This is where the locals head when they want to relax, play sports or enjoy some free culture. Visitors, too, will quickly appreciate this peaceful green oasis.
When the pace of downtown Honolulu gets too frantic, follow the locals’ lead and head down to Kapiolani, the oldest public park in Hawaii, for some much-needed physical and spiritual refreshment. This 121-hectare site in the shadow of the Diamond Head volcano has been a favourite meeting place for more than a century, ever since King Kalakaua donated it to the island in 1877. From ancient tai chi practitioners to modern hip hoppers, everyone gathers here to celebrate the good things in life.For sports fanatics, the park is equipped with free outdoor fitness equipment and three different running tracks, the longest of which follows the 3.5-kilometre perimeter of the park. There are free tennis courts as well as a variety of pitches where teams compete in soccer and rugby – watch the matches and cheer on the players if you’re feeling lazy! Music lovers can enjoy al fresco entertainment from the bandstands or catch a big-name act at the Waikiki Shell, which has venue seating for 2,000 and room for thousands more on the grass. Local boy and global superstar Jack Johnson’s famous Kokua Music Festival, now in its ninth year, is held here every April while, most weekends, the park hosts a variety of cultural events including concerts, performances and craft fairs.Nature lovers will be equally spoilt for choice. Look out for a flash of colour as red-crested cardinals flit between the branches of ancient banyan and ironwood trees, listen to the wind whispering through the coconut groves, or scan the surface of the pond for dragonflies – perhaps attracted by its famous bronze dragonfly statue. Make time for a visit to Honolulu Zoo and gardens which occupy the west side of the park, or find out more about Hawaii’s fascinating underwater world at the aquarium.Kapiolani Park is situated to the east of Waikiki Beach and is open daily throughout the year. Free parking is available at the Waikiki Shell stadium and paid parking along nearby Kalakaua Avenue.
