The All-Natural Hawaii Honeymoon

Crystal-blue waters, cascading waterfalls, gorgeous flowers, swaying palms, ancient volcanoes…people don't honeymoon in Hawaii for their hotel room's decor; it's the islands' stunning natural beauty that has become the picture of the perfect romantic honeymoon. So why stay in a hotel room? Why not immerse yourself in Hawaii's natural setting—especially when campsites go for as little as $5 per night (some are even free with park admission)? With two national parks, 52 state parks, and dozens more county parks to choose from, you have many outdoor options for your Hawaii honeymoon.

In Hawaii, there are three ways of cozying up to Mother Nature. There's “modern-convenience” camping in the state and county parks, and then there's “primitive” camping in the back-country wilderness of the national parks. Both of these options make for a cheap Hawaii honeymoon, but see the tips and cautions mentioned on our camping honeymoon page.

The third way of immersing yourself into Hawaii's natural beauty is to cheat a little by renting a wilderness cabin or staying in a park lodge.

With two national parks, 52 state parks, and dozens more county parks to choose from, you have many outdoor options for your Hawaii honeymoon. Here we provide an overview of some of those options, just to give you a taste of what's possible; see the links at the bottom of this page to get all the details on options that interest you.

Volcanoes National Park

Ever see the romantic comedy Joe and the Volcano? You could live it (well, sort of) if you spend part of your Hawaii honeymoon in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, which contains earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa, as well as the most

active volcano, Kilauea. Covering 10 percent of the Big Island of Hawaii, the park's natural and cultural history is so rich that it has been declared an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.

Campsites & Lodging

You have several options to choose from:

• Two drive-in campgrounds, Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki, offer free camping (although you have to pay an entrance fee to get into the park) on a first-come basis. Namakanipaio has restrooms, water, picnic tables, and barbecue pits; Kulanaokuaiki is a little more primitive, offering vault-type toilets and no water.

• For a more comfy stay, check out historic Volcano House, "nestled in an Ohia forest . . . on the edge of Kilauea Crater." The house's hotel-like guest rooms are furnished with rare Koa wood furniture and offer views of the mountain, the Kilauea crater, and the forest. Guest rooms prices ranged from $95 to $225 per night. You can also stay in the rustic Namakani Paio cabins; for $50 a night you get electric light (but no electric outlets), sheets, towels, blankets, a picnic table, an outdoor barbecue grill, and access to the community bathroom (with hot showers).

  The rainforest is one of the attractions of the trek to Napau. (National Park Service photo)

• Now if you really want to earn bragging rights, try hiking to a number of back-country campsites. What makes this option appealing is the opportunity to see Hawaii's wilderness up close and off the beaten track—the Halape site, for example, features a small sandy beach under swaying coconut trees, while the hike to the Napau campground takes hikers through through recent lava flows and "dense tree fern rain forests." The downside: these trails can be tough, and you have to pack and carry everything you will need. To keep your Hawaii honeymoon experience a happy one, you'd probably better have wilderness camping experience before going with this option.

Activities & Attractions

• View the lava flows. Depending on conditions when you visit, you may be able to view active lava flows either at a distance or possibly up close. If you try to see lava flows up close, carefully follow the instructions of park personnel.

• Hike through an unreal landscape. The park includes many hiking trails that bring visitors up close with lava flows, kipuka, lava trees, craters, cinder cones, rain forests, unusual birds, petroglyphs, and wildlife as diverse as sea turtles and the nene, or Hawaiian goose. A variety of interpretive programs take visitors on short hikes to areas of interest as well.

• Soak up native Hawaiian culture. The annual Kilauea Cultural Festival features traditional Hawaiian music, crafts, and games. But even if you miss the festival, you can still experience the island's history and culture through a variety of interpretive programs and archaeological and historical sites throughout the park.
   

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park "preserves the outstanding volcanic landscape of the upper slopes of Haleakala on the island of Maui and protects the unique and fragile ecosystems of

Kipahulu Valley, the scenic pools along Oheo Gulch, and many rare and endangered species," according to the park website (find links to websites below). The park's climate and ecosystems range from the dry, cold heights of Haleakala's 10,000-foot volcanic peak to the cool, wet rainforests near the Pacific Ocean.

Campsites & Lodging

The park offers several camping options:

• Two wilderness campgrounds are accessible only by trail. A 3.7 mile hike brings you to Holua, 6,940 feet up the mountainside; alternatively, you can take a "strenuous" 9.3 mile trail to Paliku, which lies at the base of a rainforest cliff at 6,380 feet. Camping is free but requires an advance permit and is limited to three nights. The downside: these trails can be tough—visitors are advised to pack for “self-rescue.”

• Drive-in campsites are available at Hosmer Grove, near the summit, and Kipahulu, which overlooks sea cliffs. Although these sites are accessible by car, amenities are still rustic—pit toilets, picnic tables, grills, but no drinking water (BYOW). Sites are available on a first-come, first serve basis.

• Three wilderness cabins are available for $75 per night—you get four walls and a roof and not much more. Cabins must be reserved in advance by lottery.

Activities & Attractions

•  Hike to the summit. The summit area includes 30 miles of trails, most of which will take you through shrubland or the aeolian cinder desert. The park website says it is one of the only accessible places on Hawaii where you can be surrounded by nothing but native Hawaiian plants.

• Go stargazing. While you're near the summit, go stargazing in some of the most spectacular skies on earth—the University of Hawaii maintains an observatory nearby.  Park-sponsored interpretive programs unlock the secrets of the constellations and Polynesian navigation.

• Go biking or horseback riding. Several companies offer tours of the park. Take a 1- to 3-day horseback riding trip to see the beauty of Hawaii's primroses, finches, and wildlife up close, or ditch those hiking shoes and get on a mountain bike to see the landscape at full speed.

  Hiking the Kipahula area. (National Park Service photo)

•  Hike Kipahulu. The lower part of the park near the ocean is known as the Kipahulu area. "With its beautiful streams, subtropical vegetation and rugged coastline, [the Kipahulu area] is one of the greatest treasures on Maui," says the park website. Historic and archeological remnants of the area's habitation by native Hawaiians makes a hike in this area even more interesting.

Hawaii State Parks

Hawaii boasts 52 very diverse state parks covering some 25,000 acres on five islands. Not all of the parks offer camping, but here are just a few that do (see the state's website, below, for a complete list):

• Na Pali Coast. It's easy to see why this state park, located on the island of Kauai, is one of Hawaii's most popular, judging by the description on its website: "The pali, or cliffs, provide a rugged grandeur of deep, narrow valleys ending abruptly at the sea. Waterfalls and swift flowing streams continue to cut these narrow valleys while the sea carves cliffs at their mouths. Extensive stone walled terraces can still be found on the valley bottoms where Hawaiians once lived and cultivated taro."

• Ahupua'a 'O Kahana. Aside from the natural beauty of the valley, Ahupua'a 'O Kahana (located on Oahu) bills itself as a "living park,"  home to 31 native Hawaiian families who nurture and foster authentic Hawaiian culture by incorporating it into their daily lives. Campsites are located along the beach.

• Polihale. This park on Kauai offers camping on a large sand beach backed by dunes, with good swimming.

• Kahana Valley. Pick fruit in this valley's lush forest, picnic in a coconut grove, then camp on the beach at this Oahu park.

• Wai'anapanapa. The state advertises this destination as a "remote, wild, low-cliffed volcanic coastline offering solitude and respite from urban life." A seabird colony, native hala forest, legendary cave, heiau (place of worship), blow holes, and a black sand beach are among the park's attractions.
   

Campsites & Lodging

Depending on the park, you'll find drive-in campsites with modern amenities or backcountry sites that require a bit of hike to access. Fees are $5 per campsite per night, except at Na Pali Coast State Park on Kaua'i, where the fee is $10 per person per night. Screened A-frame shelters cost $20 per night, while cabins go for $55 per night.
 

Activities & Attractions

Aside from the activities and attractions mentioned above, Hawaii's park system offers an incredible wealth of things to see and do—go on a riverboat cruise, visit a Russian fort, snorkel in an underwater wildlife reserve, and visit ancient Hawaiian archeological sites.

County Parks

A number of Hawaii's county parks offer camping, mostly on beaches. Maui's Kanahâ Beach Park, for example, offers camping on a beach with good swimming and views of the mountains. Camping in the City and County of Honolulu's 14 beach parks is free, although permits are required and must be applied for in person.

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Links

Camping on the Big Island

Lisa Weber describes the experiences she and her husband have had camping on the Big Island of Hawaii, and suggests the best places to go (and to avoid), along with practical tips unique to Hawaii.

Haleakela - House of the Sun

"As we hiked the loop around the cinder cone, the scenery became more colorful. When Pele was finished painting the island of Maui, she dumped all of her remaining paint in this area. If you saw this place, you would believe that legend." One couple's description of their overnight hike into the Haleakala Crater, with good pictures.
 

Hawaii Volcanoes

The official website. Also see these links:

• Lodging: For information on Volcano House Hotel and its cabins.

• Lava: Information on eruption activity, lava flows, and safety tips.

• Camping: Current camping information.

• Hiking journals: Read journals of people who have hiked the park.

Haleakala National Park

The official website. Also see these links:

• Wilderness camping. Information on wilderness camping in Haleakala.

• Car access camping: Information on "car camping."

• Wilderness cabins

Hawaii State Parks Recreation Guide

This is not the official state parks site, but detailed descriptions, permit information, and reviews from visitors make it better than the state's site. However, if you want to see the official site...

• Official Hawaii State Parks website

City and County of Honolulu Camping Information

Very basic information on camping in county parks on the Big Island.

Maui County Parks

County parks on the islands of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai.

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Your honeymoon story

Have you done this trip (whether on your honeymoon or other travel)? We'd love to hear about your experience so we can share it with others . . . just drop us a line.

Last Updated: March 5, 2005