Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park RV & Campground Guide
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The Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park is a fragile and unusual environment in southeast O'ahu, Hawaii. Resting on a cinder cone as high as 2,000 feet above Honolulu, the park is home to flora and fauna combinations not found elsewhere in the United States. To protect the unique environment, the park prohibits open fires, mountain bikes or camping in the area. With downtown Honolulu being 5 miles to the west, the views from Tantalus Lookout are spectacular. Other nearby cities include Waimanalo, which is 32 minutes to the west, and Kaneohe, which is 28 minutes to the north.
Spring 69-87 F
Summer 74-89 F
Fall 74-84 F
Winter 66-80 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
You can camp on the island of Oahu just about any time of the year. With a compact Class B RV, you'll be able to get around the area easily and have access to an air conditioned home base. If you want to rent an RV in Honolulu, RVshare can help you find the perfect model for your trip.
Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area
Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area offers limited campsites. The recreation area covers 384 acres of forests, valleys and high viewpoints. While RV hookups are not available, restrooms, picnic tables, showers and water fountains provide small amenities that lend comfort. The Recreation Area features an old temple where people sought healing. A hiking trail offers spectacular views of Pearl Harbor and its surroundings. RV camping is only allowed with the required permits.
Water hookup: No
Electric hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet Friendly: On short leash only
Fees: $12-$18 per night
Sand Island State Recreation Area
To get a good look at Honolulu Harbor from shore level, stay at Sand Island State Recreation Area for one or two nights. The park sits at the head of Honolulu Harbor, where WWII defensive structures still stand. Activities include walking the long sandy beach, fishing, swimming and watching the Harbor activity. Diamond Head, Honolulu and Waikiki Beach are sights that ignite memories that stay with you for years. The camping area is only available for overnight camping during the weekends.
Water hookup: No
Electric hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet Friendly: No
Fee: $12-18 per night per campsite
Swanzy Beach Park
Swanzy Beach Park is located on the shore of the windward side of Oahu. The park is a quiet area where your children can play without concern about pounding waves or dangerous trails. Playgrounds and picnic tables define the use of this park. A shallow rocky reef discourages swimming while it reduces surf. Camping is allowed by permit only and is restricted to the weekends only.
Water Hookup: No
Electric Hookup: None
Sewer Hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet Friendly: Yes
Fee: $12 - $18 per night per campsite
Office hours: 7 am to sunset
What to Do at
Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
Inside Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
The main attraction at Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park is the spectacular view. Driving the few miles from Honolulu to the park takes you through an intriguing rain forest. When you reach the park, there is a one-mile trail loop that takes you to the outlook and back. At the outlook, the incredibly extensive views include Manoa Valley, Waikiki, and Diamond Head to the South as well as the Waianae Mountains and Pearl Harbor to the north. Close under the 2,000-foot-high lookout lies Honolulu while beyond is the seemingly endless horizon of the Pacific Ocean.
Outside Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
The area surrounding Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park is densely populated Greater Honolulu. There are plenty of nearby restaurants that represent almost every type of cuisine found in the world. You'll also find an incredible array of shopping opportunities as well as tantalizing sites to visit.
Restaurants
Fooki
You can choose from the many specialties, such as Cowwow Noodle Soup, which includes a soup base of 12-hour simmered beef broth filled with assorted vegetables and over 20 spices. Fresh noodles are added and topped with braised beef ribs, shank and tendons. Baby bok choy and a tea-infused egg are added to increase flavor and texture.
Type: Taiwanese
Location: Pearl Kai Shopping Center 98-199 Kamehameha Highway, Ste. G-02, Aiea, HI 96701
Heavenly Island Lifestyle
This eatery features breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus that include fresh local ingredients. Try the breakfast dish Organic Chicken & Local Green Ginger Pho for a unique taste. For lunch, order the Organic Coconut Green Curry with Vegetables, and for dinner, the Big Island Kulana Ranch Ribeye Steak.
Type: Hawaiian
Location: Shoreline Hotel Waikiki 342 Seaside Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Egghead Cafe
Before venturing out to the park for the day, stop here for a quick breakfast or brunch. Order the Shrimp and Bacon Omelet for a tasty treat. If you are starving, try the La-La Berry French Toast for that all-day energy lift.
Type: Hawaiian, American
Location: 1210 Dillingham Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96817
Shopping
Ala Moana Center
This shopping center has a 60-year history of satisfying the shopping needs of locals and visitors alike, and it employs an open-air design that allows customers to enjoy the spectacular Hawaiian sunshine while moving from shop to shop. The center contains 350 shops of various types from restaurants and accessories to electronics and fashion. Some of the famous brand names include Nordstrom, Tiffany, and Zara.
Location: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814
Royal Hawaiian Center
The center is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is home to more than 110 shops. Shopping choices include restaurants, fashion, jewelry, Hawaiian gifts, and more. The unique design and convenient location of the center attract such known business names as Harry Winston, Harley-Davison, and Tourneau.
Location: 2201 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
International Market Place
The Market Place hosts 90 stores of varied types. Shoppers at this mall enjoy visiting shops that include restaurants, fashion boutiques, electronics stores, travel agencies and many more. Some of the famous brand name shops located here are ABC Stores, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Avis.
Location: 2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Sightseeing
Konahuanui Summit
If you are an experienced hiker and already at Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park, then you may want to complete your day with a hike to the Konahuanui Summit. The walk takes you to the second-highest peak of the Ko’olau Range. The path is steep and muddy, including risky areas with steep drop-offs on both sides of the trail. Once you arrive at the summit on a clear day, the views are panoramic from Honolulu to the windward side of Oahu.
Location: Oahu, HI
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens
The Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens represents one of the largest displays of botanical diversity created in the world. The garden is a mix of tropical plantings grouped geographically. The environments represented vary from the Philippines and Sri Lanka to the tropical areas of Africa.
Location: 45-680 Luluku Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744
How to Get to
Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
To get to the park from Waikiki, find Ala Wai Boulevard. Turn right on McCully Street toward the park. After you cross the bridge over the H1 Freeway, turn left onto Wilder Avenue. Turn right onto Makiki Street at the first set of lights. Continue to drive on Makiki until you come to a fork. Take Round Top Drive the rest of the way to the park.
Entering Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
There is no park office at Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park. There is, however, a gate. The gate opens at 7 a.m. and closes just after sunset as the park is a day-use only area. Overnight camping is not allowed at Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park.
Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park Per person : $0.0
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
Tantalus Lookout is part of Puu Ualakaa State Park and is an attractive tourist destination every month of the year. The panoramic view from Tantalus Lookout from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor is incredible.
The park is on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, which has a hot, semi-arid climate with a relatively dry summer. Month-to-month, there is very little temperature variation with a mean annual temperature of 64.4 degrees.
Puu Ualakaa State Park is intended for daytime use only. There is no camping allowed in the park, which is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until 7:45 p.m. A covered picnic table and bathroom are available.
No pets are permitted in Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park. However, both state and federal law permit service animals in public places for people with disabilities provided that the owner carries the proper documentation.
Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park and its facilities are accessible in accordance with The Americans with Disabilities Act. There is a short walk from the parking lot to the lookout.