Visiting Pu'u Ualaka's State Park is on my top ten favorite things to do in Honolulu. The Park…read moreoffers spectacular views of the entire Southside of the Island. I travelled up Mount Tantalus to the Park yesterday with my daughter. We travelled through beautiful dense forest at the Park entrance. At the highest overlook, we could see everything and more from Diamond Head out to (and beyond) the airport. We could see all of Honolulu. I felt like we were on top of the world! Plaques offer fascinating overviews of the history and geology of the landmarks below. We could even see inside the famous tuff cone, Punch Bowl! Nearby is the first macadamia nut orchard in Hawaii. The overviews are paved with railings and easily accessible. The Park offers picnic areas with a couple pavilions and picnic tables. There is a charge for non-resident parking of $7 that can be paid electronically. Resident parking is free. Parking is limited, but there are several parking areas. We had no trouble finding parking mid week. Warning signs tell guest not to leave valuables in the car. Pu'u Ualaka'a State Park is only two miles from downtown Honolulu (maybe a couple more miles to the top). The Park is an easy 5 star and worth a visit.

There is a lookout in this park that provides a panoramic view of Honolulu and Waikiki. The view is…read moregorgeous. Also a perfect place to watch sunset. One thing to note is that it does get really windy here. There are two parking lots available near this lookout. The one right next to the lookout is very small. It only holds about a dozen cars. The safer bet is to park at the slightly further parking lot with only a five minute walk to the Vista point.

My husband and I recently moved to this area from downtown Honolulu and we haven't really had a…read morechance to explore until this past Sunday. During this exploration, we found Kapi'olani park. This park was amazing!!! The views were beautiful, the park had an awesome vibe, and there are so many things to do. We ended up spending almost five hours there just enjoying the park, the beach, and the atmosphere.. If you're ever in the mood to get away from the hustle of Honolulu, I would highly recommend checking out Kapi'olani Park. It's truly worth it.

This park has always held a special space in my heart. There's a certain special power at this…read moreparticular park that I can't put my fingers on. Located just across from Kaimana Beach, I come here after my weekday swims to dry off in the sun and immerse in its solitude. When here, the world feels quieter, calmer -- like everything noisy in my head softens to a whisper and the litter of cluttered thoughts melt away with each song of the birds. Maybe it's the mana of the ancients still lingering, guarding the spirit of this cultural sanctuary. A memory of Hawaiʻi from a simpler time, still alive in the bones of the land. Opened in 1877 by King Kalākaua and named for Queen Kapiʻolani, it ranks among the oldest public parks on Oʻahu -- sprawling across about 300 acres. The loop around the park is about 1.7 miles. Originally a Horse Racing Venue, the land was initially created for the Kapiʻolani Park Association, which organized horse racing events for Hawaiian royalty and elite families. The racetrack, called the Kapiʻolani Park Race Track, was a central attraction and helped foster equestrian culture among the aliʻi (nobility). Presently, it's also home to the Honolulu Zoo, Waikīkī Shell and the Bandstand, home of the Royal Hawaiian Band. With Diamond Head towering over the park like a gatekeeper, the park is scattered with all kinds of trees -- coconut palms swaying hypnotically in the breeze, monkeypods stretching wide, and banyan trees casting deep shade for anyone escaping the midday sun. These trees also serve as homes to all sorts of birds: the bold Red-crested Cardinal, the bright green Rose-ringed Parakeet, and the graceful Manu o Kū -- Honolulu's official bird. They're pure white seabirds that nest impossibly on bare tree branches. Of all the trees here, the banyan is my fave. They're spectacular in how they grow -- with long roots that drop from their branches like ropes. When those roots touch the ground, they become new trunks, and the tree keeps expanding outward. What starts as a single tree becomes something that looks like an entire forest. To me, the banyan is a living symbol of community. The strongest among us aren't the ones who stand alone -- they're the ones who grow wide enough to support others. Every branch sends down roots, not to separate, but to deepen connection. Over time, what began as one becomes a sheltering canopy for many. Kapiʻolani Park is peaceful during the day, but it comes alive in the evenings. You'll hear the joyful sounds of kids playing soccer and football, people doing yoga under the trees, and families laid out on picnic blankets under the fading sun. There's plenty of metered parking -- just 25 cents for 30 minutes, probably the cheapest in the city -- but fair warning: spots fill up fast in the evenings. Parking is free on the mountain side of the park. But that also fills up quickly in the evenings and weekends. Peace

Finding the peace…read more.. Literally as Yelp direction kept leading me to Kapiolani Community College though close but not where it's at as it's actually to the left of Diamond Head State Park entrance which is quite easy to find. This little park is a slight hidden place that's pretty green and decently maintained with a couple of areas for you to enjoy one is closer to the entrance that has a lovely peek of the Wilhemina Rise area and a lovely place that I thought would be the perfect photo op spot for a cool gift from a thoughtful friend with BunBun is this cool cooler tote from TJ's! Using one of a bunch of stones and some benches for a place to relax and noticed a giant rock with a plaque that's a time capsule which will be opened on October 24, 2049! The other section is a bit more shaded as this circular garden has some stones placed with various peace quotes and though wanted to take more pics there was a gentleman chilling and didn't want to disturb him and majority of the area does have a path for easy access between gardens and up to Diamond Head as I've been here countless times and never knew this area existed is quite insane lol! A great spot for those that can't do the hike but enjoy a bit peace of time. Thank you!

A chill little park outside of Diamond Head State Park. Great place to sit under the trees and…read morerelax after a hike at Diamond Head and before catching the bus back to town.

Lucious green park in a residential area. I don't think it's quite as famous, but it's a favorite…read moreof mine since it's not as crowded and the park itself is shady, safe and calm. There's a small playground for kids, basketball court and ample parking. Great place for a picnic

On a Sunday afternoon, we went here to check it out. The park has playground, lots of trees and…read moreplants, and is very spacious. It is great place to hide out and have a picnic. Right next door to the park is Queen Emma Summer Palace which has its own entrance.

Moanalua Gardens is such a lovely, central place on Oahu to come and enjoy a little rest and…read morerelaxation in nature. My husband and I have been coming here for years, and remember coming here when we first started dating. The price went up a little bit to a few bucks a person, but it's still worth the entrance fee. We came back here with our kids, who had never been, and they had so much fun playing in and around the huge trees, running around the big open spaces, and feeding the ducks in the duck pond. A picnic was a delight at a table, and we brought a blanket to sit on and eat snacks again a little later while we were walking around. The bathrooms are nice and renovated. Really appreciate that touch. Overall, a great place to come for a little communue with nature.

Having lived on Oahu most of my life, I'm surprised it took me this long to finally visit Moanalua…read moreGardens. For years, I was confused by the closed freeway gates, but we finally found our way in this past weekend. After grabbing some sweets in town and failing to find parking, we decided to head toward Moanalua. A last-minute turn (and some dramatic screams from my sister) landed us safely through the gates. Pro tip: Keep an eye out for the entrance--it comes up fast! Entry for Kama'aina is a very reasonable $4 per person. While it's not the most expansive botanical garden I've ever seen, it is a peaceful "secret" oasis right in the city. The massive monkeypod trees provide incredible shade for the many picnic tables available. We loved the duck pond and watching the turtles. You can even buy food to feed them, which is great for families. It's quiet, uncrowded, and perfect for a slow stroll across the bridge and along the stream. Just be sure to follow the signs and take your valuables with you when you park! And the bathroom , although indicates women, the signs hanging in the doors indicate men and the other two women. Restroom is nice and clean and I liked the classic farm sink and faucet.

Wow talk about upgrades from the parks renovation. This park is awesome, , ...best on the state,…read moredefinitely takes some notes from mainland parks. The playground area rope/bridge area, standard climb and play area, a swing, merry go round, and even a glove with rotating handle the plays music. The also added tables and a small work out area. If you haven't been here in sometime, bring your kids, they'll love it. This place does get PACKED, and even late into the night haha. Just as an example, it's a Sunday morning and there are some 25+ kids and almost equal 20+ parents here at the moment. What other just "park" with no event do you see that kind of crowd haha.

Go almost every weekend awesome playground. Really busy day time try to go after 5pm a lot less…read morepeople then!

If you're looking for a place to picnic, walk, or get away from the city, Kakaʻako Waterfront Park…read moreis the place to go! The park is very spacious and well-kept. There are trash cans, tables and chairs for picnicking, bathrooms, and showers throughout the park available for the public to use. Walking along the waterfront is so relaxing and the walking path is nicely paved with a great view of the ocean. There are always lots of people at the waterfront fishing, surfing, hanging out, running, and walking their dogs. I love coming here to walk my dog, since the park feels very safe and is always clean. Parking: There's a huge free parking lot in front of the entrance to the park that has a ton of stalls. The lot always has empty stalls available.

If you haven't been go check it out. Nice park with plenty parking and hard stand restrooms. We…read morewent on a Sunday and I did park for free. I didn't swim here. I came for the 2025 Hawaii Hot Girl Walk. We met at field across the street from park then walked the whole park. The path is paved and you don't have to worry about getting lost. It's a simple down and back route and the coast. The walk was less than a mile down to 0.80. There down and back was almost 2 miles total. The weather was nice and had a great breeze throughout walk. Some people there were walking, hanging out or swimming. I would say it was swim at your own risk. They did have some areas that lead down to the water. Other areas people climbed down the rocks. I can't wait for the next Hot Girl Walk. You can find them on IG and Facebook for next event.

We've been living in Ho'opili since 2017 and were so excited when Konane Park opened. It's been…read moresuch a great addition to our community! There's always a nice mix of people from all over the island who come to visit--many even call it the "Fruit Park" or "Apple Park." For us, it's extra special because it's right across the street from our home, making it so convenient to enjoy. The park is well maintained weekly through our community fees, and the trees here are amazing--the ulu provides food, and the puakenikeni blossoms are perfect for making lei. We've even been able to spread a few lauhala seeds, adding to the natural beauty. Konane Park is truly a gathering place that reflects the spirit of Ho'opili.

Geared towards older children as the slides don't have the typical stairs but rather rope steps…read more Plenty of benches to sit at in addition to the artificial turf

What do I want to do on my birthday? Let's go take a walk in the park!…read more With the hustle and bustle of the holiday weekend and events here and there, I wanted somewhere less crowded and quiet. Foster Botanical Garden came to mind. I haven't been here for a very long time! The entrance is located along Vineyard Blvd. - westbound, right after the Kuan Yin Temple. There's plenty of free parking. Out of all the City and County botanical gardens, this is the only one with admission, but it's well worth the price - $5 for adults, $3 for Hawai'i Residents, $1 Children 6-12 (so, 13+ are adults?), and free for kids 5 and under. There is a free docent-led 90-minute tour at 10:30am - every Monday and Wednesday to Saturday - anyone can join. Walk-ins okay if there's space, or make reservations via email or phone. Before heading in, you can grab a map and a bird checklist. The garden itself is very well kept and quite spacious. There are two restrooms - one on the left and another on the right. They were quite clean! All areas, trees, and plants are clearly marked. Be on the lookout for the "exceptional trees" such as the Baobab, which looks like elephant legs; Cannonball Tree, Kapok, and etc. The Orchid Collection in the greenhouse has a nice variety with the infamous Corpse Flower. Overall, a very nice, well-maintained place to visit and worth the admission fee. Even though you're in town, next to the freeway and busy streets around, you still feel a sense of relaxation and calm while connecting with nature and admiring the vast collection of trees and plants. I wouldn't mind getting the annual pass for $25 just to take my lunch here!

Was still open at the end of the year and New Year's Eve which was lovely for a holiday stroll :)…read moreWas kinda busy which was nice because usually when we got it's kinda empty. People want to come during the holidays :D

We went to Booth District Park a few weeks ago. It was my first time going there that I remember…read more It's a pretty big park and they have parking spaces all around the park. We went there for the playground but there wasn't any spaces in front of the playground so we had to walk just a little to get there. It's a really nice park to go to if you're in the area. They have a nice field, playground, basketball courts, and pickle ball courts. The playground is a little different from others because it has a zip line for kids. You hang onto a handle and with enough momentum you can swing yourself to the other side. My daughter loved that when we went to a park in California and we just never saw one of those in Hawaii. But now we know... They do exist! The playground is also in the shade so you won't get fried when waiting for your kids to finish playing. And there is a bench to sit and rest while you wait. Great park, we hope to go back there soon.

This is a hidden gem in the heart of Pauoa…read more When I heard about the Yelp Earth Day Challenge, Booth Park immediately came to mind. My husband works for the DOE and wanted to "check out" this park last year. Although we live in Moiliili, the drive is quick since it's right off the freeway. So glad we did... It's now one of our top 3 parks to take the boys! The facilities are well maintained, shaded by the huge trees that offer parents and kids shelter from the midday sun. My oldest son (4.5yrs) loves the swings and riding his scooter around the basketball and tennis courts. My youngest (3rd) enjoys jumping off the concrete benches and mastering the playground (which is more elaborate than the usual city park playgrounds around town). There's spinning chairs, slides, a mini zip line, drums, and chimes that kids can make music with! So cool! Parking is fairly easy to find around the park perimeter. Area has been consistently safe when we take the kids (about once every couple of weeks). Great for all ages but adult supervision is still recommended esp for the littles.