DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
General Information
If you need help planning your trip, the Big Island Visitors Bureau (BIVB) in Hilo
and West Hawaii, or the Wailoa Center in Hilo near the State Building (Kalaniopu)
will be glad to assist you and provide you with local literature and maps. BIVB
hours in Hilo and West Hawaii are 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. Wailoa Center hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Fridays - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and Wednesdays 12 noon - 4:30 pm.
General Information
If you need help planning your trip, the Big Island Visitors Bureau (BIVB) in Hilo
and West Hawaii, or the Wailoa Center in Hilo near the State Building (Kalaniopu)
will be glad to assist you and provide you with local literature and maps. BIVB
hours in Hilo and West Hawaii are 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. Wailoa Center hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Fridays - 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and Wednesdays 12 noon - 4:30 pm.
For information regarding Hawaii County Parks, write or call:
Department of Parks & Recreation
County of Hawaii
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6
Hilo, HI 96720 Office Hours:
M - F 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except holidays)
Phone/TTY: (808) 961-8311
Camping permits are required for all County parks where camping is permitted.
Permits are issued for tent camping, vehicle campers and pavilion use.
Reservations for exclusive use of park pavilions may be made by calling the
department's main office in Hilo and for Kona parks at Kona Aquatics,
Kailua-Kona (808) 327-3560. Camping is not allowed in the pavilions.
You may reserve campsites. During the summer months, permits can be issued
for one (1) week per park, and during the remaining months, two (2) weeks per
park.
Camping fees at County parks are:
Adults (18 yrs and over) - $5.00 per day
Juniors (13 to 17 yrs) - $2.00 per day
Children (12 and under) - $ 1.00 per day
Refund of unused camping fees will be made only when:
a. Request for refund is made to department not less than one working day
before date of use;
b. Request is made in writing, accompanied by appropriate permit issued
by the department; and
c. The amount of refund exceeds $5.00.
Picnic Pavilion - Exclusive user fees for non-benefit group activities is $10.00 per
day with a $50.00 security deposit; Kitchen Pavilion is $25.00/day rental with a
$50.00 security deposit.
For more information regarding the Volcanoes National Park and Pu'uhonua o'
Honaunau National Historical Park, please write or call:
Helpful Hints:
Facilities with restroom accommodations are usually adequately supplied;
however, it is advisable to carry your own supplies.
Before drinking water, be sure to check signs where water storage tanks are in
use. At some facilities, brackish water is used for toilet and shower
accommodations and is not suitable for drinking. Precautionary measures
should be taken when you are not sure.
Where electricity is provided in pavilions, carry spare light bulbs. Campers and
picnickers are advised to have other illuminating devices handy in case park
lights are not in working order.
Firewood is not furnished. Bring your own charcoal and other kindling. Fires
must be confined to firepits. Open fires are prohibited.
Deposit litter in receptacles provided.
Maps of the Island of Hawaii are available at the Department of Transportation
offices located at the Hilo Airport and also at the Kona Airport.
Vehicles should be parked in designated areas only and should be fully secured.
"Break-Ins" are not uncommon. Do not leave personal belongings unattended.
There are no motor home courts but recreation vehicles are permitted to park in
parking areas in the campgrounds, provided vehicular and pedestrian access is
not obstructed.
Bikeways are not delineated in most areas but bicycles are permitted on all
highways and are subject to laws governing other vehicles, including licensing
and traffic regulations.
If you plan to ship over your own vehicles, write to Hawaii Police Department,
349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720, for information on licensing, insurance, and
other requirements.
The climate varies depending on the visitor's destination; generally, mild
tropical weather prevails the year-round.
Please report any unpleasant situations experienced at any of the public
facilities. Also report hazards, acts of vandalism and other accommodation
problems. Persons should use good judgment while staying at camp and picnic
sites. Security service is not provided at camp and picnic sites.
Department of Parks & Recreation
County of Hawaii
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6
Hilo, HI 96720 Office Hours:
M - F 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except holidays)
Phone/TTY: (808) 961-8311
Camping permits are required for all County parks where camping is permitted.
Permits are issued for tent camping, vehicle campers and pavilion use.
Reservations for exclusive use of park pavilions may be made by calling the
department's main office in Hilo and for Kona parks at Kona Aquatics,
Kailua-Kona (808) 327-3560. Camping is not allowed in the pavilions.
You may reserve campsites. During the summer months, permits can be issued
for one (1) week per park, and during the remaining months, two (2) weeks per
park.
Camping fees at County parks are:
Adults (18 yrs and over) - $5.00 per day
Juniors (13 to 17 yrs) - $2.00 per day
Children (12 and under) - $ 1.00 per day
Refund of unused camping fees will be made only when:
a. Request for refund is made to department not less than one working day
before date of use;
b. Request is made in writing, accompanied by appropriate permit issued
by the department; and
c. The amount of refund exceeds $5.00.
Picnic Pavilion - Exclusive user fees for non-benefit group activities is $10.00 per
day with a $50.00 security deposit; Kitchen Pavilion is $25.00/day rental with a
$50.00 security deposit.
For more information regarding the Volcanoes National Park and Pu'uhonua o'
Honaunau National Historical Park, please write or call:
Helpful Hints:
Facilities with restroom accommodations are usually adequately supplied;
however, it is advisable to carry your own supplies.
Before drinking water, be sure to check signs where water storage tanks are in
use. At some facilities, brackish water is used for toilet and shower
accommodations and is not suitable for drinking. Precautionary measures
should be taken when you are not sure.
Where electricity is provided in pavilions, carry spare light bulbs. Campers and
picnickers are advised to have other illuminating devices handy in case park
lights are not in working order.
Firewood is not furnished. Bring your own charcoal and other kindling. Fires
must be confined to firepits. Open fires are prohibited.
Deposit litter in receptacles provided.
Maps of the Island of Hawaii are available at the Department of Transportation
offices located at the Hilo Airport and also at the Kona Airport.
Vehicles should be parked in designated areas only and should be fully secured.
"Break-Ins" are not uncommon. Do not leave personal belongings unattended.
There are no motor home courts but recreation vehicles are permitted to park in
parking areas in the campgrounds, provided vehicular and pedestrian access is
not obstructed.
Bikeways are not delineated in most areas but bicycles are permitted on all
highways and are subject to laws governing other vehicles, including licensing
and traffic regulations.
If you plan to ship over your own vehicles, write to Hawaii Police Department,
349 Kapiolani Street, Hilo, HI 96720, for information on licensing, insurance, and
other requirements.
The climate varies depending on the visitor's destination; generally, mild
tropical weather prevails the year-round.
Please report any unpleasant situations experienced at any of the public
facilities. Also report hazards, acts of vandalism and other accommodation
problems. Persons should use good judgment while staying at camp and picnic
sites. Security service is not provided at camp and picnic sites.
County of Hawai`i
Department of Parks and Recreation
County of Hawaii Camping Regulations
Camping permits are required and can be obtained from the Department of
Parks and Recreation in the following ways:
During office hours
Online via the internet at http://co.hawaii.hi.us or for Ho`okena Beach Park at
http://hookena.org/camping
In advance by mail via the United States Postal Service
Camping permits may be issued to any person eighteen years of age or older.
An adult must accompany minors.
Holders of a camping permit shall upon request show the permit to any police,
security officer, park caretaker, or any department personnel.
Camping is allowed at each site for a period of one week during the period from
June 1st through August 31st and two weeks during the remainder of the year.
All permits shall be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
The installation of permanent camping facilities is prohibited. Tents must be
freestanding.
Camping within 25 feet of any water hydrant, main road, or defined watercourse
is prohibited. Camping is allowed only in designated areas.
The gathering of wood for use as fuel in campgrounds or picnic areas shall be
limited to dead material on the ground.
It shall be unlawful for any person to take or permit any dog, cat, or other
domestic animal, whether loose or on a leash or in restraint on or about any
County beach park. This shall not apply to service animals that are individually
trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities or for purposes of law
enforcement by law enforcement agencies of the Federal, State or County
governments. Service animals are working animals, not pets.
The maximum number of campers permitted at any approved site shall be
limited by the capacity of the sanitation system and other appropriate
regulations.
Quiet shall be maintained on all campgrounds from 11:00 P.M. - 6:00 A.M.
Checkout time is 12 noon. Camping equipment must be completely removed
and the site cleaned before departure.
SPENCER BEACH PARK security gate is locked at 11:00 P.M. and reopened at
6:00 A.M. In case of an emergency, please locate the security guard on duty.
Refund requests must be made in writing and attached to the applicant’s permit
copy and submitted to the Department of Parks and Recreation office within one
working day before scheduled use date. The refund must exceed a minimum of
$5.00.
Department of Parks and Recreation
County of Hawaii Camping Regulations
Camping permits are required and can be obtained from the Department of
Parks and Recreation in the following ways:
During office hours
Online via the internet at http://co.hawaii.hi.us or for Ho`okena Beach Park at
http://hookena.org/camping
In advance by mail via the United States Postal Service
Camping permits may be issued to any person eighteen years of age or older.
An adult must accompany minors.
Holders of a camping permit shall upon request show the permit to any police,
security officer, park caretaker, or any department personnel.
Camping is allowed at each site for a period of one week during the period from
June 1st through August 31st and two weeks during the remainder of the year.
All permits shall be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
The installation of permanent camping facilities is prohibited. Tents must be
freestanding.
Camping within 25 feet of any water hydrant, main road, or defined watercourse
is prohibited. Camping is allowed only in designated areas.
The gathering of wood for use as fuel in campgrounds or picnic areas shall be
limited to dead material on the ground.
It shall be unlawful for any person to take or permit any dog, cat, or other
domestic animal, whether loose or on a leash or in restraint on or about any
County beach park. This shall not apply to service animals that are individually
trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities or for purposes of law
enforcement by law enforcement agencies of the Federal, State or County
governments. Service animals are working animals, not pets.
The maximum number of campers permitted at any approved site shall be
limited by the capacity of the sanitation system and other appropriate
regulations.
Quiet shall be maintained on all campgrounds from 11:00 P.M. - 6:00 A.M.
Checkout time is 12 noon. Camping equipment must be completely removed
and the site cleaned before departure.
SPENCER BEACH PARK security gate is locked at 11:00 P.M. and reopened at
6:00 A.M. In case of an emergency, please locate the security guard on duty.
Refund requests must be made in writing and attached to the applicant’s permit
copy and submitted to the Department of Parks and Recreation office within one
working day before scheduled use date. The refund must exceed a minimum of
$5.00.
| Camping information and rules below |
| This a Hawai'i County camping application sample |
