo for stocking up. The "included breakfast" is actually a voucher for a nearby bakery that makes delicious pastries and coffee. A perfect stop before heading up to Akaka Falls. You will experience everything the rainforest is known for, sudden downpours, humidity, bugs, and amazing night sounds. Fortunately, the mosquitoes didn't bother us because we had a half a dozen geckos patrolling our room. The aromas of flowers and foliage waft into your room on the ever present tropical breeze that comes up from the ocean. No man made A/C here, just nature. The semi-outdoor bathroom makes this a Hawaiian Fitzcarraldo adventure destination. Don't worry there is a second shared indoor bathroom for the city folk. I've stayed in plenty of European hostels when I was younger and this sort of reminds me of a grown up version. I've never booked an airbnb property before so I'm assuming most guests are stupid. There seems to be a sign on every wall reminding you of various house rules. I'm hotel people so I found that odd. I'm glad we found this place and had the chance to spend a couple of nights closer to nature.

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!

What's not to love about visiting a national park? We came here to see if perchance we could catch…read morethe volcano erupting however we missed it by a day and only got to see the steam flowing out of the mountain and the steam vents. This is a huge park with lots to do. We went to the crater rim side to hike the trails out there and check out the lava tube. We also visited the visitor center to get more info about the park and other places to go. My family earned their hiking credits here and we spent about 3 hours here exploring before heading back to the hotel. We were on the top part of the island so it was a 2 hour drive, however I recommend leaving before dark as the roads get dark, there is no light and it's often zero visibility.

What an overload for the senses. There are trails of all lengths and difficulty so plan well. Bring…read morelots of water, closed toed shoes and pack food if you plan to make a day of it. The view of the active volcano is spectacular and the rangers are helpful with answering any questions. The parking is sufficient although you may have to drive around for a moment if it's busy. We did the long hike and it was rigorous, but not impossible as long as you do not have mobility issues. There are stairs and steps at the beginning and the end, but walking across the lava field is amazing. Follow the rock formations for your directions. At the end, we wanted to wash our hands, but the only place for a sink is in the volcano house. All other areas are just out houses so plan accordingly. Every purchase in the gift shops supports the Rangers and the park so be kind and pick up an item or two and even feel free to give an additional donation when you check out. There are not many gas stations on the road to the volcano coming from the south around the bottom of the island. However, gas is cheaper when you do find it then you may find in Kona.

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.

Very windy but wonderful set up of bathroom, pavilions, grills, running water etc. The facilities…read morewere pretty clean too.

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.

Easily some of the cheapest camping you'll find on the island. Pit toilets were clean and there was…read more24 hour flush toilets nearby where you can refill your water. Lovely little park to wander around. Close to Hana too which has restaurants and beaches, although we brought food with us as well.

We stopped by Hosmer Grove on our way down from the Haleakala Summit and are glad we did! There was…read morea short nature trail with a lot to see -- felt like an old growth forest which was dramatically different than the landscape up at the top. Seems like a great place to camp as well although we didn't do that.

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.