HONOLULU (KHON2) — Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation offers thousands of ways for residents to connect with their community, stay active and even learn new skills. Most of those opportunities come at no cost.
Nathan Serota, spokesperson for Honolulu Parks and Recreation, said the numbers show how wide the reach has become.
“More than 80% of them,” he said of the classes, are free. “And we had about 4,500 classes this last fiscal year. So, from July of last year to June of this year, we offer some 4,523 different classes, and more than 80% of those were free.”
It’s easy to sign up, and it’s a fun experience to have. One resident said that she has been wanting to learn Korean for years but didn’t have access to resources until she discovered these free classes.
“The class was a dream come true,” said Elycia, a resident of Honolulu. “It was the basics; so, I learned the alpha and learned how to use the language. But best of all, I met others who have the same passion as me.”
So, what are these classes and how do you take advantage of this amazing opportunity afforded to all residents?
Making programs affordable
The department emphasized that its goal is not only to maintain public facilities but also to ensure that residents feel a genuine sense of belonging in these spaces.
Officials said this mission has taken on added importance as the cost of living in Hawaiʻi continues to climb, leaving many families searching for affordable options to relax, gather and spend time outdoors.
“We try to focus on making them not just accessible, but affordable, because we understand that, you know, it’s pretty hard living here in Hawaiʻi with the cost of living,” Serota said. “So, we want our parks to be a real place that’s open for people, that’s inviting and have the programing reflect that as well.”
Beyond keeping parks financially accessible, Serota stressed that the department sees them as central to building social connections. Recreational programs, he said, are designed not only to give residents a place to play or exercise but also to strengthen the fabric of neighborhoods.
“That really just kind of goes in with our mantra of welcoming people into the parks and trying to get people active and involved in their communities,” he said.
Teachers and community leaders
The range of classes offered in Honolulu’s parks is wide, stretching from language lessons to craft workshops such as origami. Program organizers said that variety is possible because the schedule isn’t fixed from the top down.
Instead, it grows out of a mix of staff-led sessions and opportunities created when community members step forward with ideas.
“So, it’s really a lot of it is the availability of the teachers,” Serota explained. “We have people that will come in and say, ‘hey, I want to teach a class in your parks. How do I go about that?’ They’re kind of like contractors, almost, where they are contracting teachers.”
That flexible model not only keeps the lineup fresh but also helps the city maintain affordability. By partnering with instructors from outside the department, the parks can expand offerings without dramatically raising fees.
“Of course, as you mentioned, we try to keep it really affordable,” Serota said. “So, we keep the cost down and keep it accessible.”
How to get involved
For residents who want to share their skills, the city offers a clear path to becoming an instructor through its DF 71 program. The application allows community members to propose a class, identify where they’d like to hold it and work with staff to bring the idea to life.
“If you have an expertise, if you have a particular location where you’d like to teach it and you have the desire to do it for the community and hopefully it’s affordable, contact our staff and we’ll incorporate you into our seasonal programs,” Serota said.
The department reviews proposals three times a year — in spring, summer and fall — so new opportunities are regularly added to the lineup. Officials said that cycle helps keep the schedule fresh while ensuring residents have a steady stream of new classes to try.
You can click here to gain access to the full offerings from these programs and other like it offered by Honolulu’s Parks and Recreation.
A lasting tradition
What began decades ago has grown into one of the city’s most enduring programs. Each year, Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation oversees thousands of seasonal classes ranging from fitness and language to arts and crafts.
Serota said that commitment to accessibility is intentional. “It’s really an institution and really our regular way of operating, having these seasonal classes and again, keeping them either free or affordable.”
Although the department can’t pinpoint the exact year the program began, Serota noted that many of the city’s hallmark offerings — like community gardening and people’s open markets — trace their roots back to Fasi’s mayorship in the 1970s.
He believes seasonal classes have likely been around for just as long leading them to become part of the department’s DNA and shaping how it serves residents today.
For Serota, the longevity speaks to more than just recreation. It shows that generations of families have come to rely on the parks as gathering places — hubs for learning, exercise and culture — where affordability and community always remain at the center.