Renting an RV in Hawaii
Hawaii might not be your first thought when it comes to renting an RV, but the state can actually be a wonderful place to do so. There are few things more delightful than RVing on or near a beach, and there are a few places on the Hawaiian Islands to do it.
We won’t lie, you won’t find a ton of RVs in Hawaii. This is for obvious reasons. The islands that make up the Aloha state are quite small, so you don’t really need a house on wheels to see everything there. However, RVing in Hawaii can be a unique and fun way to experience the state.
With all this in mind, you’re bound to find that RVing Hawaii is unlike any other experience ever. The 50th state in the union features many national parks and protected areas, not to mention fantastic outdoor activities and opportunities like surfing, fishing, swimming, hiking, and so much more. If you’re looking for an unconventional way to experience Hawaii, RVing is it.
Also, renting an RV in Hawaii can be an excellent way to see all areas of a specific island in Hawaii. Most travelers spend all of their time staying in one hotel or rented home. Having an RV makes it possible for you to see more of the state.
There is one thing to note about RVing in Hawaii, big Class A and Class C RVs aren’t going to be prevalent. You’re likely looking at a camper van or Class B RV as your rental option. This is a good thing, though. It’s simpler. Camper vans are easy to drive, and they have the amenities you need.
There are eight major islands that make up the state of Hawaii. You’ll find camper vans on most of the larger islands, including Hawai’i, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. There are also countless places for you to explore on these islands. Some of the best locations to do so can be accessed in your camper van or RV.
If you’re a nature-lover and you’re visiting the Hawaiian Islands, then you have to spend some time at this unique park.
There are campsites at the park that you can stay in. These campgrounds include Nāmakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki. Both offer minimal amenities, but you’re able to stay right in the park, which makes for an unforgettable experience. The
Learn more about Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
There are six campsites in total at the beach. These are first-come-first-serve campsites. Campers will have access to what the beach refers to as a comfort station as well as outside showers. These will offer you the essentials for spending a few days at the beach and enjoying all that it has to offer. Please note that you will need to obtain a permit to camp here.
Learn more about Kalaniana’ole Beach Park
Camping at the state recreation area will require a permit, but getting one shouldn’t be too difficult to arrange. There are 37 developed campgrounds in the area, though none of them offer hookups of any kind. You can reserve a campsite so that you can be sure you’ll have one when you arrive there.
Learn more about Mālaekahana State Recreation Area
Camping at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park is doable. There are a total of five campgrounds that are open to the public. Additionally, there are restrooms and outdoor showers as the amenities. However, there’s not much else, so don’t expect full hookups. Just relax, and enjoy the pristine beaches around you. Before you do that, however, you’ll need to obtain a permit to camp here.
Learn more about Waimanalo Bay Beach Park
The park offers five small campsites for visitors. These campsites, like many others in the park system, lack most amenities. However, there are bathrooms and outdoor showers on-site. You will need to obtain a permit to camp here.
Learn more about Swanzy Beach Park
There are only three campsites at the gardens. The campsites do feature fire rings, and you can have a campfire. There’s also a bathroom facility and outdoor showers as well as picnic tables in various areas of the park.
Learn more about Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
When it comes to camping at the state park, you’ll notice there are cabins that you can rent. There are also additional campsites. You’ll need to get a permit to stay at this park overnight, so make sure to reach out ahead of time to obtain that permit.
Learn more about Wai’apapa State Park
The Ahupua’a O Kahana State Park has the primary purpose of nurturing and fostering native Hawaiian cultural traditions and the cultural landscape of rural windward Oahu. It is what’s known as a living park, meaning there are people who still live on the park grounds. These families assist with the interpretive programs that show native cultural traditions. This makes it a very unique and worthwhile place to visit.
When it comes to camping at Ahupua’a O Kahana State Park, you’ll find there are ten beach campsites for visitors to stay at. You will need to obtain a permit to camp here, but it’s well worth it to do so because camping here is unlike camping anywhere else on the Island.
Learn more about Ahupua’a O Kahana State Park
Camping at Haleakala National Park can be done in a few different ways. You can backcountry camp, for which you’ll need to obtain a permit and be ready to hike out to the campground. You can rent a cabin which you won’t need to do if you have rented an RV. Or, you can go to one of the drive-up campgrounds. There are two: Kīpahulu and Hosmer Grove. There are two because there are two distinctly different parts of the park. There’s the coastal district and the summit district. Pick the area you want to be in, and then you can enjoy these campgrounds, which offer minimal amenities, including picnic tables, BBQ grills, drinking water, and pit toilets.
Learn more about Haleakala National Park
When it comes to camping at Kualoa Regional Park, you have four total campsites. These campsites can be accessed once a permit is procured. These campsites have access to bathroom facilities at the park and outdoor showers, but there are no other amenities.
Learn more about Kualoa Regional Park
You’re going to have to obtain a permit in most cases. Don’t fret about this. It helps keep the number of campers at a reasonable level and should make your time camping in Hawaii more enjoyable.
Hawaii can get some pretty dangerous weather coming through. It’s essential to pay attention to the weather patterns and avoid the times of the year when heavy storms are battering the beaches. Hurricane season in Hawaii runs from June to about November, while you can still safely camp during these months, you need to do so with caution and abide by any advisories issued.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that there are active volcanoes in Hawaii. While it’s unlikely these will impede your travels, you do have to pay attention to what’s going on geologically. If these volcanoes are going to cause disruptions, it will likely be all over the news. Still, you need to take the time to look.
Finally, Hawaii is made up of eight islands. This means if you want to camp at locations on one island, you’ll need to make sure to rent a camper or RV on that island. Don’t expect to rent an RV on one island and then take it to another. Even if you can work out the logistics, it’s much smarter and more cost-effective to simply rent a camper van or RV on the island you’ll be traveling to.
In Hawaii, you’ll be doing a lot of boondocking. Boondocking or dry camping, as it’s also known, is when you camp in your RV without any electricity or water hookups. It can be an excellent way to get further out in the wilderness than you typically can.
There aren’t many full hookup campsites for RVers. Some places that you can rent will have electrical hookups, but few will come with full hookup spaces. However, you will find plenty of campgrounds with bathroom facilities and showers. This means you’ll have to be smart about your water and power consumption.
Many of the state’s recreation areas and parks will let you boondock there. Sometimes you will need to get a permit, so it’s smart to check ahead of time to ensure you have everything you need to easily and legally camp there.