Family Camping Oahu | Into the Wild, Hawaii style

An Epic Camping Adventure

Fat tears rolled down his cheeks as he wailed, “I miss the campground! Can we go back tomorrow?”A delighted Mila popped into the room. “We’re going camping again tomorrow?!” I think it’s safe to say my children love camping. The weeks following our trip were filled with random outbursts of nostalgia and planning for our swift return. “Will the tree swing still be there?” “Can we go back to the exact, exact same spot?” “What about the hammocks, and the s’mores? Can we bring them again?”One gloomy, dare I say, chilly weekend playing in the dirt with friends was a serious highlight of their little lives. On par with a stay at Aulani – the greatest thing that ever happened to them and the stick against which all events must be compared.

Letting the Kids Go Feral

Over the years they have developed a worrisome addition to luxury. “Can we go to a nice sushi restaurant?” “When can I have diamonds?” I was a tomboy raised on TV dinners and I haven’t changed much. I’m not exactly sure where these children came from. In any case, letting them go feral for a few days of camping seems to bring them back to reality. We usually camp on inter-island or mainland trips, but we’ve visited some great spots of Oahu too like Bellows Beach (but oh, so crowded), Kaneohe Marine Corp Base, Camp Mokuleia, and now we can add Malaekahana to the list. For a few dollars, you can grab a camping permit from DLNR and enjoy oceanside living for a few days. Picture yourself in a hammock by the shore, rocking gently in the salty breeze. Pretty sweet.

Lounge, play in the surf, experience a tree swing (not just for kids), create art, or if you’re feeling adventurous, make the trek out to Goat Island (spoiler alert, there aren’t any goats). The hammocks alone were a big hit with the kids. So was the treehouse tent that our amazing friends brought.

The campground was clean and quiet (but roosters … after living in Kaneohe for 6 years I’m immune but they bothersome). The gloomy weekend may have kept the crowds down because I hear it can get loud. Friends of Malaekahana has an adjacent private campground with more options (yurts!) to ease you into the camping experience if you’re not so sure. I have no personal experience to share, but I would love to hear from someone in the know.

Ready for family camping Oahu?

I leave you with the most decadent s’mores recipe known to man. Homemade crispy chocolate chip cookies hugging a perfectly golden marshmallow. Nothing short of amazing. Now you want to go camping, right?

If you’re not convinced, head to the archives for more family fun and adventure on Oahu, and don’t forget to sign up for the Little Bird Post below to stay in the loop.