What you need to know about camping and hiking at WAIANAPANAPA STATE PARK in Maui, Hawaii
Camping in Maui: Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Looking for a Maui adventure that’s a little off the beaten path? If this sounds like the adventure for you, we highly recommend a few nights camping at the beautiful and secluded Waiʻānapanapa State Park. Located at the very end of Waiʻānapanapa Road, off the scenic Hana Highway, Waiʻānapanapa State Park is remote, wild, and picturesque! It’s a perfect alternative for the hardy adventurer looking to escape the popular resorts.
Waiʻānapanapa State Park is a relatively small park, but offers some of Maui’s most spectacular and unique sightseeing! It’s most famous for its small, picturesque black sand beach; during the day, the small area of black sand can get quite crowded with tourists stopping for a short visit while touring the Hana Highway more generally. One of the primary benefits of camping at Waiʻānapanapa State Park is the opportunity to experience this natural phenomenon on your own, enhanced by the beauty of Maui’s amazing sunrises and sunsets.
Waiʻānapanapa’s famous black sand beach is only one of its many beautiful attractions. For nature lovers, Waiʻānapanapa is also home to a native hala forest and a large seabird colony. Other amazing sights include freshwater caves and lava tubes in the low-cliffed volcanic coastline, natural stone arches, sea stacks, hidden blow holes, and anchialine pools. A fantastic location for hiking and shoreline fishing, one thing you probably won’t do is go swimming: despite the beauty of the black sand beach, the waves and currents that created the spectacular beach make swimming a hazardous affair.
Camping at Waiʻānapanapa State Park: Important Details for Advance Planning
Waiʻānapanapa State Park offers tent camping and several small, rugged cabins, and it is the only State Park in Maui with an area designated for camper vans (vehicles that have not been specifically modified for sleeping are prohibited from overnight camping). Cabins can accommodate up to six people and have only the very basic of amenities; you must be prepared to provide your own bedding, towels, dishes, and cooking and eating utensils.
The tent camping area is very small with few opportunities for truly level ground, so tents are often set up close together. Tenting at Waiʻānapanapa State Park requires a printed permit to be visibly displayed on each tent; the area is patrolled by rangers who will actively enforce this policy. The permit must be obtained and printed in advance, and cannot be purchased on the spot. The permit costs $18/campsite/night for up to six people for non-Hawaii residents (Hawaii residents can obtain a permit for $12/campsite/night).
Amenities for tent camping at Waiʻānapanapa State Park are limited to simple bathhouses without showers. Food options at nearby Hana are also somewhat limited, so you should be prepared to bring a well-stocked cooler and prepare your own food. And while this experience may not be for the glampers among us, camping at the rugged and remote Waiʻānapanapa State Park is truly a worthwhile experience for the hardy adventurer seeking an authentic Maui experience!
Camping at Waiʻānapanapa State Park: Options for Gear Rental
Camping at an isolated state park on the remote island of Maui does involve some logistical challenges, even for the experienced camper. Luckily, however, there are a variety of options for obtaining high-quality camping gear on site. The most cost effective option is to rent your gear right here on the island; renting ensures that you get exactly the gear you need, without the hassle of figuring out how to pay expensive airline baggage fees and worry about potentially damaging security searches. Companies such as Maui Camping Company have a variety of high-quality gear, including tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear, and other high-end items you will need for a safe and enjoyable camping experience. Kits can be reserved in advance, and then customized to include exactly the gear you need!
RENT CAMPING & BACKPACKING GEAR IN MAUI
Contact Maui Camping Company Today to Rent Camping, Backpacking & Hiking Gear In Maui, Hawaii. See gear rental pricing. Call us at 808-397-3967 or click here to contact us.