HONOLULU (KHON2) — June is National Outdoors Month; and across Hawai‘i, parks and public spaces offer more than just a place to walk or relax. They carry history, culture and connection.
From skateparks in downtown Honolulu to coastal trails on Hawai‘i Island, these lands support health and healing for communities and the places themselves.
Whether you live here or are visiting from elsewhere, it’s worth understanding how these places came to be and what it means to explore them with care.
Here are five parks from across Hawaiʻi that offer so much more than just an outdoor hike.
1. Visit A‘ala Park for community energy
In the heart of Honolulu, A‘ala Park is coming back to life. It once served as a lively center for civic activity; and now, it’s being reimagined with the help of the community.
The park hosts skateboard lessons, keiki sports, hula classes and art programs; and these are all led by people who live nearby.
A‘ala Park is becoming more than a green space. It is returning as a place where people gather, create and move together.
2. Follow the Ka Iwi Coast for its history and views
The Ka Iwi Coast Mauka Lands stretch across 182 acres on East O‘ahu. This coastline was once targeted for development. Now, because of years of advocacy, it is protected.
The land is rich with mo‘olelo and meaning. It is used for cultural learning and reflection, not just scenic drives. The wide views and ocean breeze draw many to the trails, but the deeper value lies in the stories that live here.
You can click here for more information.
See how protection and farming coexist at Kahuku Kawela
North Shore’s Kahuku Kawela is 630 acres of coastline, trails and farmland that were once at risk of being lost. Now, the land supports food production, public access and Indigenous wildlife.
It is home to the Hawaiian monk seal and hono (sea turtle. The area shows what’s possible when conservation and community come together to protect both nature and food sources.
Experience Waimea Valley and Pu‘ukua as an intact ahupua‘a
Waimea Valley is scenic and a living cultural landscape. Protected across more than 1,800 acres, this valley still holds the structure of an ahupua‘a, a traditional land division that extends from mountain to sea.
The recent addition of Puʻukua completes that picture. The area is stewarded by Hiʻipaka LLC and Native Hawaiian descendants. It remains a place of learning, ceremony and biodiversity.
Click here for more information on Waimea Valley.
Walk the Ala Kahakai Trail for coastline connection
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail spans 175 miles across Hawai‘i Island. It links wahi pana –storied places — along the coast.
Portions of the trail have been preserved by working directly with local communities and cultural practitioners. The trail is not a single stretch but a network of pathways that carry memory and movement.
Click here for more information on Ala Kahakai Trail.
Hawaiʻi has so much to offer for outdoor activities. These are only five of thousands of opportunities to soak as much sun and fun as you can possibly love.