Malaekahana Campground, Oahu

Camping – an Exciting Adventure for Young and Old

Imagine it’s early in the evening and you and a small group of friends are trying to make a campfire. You collect dry woods, put everything on a pile and then hope that the wind isn’t too strong to blow it out immediately. You are successful and now gather around the fire. Everyone packs out their food and soon, the typical smell of barbecue hangs in the air.



For dessert, you all brought marshmallows, crackers and chocolate. You hear the surf break on the cliffs, the wind in the trees, birds sing, taste the salt in the breezy air and see the sun setting over the ocean. It’s a perfect day out in nature, at a campground on the northeastern coast of Oahu.

After the barbecue, you can go for a night swim, walk around, or play card games on the beach. At night, millions of stars appear in the sky. It’s very different than the sky in town with all the city lights shining brightly.

There are more than a dozen beach parks on Oahu that allow camping. One of the best campgrounds on the windward coast is the Malaekahana State Recreation Area (Kahuku Section), between Kahuku and Laie, about 55 yards (50m) off Kamehameha Highway, directly on the beach. There are three campgrounds at Malaekahana Bay. This one is the northernmost of the three.

The 37-acre campground is surrounded by pine trees and has picnic tables, restrooms, security, warm showers and a comfort zone, a little hut where people can go in case it is raining. Every campsite also has a fireplace.

The campground has 40 campsites, 5 furnished camping yurts with electricity that sleep from two to six people and 6 rustic beach houses that are fully furnished and feature refrigerators and stoves and that can accommodates from four to twenty people.

Malaekahana campground is a great spot to have some peace and quiet and a break from the noisy, fast-paced city life of Honolulu. What is nice about this campground is that one can’t hear the traffic noise from the highway.

The campground is easy to reach by bus number 55, which stops right in front of the entrance of the beach park. If you don’t want to bring food, groceries are available in Kahuku and Laie. It’s about a mile to Kahuku and two miles to Laie. You can take the bus there or just walk along the highway and enjoy the view of the Koolau mountain range.

Malaekahana Bay is a great spot to go swimming and bodysurfing. The waves aren’t as big as on the North Shore, but it can still be a lot of fun. The beach is never crowded and wide enough to play ball games. If you enjoy going for a walk, go toward the north and you will most likely be completely alone on the beach there.

Another fun thing to do there is to visit Mokuauia Island (Goat Island). There are no goats on this tiny island, only nesting seabirds. This seabird sanctuary is situated at the southern end of Malaekahana Bay. During low tide, it is possible to walk there. But if you don’t have shoes to wear in the water, it’s better to swim, because there is reef and this can be quite sharp. Also, the current can become strong when the tide changes or the surf is high. Most people, who paddle out there, have their bodyboards, surfboards, or small boats with them.

There are three beaches on Mokuauia Island; however, the best one for swimming and the easiest to access is located toward the left. It is already visible when paddling out there. This beach is protected from the surf by cliffs and one can just float in the calm water and enjoy the awesome view of Oahu, the mountains and the beaches.

Whether you go camping with a group of people or just one other person or alone, it can be a great and fun adventure in Hawaii because the weather is perfect to do things in the outdoors year-round.

Most campgrounds on Oahu require permits, which have to be obtained at the State Park Office in advance. But Malaekahana State Recreation Area (Kahuku Section) is a walk-in campground, which means that you can plan your stay spontaneously because you can get the camping permit upon arrival.

However, during peak seasons in July and December and around holidays, it’s better to make a reservation. Currently, the fee for a tent campsite is $8.34 per person per night. Call 293-1736 for more information.

Malaekahana Campground Facilities:

• 40 primitive campsites with picnic tables
• 5 furnished camping yurts with electricity (sleep from 2 to 6 people)
• 6 rustic, fully-furnished beach houses (sleep from 4 to 20 people)
• Fire pits
• BBQ facilities
• Picnic tables
• Toilets
• Hot outdoor showers
• Comfort zone
• 24-hour on-site security

Location:

56-335 Kamehameha Highway
Laie, HI 96762
Phone: (808)293-1736

Driving Directions:

Malaekahana Campground is situated in Laie on Oahu’s northeastern coast. It’s a 35-mile drive from Waikiki. From Waikiki, take the H1 freeway west until you reach the Likelike Highway (63). Exit H1 onto the Likelike Highway (toward the mountains) and stay on it until you pass through the tunnel and emerge on the windward side of the island. Exit Likelike and drive onto Kahekili Highway (83) north. After you pass the Polynesian Cultural Center and the town of Laie, it’s about two more minutes. Look for the telephone pole #33 or a white/blue sign that says “enter.” Follow the driveway to the first building. This is the main office. (Note: Kahekili Highway becomes Kamehameha Highway after Kaneohe).

Malaekahana Campground Kahuku Photos (click to enlarge):

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