Lei of Parks Event on Sept. 1 Offers Glimpse at Livable Oahu

Get a glimpse of what Oahu’s recreational future might be when three of Honolulu’s South Shore parks are temporarily linked for a day, a first step in creating a Lei of Parks that could eventually stretch from Waikīkī to Nānākuli.

Walk, bike and enjoy family-friendly activities at Ala Moana Beach Park, Kewalo Basin Park and Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park on Saturday, September 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Temporary signs, ground chalk stencils, and traffic controls will allow people to easily walk and bike through all three parks. Participants can take walking tours of historic sites and exceptional trees, get beach volleyball tips, walk with a doctor, sample coral friendly sunscreen, and practice yoga at nine “passport” stations throughout the three parks. Those who visit at least three stations will be entered into a prize drawing, including two roundtrip Alaska Airlines tickets.

The Lei of Parks Coalition is sponsoring the Lei of Parks Family Day with funding from AARP’s Community Challenge Grant, a program which funds “quick action” programs to help make communities more livable for people of all ages.

The Lei of Parks is a long-standing community vision of a network of pedestrian walkways and bike paths connecting parks along the South Shore of O‘ahu from Le‘ahi (Diamond Head) to Nānākuli, providing healthy carbon-free alternatives for transportation, increasing public access to our shorelines, and improving access to parks and healthy, recreational activities. The concept is included in long-term transportation, planning, and park plans for the city and state.

Participants will be asked to fill out a survey, which will be used to support and inform future planning and implementation of the Lei of Parks vision.

“This pop-up family event will give park users the opportunity to experience a small portion of the Lei of Parks in a fun and interactive way and give their feedback on what the community would like to see in the future.” said Lea Hong, State Director of The Trust for Public Land, which is leading organization of the event. “No one on O‘ahu is far from parks, beaches and recreational activities and we should make the most of what’s available and free for all of us to use. The Lei of Parks concept will make our shoreline more accessible for people of all ages.”

“AARP is happy to support the Lei of Park Family Day because it shows how Honolulu is an age-friendly and livable city, with opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life," said Barbara Kim Stanton, the State Director of AARP Hawaii. "We invite everyone-from kupuna to keiki - to enjoy our parks, get some exercise and take advantage of our ability to walk and bike along the shoreline."

Activities at the passport stations in the parks include social bicycle share rides for people 50 and older, a keiki-friendly bicycle ride, Historic Hawaii Foundation walking tours, an Outdoor Circle exceptional trees walking tour, a beach volleyball clinic for middle and high school students, walking with a doctor, yoga and free coral-friendly sunscreen samples.