Camping on Oahu, specifically Waianae (Aiea, Mokuleia: house, live, safe)

[KauaiHiker]

Another camping thread. So I've camped at Keaiwa heiau in Aiea heights to be near downtown. But it was muddy and this is almost rainy season, so I'm looking elsewhere. Last time I camped on Oahu, it was in Mokuleia, relatively dry, but far away and private so more expensive.

Looking at the C&C campground website, most of the windward side campsites are taken, but I'm afraid they'd be rainy too (at least no mud on the lawns there). So I'm looking at the Waianae coast, where I've never actually spent any time, and it's likely to be the driest side (unless Kona weather). Kalaninaole is closest to town (yeah, I know about traffic, but I don't need to be in town until 10am), but right next to the 4-lane highway (and 6am traffic I imagine--or earlier). 10 miles further, past the last house is Kea'au beach park, so that seems quieter, hopefully no nighttime traffic, and less people around in general. But I have to drive the whole coast back and forth.

So, if I want to stay for 2 nights, what's the ambiance like? I'm not really worried about "safety" just whether there will be people about, preferably other campers. Is it OK to leave a tent up unattended all day at either of those? I never take valuables camping, but I don't want my tent opened either. I suppose I could take it down and set it back up, but that's annoying.

I have to ask myself why all the campgrounds on the more rainy side are booked, and plenty of space can be found on the sunny side? What do they know that I don't?

Another option is the state campground at Sand Island, but I'd written it off because of the homeless situation. Then I read it had been cleaned up, but I know it now changes monthly or weekly. So has anybody been out there recently? Thanks for any help making a decision.

[whtviper1]

If the homeless situation bothers you at Sand Island then it will really bother you in Waianae

[KauaiHiker]

It's not the homeless per se, it's the dynamic of it. We've got homeless on Kauai, they have a few tents and/or vans at the campgrounds, but you can always find a space where you don't feel as though you're intruding on them--most of the rest of the campground. Long time ago, we went to Sand island just for a picnic, and went to an open table trying to give them their space, and they came over to us, not threatening, just made it feel as though they owned the place.

So if I go all the way out to Kea'au, is there a homeless camp spread over the entire campground, or can I find my reserved spot and not feel like I'm intruding on their territory? I guess I'll just have to go see for myself.

[KauaiHiker]

Update: so I camped at Kea'au last Saturday and Sunday nights with my kids, and we lived to tell about it. It was really a non-event, we even left the tent and hammock set up and went away for the day from 9am to past dark at 7pm without incident. We did see homeless people beyond the campground, but not many and never interacted with them--they could've been fishermen set up for the weekend, but they had that tarp-over-tent look.

That said, it's not for everyone. First of all, you don't reserve for one night, you pay for all 5 nights ($52, Friday-Wednesday) regardless of how long you stay. The women's restroom was so filthy, I escorted my daughter into the men's room, which was usable though far from clean. The main issue was the noise. Even out beyond the housing, there was lots of traffic on the road, and those home-tuned trucks are really loud. But there were also locals partying with sound systems at the park. There were 2 large tents set up, 2 different parties, equally spaced in the 200-yard length of the park, so impossible to avoid. I reserved a spot online that turned out to be next to one party, so we just went to another unused spot, the farthest away. Still, I fell asleep to the sound of rap music both nights, even Sunday when I though the party would be over (the kids came back after the family affair on Saturday).

But all in all, noise has the least effect on us. We never felt unsafe and had a good time otherwise. Not knowing what to expect was perhaps the biggest anxiety. Not sure I would bother going back on a weekend, but weekdays might be fine (though all city & county campgrounds are closed on Wed and Thu nights).

[whtviper1]

There is always the Four Seasons down the road and the Olympic sized infinity pool.