Camping Club Trip #3 - Kohanaiki!!!

Every March, for the past three years, the Camping Club comes to life (we're in the process of obtaining some Members Only jackets). In 2009, we camped at Namakani Paio/Volcanoes National Park, and in 2010 , we camped at Kalopa State Park. But this year, we tackled a whole new frontier- beach camping. Specifically- Kohanaiki...aka Pine Trees. Believe it or not, even though we live on an island surrounded by water, this beach is the ONLY place you can legally camp at in North Kona. We couldn't go on the first day of permitted camping (a Friday) because Rich had to work, so we knew it would be a bit of gamble to go there on Saturday morning and still get a permit. However, because it was not Labor Day, the Fourth of July or New Years (the busiest camping days of the year), we were not only lucky enough to get a permit...we also got a prime spot! Driving in (you need 4WD due to a certain section in the road), we were surprised at how many other campers were there...there was a sea of tents. In the popular area(s) near the bay, it looked like a little tent village. You could hear the reggae pounding and see dozens of surfers in the water. You could also see roughly 90% of Kona's truck population parked along the water. :-) And since we're like the deep south when it comes to owning trucks, that's a lot of trucks. We chose to drive nearly all the way in since less people go there, and were stoked to get a very quiet, fairly level, sandy area beneath a canopy of trees as our camp base. Our two Cub Scouts (and Ryan!) "helped" Rich set up the tent. I was suprised that camping on a beach seemed to require half the stuff we pack to go camping in cabins, especially since we had to haul all the gear there like a tent, table, chairs, a food cooler, a water cooler, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, ropes, tarps, propane stove, dishes, lanterns, flashlights, sunscreen, etc. And of course (always essential at any beach camping trip)- the clothes line and pins for drying off the towels, rash guards, swim trunks, etc. . I think the best moment of any camping trip is once you're finished setting up camp and can step back and look at your temporary, new digs. I always feel a little like the Swiss Family Robinson's once we're done. :-) On my wish list for 2012's camping trip (because I think I want to return to the beach!):

• A 6-person (since I have three growing boys) instant pop-up tent. They're kinda pricey, but the ones I'm looking at are tall enough for you to stand up in, and dummy-proof (I'm sure I'll test that) to set up.


• An outdoor shower. Nothing too fancy...I'd just love to be able to rinse off each night. If I could do this, I swear, we'd attempt two nights! Mama just neeeeds her nightly bath. ;-) Any suggestions?

Ryan loved hanging out in a tent, he even took his regular nap in there without complaint. And because it was soooo windy yesterday, it was never hot inside.

Once base camp was set up, we took off for a hike (guided by my dad, the beach hiker extraordinare) with the three boys and Rich. We made it all the way over to the nearby Kaloko Honokohau fishponds.

Riki found a sea urchin shell, which meant many priceless photo ops for the boys.

Someone needed no lesson in how to get into the spirit of camping, Hawaiian style!

It's a bird, it's a plane...it's a washed up jellyfish! I buried it in the sand (though without ceremony) since I was worried someone would step on it and get stung...probably irrational on my part. :-)

This was all three boys first time camping on a beach...

Not to mention their first time camping in a tent too, so they were super hyper.

Kohanaiki is a diving and surfing beach...the shoreline does have white sand, but it's very rocky and swimming is not ideal. Thankfully, the Furuto family (and I'm sure, many other locals) has had a looooong tradition of creating our own safe, little, private ponds for the keiki, and even better, of having my father do all the heavy lifting/moving of rocks in order to do so. :-)

Needless to say, Ryan appreciated the newly created pond, and was able to, as he puts, it- "surf" in it. Right near the pond, my mother and I wandered through the tidepools so we could create a little 'beach aquarium' for Ryan- two little fish, two sea cucumbers, and three hermit crabs.

Just because you're roughing it doesn't mean you should miss out on storytime, or arts and crafts with Grandma (she brought all of the above...to go camping). There was airplane making, collage making, cookie decorating, etc. Once an early childhood educator, always an early childhood educator!

This is the pond Grandpa Furuto created for the kids...just 20 feet from our campsite. You could roll out of sleeping bag straight down into the pond if you so desired.

The larger little bay about 80 feet from our campsite...also pretty safe, except during high tide, when I could easily see Ryan getting sucked out by the waves.

Ryan spotted my mother's hat, threw it on and told us he was a cowboy.

Even though it was very quiet (except for the crashing waves of course) and you could see the stars for miles, I think all the adults had a rough night of sleep between the cold, occasional drizzle and kicking kid(s). Poor Riki woke up (he chose to sleep outside of the tent with grandpa) covered with bite(s) all over his face and ears! I think he had about 25+ bites...and I can't figure out what bit him. They definitely weren't mosquito bites, nor did they look like ant bites (he also said they didn't itch). I worried that they might be flea or sand flies, but I'm not sure. Poor kid. It does make me think twice about outdoor camping though. :-(

It's funny, I want to be the outdoors type, but at heart, I'm really not. The entire time I was there, I kept thinking...this is nice, but I'd really rather be at the W. ;-) I do this every year for the three boys...so that they're able to have the type of outdoor camping experiences all kids should have. It's also a gentle reminder not to take our life indoors for granted. And in hindsight, it probably wasn't the best timing to sleep so close to crashing waves so soon after a tsunami. I must admit, there were a few nerve wracking, irrational moments. ;-)

But all in all? I'm so glad we went. It was a lot of hard work, but it was also relaxing and so worth it. Just looking at the pictures make me want to go back already. And in about 364 days...we will. :-)