Sand Island State Recreation Area

Sand Island State Recreation Area offers shoreline camping very close to urban Honolulu. Camping here is limited to Friday through Sunday nights only (unlike other Oʻahu parks); permits up to 30 days in advance. Activities: Beachgoing, Fishing. Reopened Wednesday, August 19, 2026 after a temporary Hurricane Lala/Tropical Storm Moke storm-recovery closure, per DLNR's live Important Park Notices page. Status changing amid Hurricane Lala/Tropical Storm Moke recovery (as of 8/25/26) - check dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/important-park-notices/ before traveling. Hawaii State Park campgrounds are not set up for camping in vehicles (campers, vans, trailers); sleeping in vehicles in campground parking lots is not allowed statewide, and there are no electric/water hookup sites anywhere in the system (dlnr.hawaii.gov, confirmed live). Pets/animals are NOT allowed - confirmed via this park's own DLNR record ("No Animals/Pets" listed explicitly) and Hawaii's statewide Administrative Rules ("not allowed in... campgrounds"). Reservable (permit-based, not a specific numbered site) through Hawaii DLNR Division of State Parks' own reservation system at explore.ehawaii.gov (migrated from the legacy camping.ehawaii.gov system statewide as of February 1, 2026; login required to book).

Standard statewide camping permit fee: Hawaii residents $20/campsite/night, non-residents $30/campsite/night, for up to 10 people (dlnr.hawaii.gov, "*New Fees Effective 10/9/20"). Full payment required at time of reservation (no partial deposits, no mail-in permits); NO REFUNDS if cancelled less than 15 days before check-in; $5/permit cancellation fee on refunds granted (dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/permits-fees/). Maximum stay 5 consecutive nights per park (shorter at some parks, e.g. Nāpali Coast), then a 30-day wait before that permittee may camp overnight in the same park again; one campsite/cabin per permit per park at a time; commercial use prohibited without a special use permit.