Oahu, Hawaii Camping at Malaekahana, Part 2. For Part 1:
In ancient Hawaiian times Malaekahana served as a spiritually powerful place, a Pu‘uhonua, that is a place refuge where those kapu breakers who escaped to it received forgiveness and amnesty with which they took with them when they returned to their homes. Malaekahana, Kahuku section, continues to serve as a refuge.
Thanks to Friends of Malaekahana this first native-run Hawaiian State Park, a gated 37-acre wooded beach park with 24-hour on-site security is still a refuge. While the beach park offers swimming, surfing, shore fishing and other activities. you will usually find the beach on a work/school day morning and early afternoon is nearly or completely deserted. If you haven't viewed them yet, you can see what I mean by checking out my Malaekahana photos
I’ll never forget my first morning there last October, watching the incredible sunrise, going back to sleep and then taking a walk at about 9 a.m. down a deserted beach. Eventually a couple and their dog that lived down the beach came and went, and a fisherman with a net made his way out onto the rocks at the point.
On weekends, Malaekahana is frequented by local families who enjoy camping and the beach. We were told by our camping neighbor, a young man of about 18, that teens sometimes partied there on weekends but that they all had a lot of respect for the security there who didn’t allow any rowdy behavior or loud talking after curfew. We didn’t hear anything near our site (near the entrance and office), other than the quiet talk among family members who came to fish and took turns watching the poles and sleeping. After a few minutes, the sound of the surf drowned out their talking and any other noise that we might have heard otherwise.
We’d hear the chickens scratching the ground next to our tent and sometimes the rooster would crow from the top of our table. But no complaints here – I’m sure the chickens are the reason this was the first place I’ve been in Hawaii at night that I didn’t see one of the Islands’ infamously large cockroaches (ugh).
Speaking of critters, while you won’t encounter any snakes, or rabid animals, Hawaii has none of either; there are a few things to watch out for in the island, such as centipedes. The chickens seemed to keep these under control too :-)
Natural beauty, the spirit of aloha, peacefulness - and natural pest control, make the Friends of Malaekahana's campground truly a place of refuge.
UPDATE December, 2008: Craig Chapman the manager for Malaekahana park (Kahuku section) for the last 14 years just sent me pictures of their newest accomodations - their eco cabins and a new "Hale Nui" grass shack (10'x12' with its own Lanai) on the beach. He's also added a new solar powered/heated 4-toilet bathroom and 4-stall shower that's lit at night. Plus more good eco news from Craig: He's added two new "wastewater treatment plants" that use microbs and aeriation to eat all the sewage and the water is then used as irrigation for campsite plants.
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