Camping Club Trip #2 - Kalopa State Park!

So how was the Camping Club's 2nd Annual camping trip to Kalopa State Park? Pure 100% awesomeness. I learned a few lessons from past camping trips and packed less, stressed less, cooked less...and as a result, was able to have a lot more fun. It also helped having the entire campground to ourselves and 24/7 access to a mess hall kitchen (which does contain a gas stove, sink and fridge, along with basic pots/pans/utensils) for cooking and escaping the frequent rain.

But even without a mess hall- the Kalopa campgrounds just might be the prettiest spot on the island. Though I really hate to brag, I was so initially taken aback by the campgrounds that I creatively called them...(wait for it)...the Garden of Eden. (I know- when I'm on, I'm on.) But now's not the time to show off my literary chops. I'll just say that as fun as the Camping Club's 1st Annual Trip was to the Namakani Pai'o cabins at the Volcanoes National Park was last March- this trip definitely one-upped that one.

Before I jump in with the extensive gushing photo commentary of our trip, I want to point out that I am not the hardiest of campers. While I'm definitely in love with the idea of camping- sleeping under the stars, cool grass beneath my feet, huddling 'round the campfire and all that...the reality is- I would much prefer to hike all day in the woods, and then retire each evening in a hotel, preferably one in the $400-500 range, with a modern, bright, shiny commode, a warm shower, thick, warm, fluffy towels, a soft bed with clean, 1500+ thread count sheets still lingering with the scent of detergent, and a 90-inch flat screen cable tv. Free internet and pillow chocolates are a nice bonus.

Cabins, on the other hand, creep me out. I cringe from the moment I step foot into a cabin- and feel a heaviness in my heart that does not subside until the minute we leave. Old buildings, especially hotels and cabins, cause me distress. And Kalopa (shudder), was no exception- the cabins are ancient, and because of the constant rain- smell like mold. They also have very uncomfortable dirty, thin, prison-issue mattresses (the camp caretaker confirmed that they really are made for prisons), and are filled with bug carcasses, cobwebs, the requisite mildew-covered shower curtains plastered with the bodily hairs of other campers. We also found some bonus amenities- used q-tips, matted-up tissues and a pair of blue, sexy undies (unfortunately, not our size). The last difficulty of note that we experienced was the loud, incessant nighttime screeching of the coqui frogs. Though the volume is not quite enough to keep you up all night, a set of ear plugs and some softer, supplemental bedding will go a long way. And if you're coming with children or suffer from adult ADD yourself, you may want to bring along some books and/or a fully charged-DVD player/tablet for when the rains come down. Because they will. ;-) 

And so having said all that, I want to (partly) attempt to redeem myself by saying that I do not go camping so that I can come home and moan and whine on my blog about how horrid the conditions were. I go camping because I do enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, but also because I want to come home and brag on my blog about what an amazing martyr I am. No really- my husband, son and nephews LOVE camping. And so quite simply, I do it for them. :-)

My last long-winded blather? Even though I complained mightily about the cabins, this is no reflection of the campground caretakers themselves, who are already stretched too thin and basically have no budget to speak of. A huge shout out to the very kind, friendly and hard-working camp caretaker and his crew up there. Patrick Paiva is doing an amazing job- I've never seen a more immaculately manicured, lush green landscape. The park grounds have been lovingly and meticulously well-cared for by Patrick for over 20 years, and it shows.
Minutes after checking in, the rain started...so we got settled in and then holed up on our cabin porch to wait out the rain.
No trip is complete without Daddy bringing all his schoolbooks to study with!

Kenichi & Riki got busy watching Kung Fu Panda.

Once the rains stopped, the little gangstas got suited up to start exploring the camp grounds!

Ryan busied himself hunting for the rarely seen Hawaiian spamalope...he swears he would have nailed one if we had just given him the crossbow he'd asked for!

Rich with Riki & Ryan beneath a canopy of trees.

I even came up with an official camp cheer while we were there- "On three, on three! 1...2...3...CAMPING CLUB!!!" It's just how I roll.

Ryan running away from the scary Daddy Monster!

Hiking on one of the many trails winding around the campgrounds...it was my first time getting to see a native maile (lei) tree growing.

Everytime Ryan fell on the trail (about 11 times), he wanted Grandma to clean his hands.

My youngest homie/bro and I throwing down some shakaz...

Post-trek through the rainforest can mean only one thing...snack time!!! The three boys and I munching and crunching together on the mess hall stairs!

Kenichi with one of the two Jackson chameleons he found (I will not say exactly what I think should happen to any and all lizard-looking creatures for fear of PETA coming after me).

The only meal I relinquished my Head Chef status- steak night! My carnivorous father doing what he does best- grilling meat!

What do you do when the rains hit? You gather in the mess hall and play Duck, Duck, Goose of course!!! Ryan quickly caught on to tapping people on the head and saying "duck," he just never got around to saying "goose!"

Then you use all the boxes from Costco used to haul food in, and make a train out of them! It's Kenichi's Kalopa Express chugging through!

And last but not least, you teach the boys what it's like to run through paper at high speeds! Here's Riki breaking through!

Now Ryan! (Notice his eyes are closed bracing for impact!)

And finally here comes Kenichi whipping through! (The shirt got ditched once he started sweating. Kenichi might be the only person on Earth who sweats more than me. By like, tenfold. Poor kid.)

Caught in the act feeding Ryan applesauce and a pudding cup for dinner (his first...but definitely not his last, he's asked for another one about 23 times)!

Making grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast on our last morning there...loved having a six-burner gas stove that was all mine the entire trip! It particularly came in handy on loco-moco night! I hadn't realized I'd need nearly all the burners in order to make it! One for grilled onions, one for gravy, one for the burgers, one for warming the rice, and one for frying eggs! Who knew?!!! (I mean besides Zippy's, Cafe 100, Denny's and Ken's House of Pancakes!)

Ryan...not so pleased taking a pic with cousin Kenichi carrying him!

Getting ready to leave camp...hmmm. I just realized that my Hello Kitty pjs don't look nearly as cute as I thought they did on a 35-year old woman! Time to hit Sears and get me some terry bathrobes and hair curlers.

The beautiful Garden of Eden that is also called the Kalopa State Park! Have you ever seen such beauty?

The parents...still in love (apparently Tiger Woods never got to my mom) after 39 years!

We always stop in Waimea any chance we can- love the cool breezes, misty rain and cowboy theme (yes, in Hawaii! Waimea's Parker Ranch was once, and may still be, the USA's largest privately owned ranch!). So all in all, great fun...and as you can imagine, I'm already planning the Camping Club's 3rd trip- BEACH CAMPING! This will be my first beach camping trip as an adult! If I have my way, it will be well before the end of the year. Don't think I can wait until next March!!!