This experience goes without comparison in all my travels.
Why? I'd like to split it into 3 reasons: The host, the van (which you'll come to call home within short time!), and the island.
The host - Daniel
Incredibly friendly and accommodating. Met us with a huge smile as we recovered from a long flight. Walked us through all the terrific amenities you'll have (kitchenette, huge bed, power outlets, and much more) and sent us of with his favorite spots in pocket. Any questions? He'll answer in minutes. Any trouble? He'll hop on the phone and walk you through it. We really appreciated that. In other words, your dream host. We can't say that enough!
The van - our baby! Fully equppied with everything we needed for an amazing, 8 day surfing vacation along the Coast. For days not surfing, the extra two sets of great snorkeling gear came in handy. Tables and chairs perfect for a super chill day. Love the bed and kitchen setup: we basically woke up along the beach, walked two meters and made breakfast on the spot. Very clever from Daniel's side to install a sink and have a portable stove. She drives smoothly in all conditions, and is lean on gas! The feedback we got from other glampers: you guys picked the right car and got one hell of a deal doing so! She was hard to say goodbye to, and will forever stay in our memories!
The experience - well this is a hard one to synthesize! We've got 15 pages written in our travel journals, and more to come. Oa'hu is like paradise for two Norwegians far from home, and it wouldn't have been the same without the glamper. All our other friends stayed in hostels and rented cars, were stuck in traffic, and never got a chance to really get to know the locals. We woke up on a new beach each morning at sunrise, took down the surfboards from the roof and surfed. Made great meals. Watched sunset from our bed, undisturbed by the busy hassles of city life. This is how vacationa should be. Don't plan to much, follow the road. Talk to the people who live here. Talk to fellow vanlifers. Form a caravan, perhaps? Explore.
Our best picks to sleep for the night is the Army Beach right next to the Keanu Point Trail and Dead Man's Curve next to Haleiwa. Daniel has tons of recommendations, and will gladly help you. We loved surfing Turtle Bay and the local beach in Haleiwa. Hiking Mt. Kaʻala was intense yet gorgeous (stay safe). Great places to dine in the food trucks of North Shore. We loved Haleiwa Nr 7 and the seafood joint across the street! But keep exploring, there's tons of amazing places we never got to. We'll have to return. And when we do, we know who to call!
Safe travels,
Peter and Ask