Shelter for Hawaii – how bug proof

Granted, I've only been to Hawaii once, but I don't remember a lot of bugs. The only bug I remember are some huge black bees.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylocopa_sonorina

Those things were scary!

I hiked the Kalalau Trail in October 2013. There were no mosquitoes near the coast, but when the trails cut inland, there were a lot more.

My backpacks were in May down to the frigid 58°F or so for a morning low but enough to dampen most flying bugs. Problem I was warned about was the centipedes inflicting a nasty (but rare) bite, so most shelters I observed (native overnight sea kayakers and non-native backpackers) on the coast had enclosed mesh. One group used a large blue Walmart tarp wrapped taco style though (3 women, 1 guy) … they were inbound while I was leaving so do not know their long-term experience.

I camped in Hawaii for three months, both near the beach and in the forest. Near the beaches the breeze seems to keep the mosquitos away, but inland they were just awful. Since you will be working at a farm I would not be too concerned about weight and opt for a larger, bug proof shelter. If you were planning to also use it on backpacking trips while you visit the islands, then I can see needing something light..
The ticks were a nightmare too, by the hundreds.
Everything else was sweet :)

Edited to add….sugar cane spiders. As big as tarantulas.

Don't forget to bring a saddle to ride the cockroaches.
Fun rides. But problem is the sound of their hooves at night can keep you awake.
They run in herds.

Billy

What Billy said….and foot long centipedes.

I lived and camped all over Maui, and it totally depends on where you are in altitude or which side of the island you are on.

Those giant black bumblebees are really cool if you watch em do their thing. They have perfect little holes in trees, and they fly in there full speed like a magic trick. That should be the least of your concern haha.

On the ground, centipedes are pretty much everywhere, and you dont want to wake up with one cuddled up to you. They can be a foot long, and really mess up your week if they bite you. Also there are rats and ants galore…..so be extra diligent about food scraps. A few little scorpions. Oh and Cane spiders, which can be as big as your hand but are harmless. Black widows in some places but they are hardly intrusive.

In the air mostly just mosquitoes. In the jungle it was too much for me, they absolutely loved me and i started to get an eye twitch haha. I moved upcountry to somewhere dry and there were almost none. Also on the northshore beaches the trade winds kept them at bay.

But chances are, if you are on a woofer farm, you are going to be somewhere pretty damp and mosquitoes will be an issue. I admit i was far more effected than my neighbors, but that was my experience.

There are some scary critters, i went with a dangerously high hammock whenever possible. But for the most part a good bug net and quick entry will get the job done. My only real issue was the mosquitoes. The other ones are easy enough to simply respect and avoid. Most woofers end up with some centipede stories lol, but don't stress em, they are incredible creatures and have been around much longer than humans.

The jungle is a different animal entirely, i dont think i could have been ready for that. So ya, there is a wide range and who knows, you could find a sweet little area on your first crack at it.

Where are you staying? I'm sure i can give you a more specific idea of what to expect.

Having backpacked and camped at beaches on most of the islands, I haven't seen many mosquitos there. But inland, yeah, it could be bad. If you're woofing it, you're probably not in a beach-front villa, right?

48-state, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Africa – everywhere I go and it is the same: mosquitos are when/where there is some fresh water, no cold nights, bushes and no wind. Lawns very much create "defensible space". They're never bad when it is windy. Go high enough on Kauai (Koke`e State Park) or Maui (Haleakala National Park) and you'll avoid all squitters because the nights get cold enough.

Short answer: plan on mosquitos.

Also, if camped low, bring ear plugs for the roosters in the morning and the beach parties at night.

And consider fuel availability. I haven't been able to find butane fuel on all the islands, for instance.

I took my then 14 month old daughter first to Kauai and then Maui. On our last week, near Hana, we got into an area infested with ticks. My daughter learned the word. On our flight back she kept squeezing her thumb and forefinger together saying " look mama a tick", over and over again, to the great discomfort of fellow passengers.

I have spent a lot of time on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. I have found Very Big spiders in places we stayed and my car, got bit on the back by a centipede in bed on the north side of Kauai. That really hurt. Luckily it was not a foot long. I like hiking with poles there in the jungle areas if nothing else to brush away the crab spider webs. Never had really bad experiences with mosquitoes but they were around at times.

All in all the bugs are not that bad but I would want a protected space in a tent.

I was eaten alive on the Kalalau trail.

O.K….. Backpacking Hawaii now officially off my to-do list.

Awesome info, just what I was looking for. Thanks everyone.
I should have mentioned that we are planning on being on the big Island, but who knows.

There are campsites along the coast on the Big Island. The interesting creatures are the people.
Um, earthy. Living the low impact life. The sites are open 24 hours, so anyone can just wander in and out anytime. The site at the volcano is like a field with tents and two toilets for a lot of people. Kinda of free-for-all. And the rain…

We did not make it to the hike-ins at the park.

My experience is the same as others … can be hit and miss depending on the island and whether you're on beach or inland … I always try to hammock whenever possible, but woke up one morning on North Shore of Oahu after hammocking with my entire face destroyed by mosquitos as rest of body was in sleeping bag … it was kind of funny. Learned that lesson quick! If you are on the beach and you know a storm is coming in …. put rocks on your stakes and get everything locked down … had sideways rain on North Shore of Kauai and once the stakes pull, you and everything is done for as far as being wet …. :)

Looks to me that some have missed Jacob's purpose for going there , that is Woofing.
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or Willing Workers on Organic Farms
Doing that you don't have a choice of where you set up your tent, it needs to be done close to the farm you are working in.

Same rules apply basically …. woofing or not. They may take small trips or camp on the beach on breaks or days off… which is when a hammock can be awesome. But def some sort of enclosed tent like others mentioned for sure. Here are some pics I took at an Organic Woof Farm on Kona, I stayed at … didn’t work but hung out with Woofers :)

Pics of Organic Farm on Kona, Big Island of Hawaii

My comment was about the implied suggestion that one should camp by the coast to avoid insects.