Malaekahana, Laie Weather
"What's the weather like at Malakehana?" is the one of the first questions people ask besides "Is camping safe there?" The second question was answered in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, so to answer the question about the weater. Laie, where Malaekahana's located, offers average temperature lows year-round ranging from 66 to 70 with highs from 80 to 89 (summer). Like most of Hawaii, the temperatures are pretty consistent year round with tradewinds keeping it comfortable by day and nudge you to wear a sweater late at night and early morning.
We were lucky to have such little rain in October, the tail end of Hawaii's summer (May through October). Late September is usually the best bet for a combination of good airfare deals, deserted beach, and nice weather.
The downside to camping on the Windward side is that it rains more there. That’s what keeps it so green and lush.
Remember that with the large collection of micro-climates each of the Hawaiian Islands offers, there's no need to fret about the weather as long as you’re nice and dry in your tent or cabin by night. In some states, you hear people say “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes. While this can be true in Hawaii, what is mostly true is, “If you don’t like the weather, go down the road a couple miles."
Camp sites at Malaekahana are among the best I've seen anywhere, and theyurts a are comfortably furnished, Polynesian style (bring your own cookware, linens/sleeping bags, etc). I love the new deluxe yurt! Modernized with its own flush toilet and family size refrigerator, this family-size "Little Grass Shack," is dressed up with a thatched roof (on top of the solid one), bamboo and lauhala. This awesome yurt rents to visitors for $130 a night ($95 for residents).
Part Four of the Camp Malaekahana series to be posted soon, complete with
photos of their Swiss Family Robinson style showers.
Mike and his wife Ghislaine, seniors from Nova Scotia, camped for a couple weeks at Malaekahana. Unlike myself, the Burbridges’ primary motivation for camping wasn’t their budget. These world travelers had stayed at a five star resort and an upscale B&B for the first half of this vacation. Still, Mike and Ghislane maintained their campsite at Malaekahana was “the highlight” of their month long vacation in paradise!
While cleaning up after a breakfast spent at their table with a view that opens between wind blocking trees to one of the quietest stretches on the beach, Mike says with a big smile, “We’ve camped at gorgeous places like Yosemite and the Tetons, and there is no comparison to this site. This is a first class tent site.”
To learn more about Malaekahana (and exactly where to find this "first class tent site" and how to reserve it, surf over to Hawaii Eco Budget Guide to Oahu where you can purchase a step by step guide to planning an eco friendly, budget vacation on Oahu.
For a candid look at Oahu's camping situation, check out another long time Hawaii resident's review on
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