Adventure Travel; "Into the Pacific": Kalopa State Recreation Area; Rustic Camping or Cabins

Kalopa State Recreation Area Campground

During this month's camping trip, we not only traveled to Hapuna Beach and resided at the cabins, but to Kalopa State Park as well. As Hapuna Beach cabins are very popular, they are often booked and are hard to reserve for more than one night at a time. Therefore, another nice option, is to reserve at Kalopa State Recreation Area, as it is only a thirty minute drive up the hill past Waimea and has both cabins and campsites available. During this trip, we stayed at the camping shelters, a remote area with covered, aluminum roof camping spots and a pavilion with a grilling area, bathroom and even a shower. Although the water is very cold, a nice cold shower is a welcome ending to a hot day in the sun at Hapuna Beach! The kids enjoy camping immensely and for families looking for a reasonable and several day excursion to Hapuna Beach, this is a welcome option. Take a day at the cabins at Hapuna Beach, then for a nice climate change of just a few degrees, jet back up the mountain to Kalopa State Recreation Area for a lovely, wooded, cooler feel. Hiking and wildlife viewing are a favorite pastime for visitors, as there are hiking areas, including a .7 mile trail through the native oh'i'a and many other trails in the 100 acre forest reserve surrounding the park. Furthermore, there is a large grassy area around the cabins and campsites, which is especially fun for the keiki, as they can run and explore for hours on the grass or in the woods. Although the environment is a bit cooler, the kids were quite comfortable in long sleeve pajamas and a regular climate sleeping bag. You will sleep fairly comfortably on an air mattress, which is highly recommended, as the camping pad is concrete. This applies to Hapuna Beach Recreation area as well. The floors in those cabins are made of the same concrete construction.

For those interested in the cabins at Kalopa, we have stayed there on another trip as well. They consist of duplex style cabins, sleeping up to eight in bunk beds, with a nicely open sleeping and main area, a fairly large bathroom and a shower and toilet. Everything is fairly clean, make sure to bring sleeping bags and pillows for the bunk beds or a blow up mattress for the floor. This was the option that we chose, as it makes a comfortable arrangement with us in the center of the room and the kids in the bunk beds. The cooking setup is also similar to Hapuna Beach, with a main eating and dining lodge located at the top of the hill beside the row of cabins. Everyone has the ability to keep their food cold in the large refrigerator, and the kitchen is large, with pots, pans and whatever cooking utensils you would need. I was especially envious of the gigantic oven and the gas cooking range, which allowed several people to bake and cook at the same time. For security purposes, just like Hapuna, a code is included with your permit, which allows access to your cabins and cooking areas. Each code is different from the other renters.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed both camping and staying at the cabins. Kalopa State Recreation Area is a unique spot for camping, hiking and wildlife viewing, which feels as if you have entered an entirely different environment of Hawaii. Cooler in temperature, but still fairly temperate, the woods and open air captivates one for an entirely different experience. Most areas of the Big Island feel tropical, however, the higher elevations such as Kalopa, boast large forests and cooler breezes.
Directions: Located 5 miles southeast of Honoka'a, turn off Mamalahoa Highway 19 between the 39 and 40 mile markers and follow the signs 3 miles uphill.
Additional Information: Website for cabin and camping is as follows; http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/kalopa-state-recreation-area/