A week in Hawaii in a VW camper - Maui or the B.I.
 

In doing preliminary planning for our first trip to Hawaii -- a week in mid-May -- I ran across a couple of companies that rent fully-equipped VW campers ("Westfalias"). Having owned a VW camper back in the mid-1970s, and done a good bit of car-camping in it, we both think this might be the way to go.

One rental company is on on Maui, the other on the Big Island. Anyone have thoughts of the relative merits of each island for this sort of adventure? We will be bringing snorkeling gear with us, so that indicates one of our preferences. We are also partial to scenic hikes and beautiful beaches.

I'd pick Maui, for it's incredible scenery and abundance of gorgeous beaches. It is lucious and lush.

Big Island (I have not been) I picture as being more rustic and rough and dramatic?

I think either island would be fine. Each has it's own personality. I have friends that are going to be camping on Maui soon so if I get a report before you go, I'll try to post it. I am spoiled and like to be in a condo when I am in Hawaii.

Either island should be fine, but I *thought* there were more hippies on Maui.
;)

Where are you going to park it? On Maui you cannot just pull over and sleep on any random beach. Camping areas are few and usually full. Some are sketchy, others require a permit and advance reservation. It is not nearly as romantic as their website makes it out to be.

We camped on Maui in the late 70s, and even then heard it was not a particular safe thing to do (there was a patrolman around pretty much all night, and this was at a real campsite/beach).

Have you driven one of those before??

They don't have much power and don't drive that well. There are lots of curvy roads [with many single lane places] on both islands.

Be sure you want to drive this type of vehicle on unfamiliar roads.

Deb

I drove a 1968-vintage VW camper through the Rockies, back about 30 years ago. They had even less power back then.

Don't do it. It is not a safe thing to do and there are no legal campgrounds for such vehicles like the mainland does. I'd go into more detail but I'd probably get deleted so I'll just leave it at that.

i, too, am skeptical since i saw this post. the vehicles i've seen at the campgrounds on kauai are usually homeless.

We looked at a campground on Big Island out of curiosity and found it to be very run down. Broken screens, broken windows, broken beer bottle glass everywhere, dirty, and luckily deserted! I'm not sure I'd want to meet any of the campers.
Our B&B hosts told us that this was the norm for campsites. They are not maintained (the one at Volcano NP may be an exception).

It was on a nice beach though...