Tent Camping in Kauai

We are a family of 4, spending most of June in Kauai. We are bringing our own 2-man foldable Klepper kayak and camping gear. We%26#39;ve done a lot of adventure-ish travel but do have 10-year-old twins now, so we need to rein it in a bit. So - we are having a hard time finding good campsites beach side that aren%26#39;t just State Parks. Any ideas? I remember there were ';secret beaches';, but don%26#39;t know the protocol. Have a local friend to show us around, but any tips welcome. Also, kayaking without doing the Napali Coast. Hanalei River is one, I know. Any good bays, or inside reef spots we shouldn%26#39;t miss?

Thanks so much!

Tent Camping in Kauai

I just past the campgroung at annini beach this morning and it looked very nice.

Bill

Tent Camping in Kauai

Anini would be a great spot with kids. You have to have permits and quite honestly I wonder if any are left. Heana is great too. Certain days you have to leave the site. You have to have permits to camp. No secret place to hide.

Here%26#39;s info on camping.

I would buy a guide book.

http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/kauai/

kauai.gov/Government/鈥efault.aspx

The other obvious choice for kayaking is Wailua river, where there%26#39;s a hike to a ';secret'; waterfall, that only gets about 500 visitors a day.

If you%26#39;re more interested in ocean, Anini would be good for kayaking. It%26#39;s pretty calm. So is Hanalei Bay.

I sent in for my permits two weeks ago. I also talked to VAL in the Lihue office (camping permits) and she said that starting June 17th thru the next few weeks (I am not sure of the exaxt date), no more permits are to be issued for Anini. That does not mean that the other county parks are booked full, you have to call 808-241-4463 and talk to her. Anini is very popular during summer months as the locals bring their famalies and certain groups(ie the church group) come and set up quite elaborate facilities (by that I mean they bring their own showers, toilets, grills, large pole structures, tents etc.) Other groups also book many people. SO, in other words, its best to send in for your permits as soon as you know your dates. I have camped there for the past three summers and it is the best county park available for camping on Kauai.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

One of the nicest and least ';touristy'; camping areas on Kaua%26#39;i in my opinion is Salt Pond County Park - on the West Side in Hanapepe. Lovely camping area and adjacent to the rock-walled swimming area - all the facilities available as well - lifeguard, bathrooms, showers, pavilions.

Malama Pono,

Janet

All legal camping has to be done at county or state parks. Now there are some secluded beaches along the north shore that has access thru woods where you could probably set up a tent and noone would know you there. The problem is parking and facilities. I ran into some backpackers who did this and noone supposedly bothered them. I am not encouraging this but it could be one option is you dont want any company . However, all the county parks are checked for permits and each is closed one day during the week. As for Anini, its closed for camping on Tuesday.

One problem with Salt Pond is there are no privacy fences around the outdoor showers. Also, it can be very windy. But other than that, its OK. There also can be homeless %26#39;camping%26#39; in the woods which is supposedly not county property, so a ranger cant say anything. I have camped there on at least one time and this was the case. But its a decent location, I just think Anini is safer and there are excellent snorkeling/beaches on the north shore.

Haena on the north shore, at the end of the road, is another camping beach. However, the type of people who camp there can be noisy and drink alot. There is also no cell phone coverage at Haena, which is a major problem for me. Anini is much more family oriented and there is a police station within a couple of miles (on the main road).

Just beware that there have been %26#39;incidents%26#39; at Anini where the police were called. I can remember seeing police activity several times during the past few years. Its just not like having a lock on your door in a hotel/condo. But its a relatively safe place to camp, and in the summer theres alot of people around so its less likely that someone would try anything serious. At least, that is the way I see it. As the ranger told me, %26#39;there is crime everywhere%26#39;. You just have to be aware of your surroundings. I like to set up my tent at the north end of Anini where there is a vacation rental on he other side of the treeline. However, I ran into one local camping at Polihale who told me he brings a weapon when he is camping at Anini. There have been times where I elected to sleep in my car, but its illegal according to the ranger. Thee only county park that allows sleeping in your car is Haena (of course you still have to have a permit).

Where is the north end of Anini? As far as I know, the beach runs east/west.

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