I've always had my heart in Kaimuki and played in Palolo Valley during my childhood years. Lately, it's been nice to rekindle that childhood all over again - at Pukele mini park. I guess you could say it's the nostalgia talking.
This mini park is pretty much around the corner from Hoo Cho Chinese school, where in my kid years, tried to learn Cantonese Chinese. Needless to say, I'm still not fluent. Lol I've rediscovered this mini park after going out for a run or two during the week for the last month or so. Running through the main thoroughfares of the Palolo valley to get in shape for the Honolulu marathon every year - and then some. I've also discovered that through the use of Pokémon Go, there is a gym here too. The Pukele mini park is a neighborhood playground that had seen better days. While it's nice that the community has a small play area that's not so deeply entrenched within the valley. In fact, it's deep enough to where you can play a while and still walk to Waialae Avenue and take the bus to wherever you need to go. The playground equipment installed here is simplistic and nice. Makes me wish I was a kid again, or at least not as accident prone when I indulge my inner child with playing on said playground equipment. The overall experience here each time at the Pukele mini park is as meaningful and peaceful as I know it to be. Remembering my youth days in Kaimuki and Palolo makes it more special as we all get older, myself included.
I miss my childhood days and the carefree attitude that it provides. No real cares about the world. All that mattered was friends at school and the next thing to play and have fun. Adulting is so hard these days, but having that open space within your community to be active and having your children be children is great too. The Pukele mini park is located at 1415 Pukele Avenue in beautiful Palolo Valley. You all know how Palolo is, but don't let that frighten you, just be aware of your surroundings and don't be here late at night, you should be okay. There is many parking spots via street parking on the residential neighborhood. Pick a spot and walk on over. If you are like me, TheBus routes 1, 1L, 9, and 9S takes you pretty close to the mini park. The best part about this park is that it is definitely definitely free. Nope, no admission required. Awesome! Does city and County of Honolulu does a pretty good job of maintenance and landscaping here. There aren't any public restrooms around since this is a mini park. So if you have to go, call before you come here. The park is maintained and can be a source of inspiration for all those who live, play, and work in Palolo Valley.
There are a few tables within the mini park, for y'all who wants to sit down and enjoy the beauty of Palolo Valley, even if you aren't even in the valley, just about inside from Waialae Avenue and Palolo Avenue. These marks of vandalism and graffiti here, but that shouldn't deter you from coming here and playing on the equipment. Just be mindful and aware of strange fellows lurking about and you should be alright. Best bet is to come here during daylight and early evening hours to take in the best times to play. I would recommend coming here if you and your loved ones are in the area. I think that the gym equipment is relatively new, so that's awesome. Supposedly it's safe, so that's one less thing to worry about. This area of Palolo Valley is relatively safe, although, as mentioned before, don't try to be out after 9:00pm on any given night. Stuff happens and we want you to be safe. :)
I would probably rate this place a solid 4.0 stars. While the neighborhood is semi ghetto, they're trying to get better. Palolo Valley is getting better with being a safe neighborhood.
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