Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation

Summer Fun is returning to your City parks this year, with the popular and engaging program being offered to O‘ahu families for free once again! The need for good quality childcare is greater now more than ever, said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. Though Summer Fun is free to parents we will be offering even more activities this year, with each park being given funds for extra activities that would normally be paid through additional fees. On top of that, this program provides a ...Continue reading

All pau for now! The safety mitigation work atop the Koko Crater Summit has finished, with the tramway and summit reopening for regular public use beginning tomorrow, April 15, 2021. There is more work being planned for this popular recreational amenity, including replacing the steel viewing platform at the summit and longer term improvements. Mahalo for your patience while the tramway and summit were closed for about three weeks. #kokocrater #kokohead #kokoheadtrail #kokocratertrail #hiking #oahu #hawaii #hawaiikai Kokonut Koalition

Waimnalo Bay Beach Park (Sherwoods) will remain closed for the rest of today (4/14/2021) following the removal of the body of a Hawaiian Humpback whale. The 25 to 35-ton carcass was first spotted in the ocean off the beach yesterday morning, along with at least three large Tiger sharks that were feeding on it. Overnight, as expected, the whale’s body washed into the shore break. 50 people, including many from agencies involved in the response to the incident, participated ...in a Hawaiian blessing and pule from Kalani Kalima of Waimnalo. Others were from the community or visitors to O‘ahu. They watched and listened as Kalima described the cultural importance of blessing kohol (whale), as part of the circle of life. Native Hawaiians have a strong closeness to the natural world and aumakua, which can take the form of animals, like whales and sharks. The decision to keep the park closed until tomorrow is based on the potential continued presence of sharks in the water. While crews were able to remove most of the body, there is some tissue remaining in the ocean and possibly on the beach. Shark signs will stay up and Ocean Safety Lifeguards will continue to warn beach goers until sharks are no longer observed in the area. Experts believe the whale was either an adult or sub-adult and probably died within the past week. If possible, they will try to determine its cause of death. A small number of Hawaiian Humpback whales perish each season in Hawai‘i’s waters, often due to disease or other natural causes. courtesy @hawaii.dlnr #waimanalo #waimanalobeach #whale #beach #hawaiianculture #aumakua #sherwoods #oahu #hawaii

Check out this amazing video from @hawaii.dlnr of sharks chomping on a whale carcass off of Waimnalo Bay Beach Park, aka Sherwoods. At least three large Tiger sharks have been spotted feeding on the decomposing Hawaiian Humpback whale carcass. Shark warning signs are up, and lifeguards and law enforcement officials have been warning people to stay out of the water. The whale carcass was spotted by Honolulu Ocean Safety Division lifeguards at around 9 this morning; originall...y an estimated 300-yards from the beach. Lifeguards on a jet ski went out to investigate and have seen at least three sharks in the 12-13-foot-long range feeding on the carcass. Throughout the day the carcass seems to be drifting closer to the beach, at one point an estimated 100-150 yards from shore. In addition to warning signs lifeguards and officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) are stationed on the beach or patrolling it to ensure people do not enter the water. Tissue from the carcass began washing onto the beach yesterday afternoon. There are reports that dogs are eating some of the tissue and owners are asked to keep their dogs on leashes and away from the material, so they don’t get sick. It is against both federal and state laws to remove any body parts or bones from protected marine species, like Humpback whales. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation will be closing Waimnalo Bay Beach Park an hour and a half earlier today, beginning at 7 p.m., to limit nighttime access to this beach. This includes closing the access gate earlier. The beach park is normally closed from 8:30 p.m. through 7 a.m., nightly. DLNR and NOAA are in the process of determining what to do about the carcass. Options include, towing it out to sea or letting currents bring it to shore. Native Hawaiian practitioners will be engaged in either case, to provide cultural protocols. #sharks #whales #waimanalo #sherwoods #sherwood #dlnr #waimanalobay #waimnalo #waimanalobeach #shark #sharkfeeding

We dedicate this episode of our Virtual Wa‘a Fest to former Hklea captain and navigator Chad Kalepa Baybayan. His passing this week was felt by the entire voyaging community, as Chad was instrumental in the revitalization of Polynesian voyaging in Hawai‘i and around the world. He will sorely be missed. In this third episode, Hklea captain & navigator Ka‘iulani Murphy talks about her various experiences with the fabled vessel, its crews, and its many adventures! Perpetu...ating the ocean voyaging culture of Native Hawaiians, and all of our islands’ inhabitants, is the focus of this series of educational videos launched as part of the 11th Annual Kualoa/Hakipu‘u Canoe Festival, sponsored by the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, which cannot be held in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These videos were produced by 30-year filmmaking veteran Tobi Nova, owner of Go West Audio who has worked on various film and television projects, including several major motion picture productions, here in Hawai‘i. He has also helped with the canoe fest for several years. Enjoy! Hokulea Crew Polynesian Voyaging Society #kualoa #kualoaregionalpark #hakipuu #kaiulanimurphy #hokulea #voyaging #sailing #paddling #ocean #oceanactivities #nativehawaiian #hawaiian #hawaii #kanakamaoli #moolelo #hawaiinmythology #hawaiianculture #oceanvoyaging #oahu #windward #pule #hawaiianmusic #waa #virtualwaafest #canoe #tobinova #gowestaudio

Though we won’t be gathering at Kapi‘olani Park for our annual Lei Day Celebration this year, May 1 is still a great opportunity to make lei! Need some help learning to sew lei? We have several virtual learning opportunities available from park and botanical garden staff from around the island, including these classes from our Halaw Complex staff! Visit our online registration website pros.hnl.info and click on the Activities section. Type in lei to the search box at the... top of that page to see what’s available. That way you can keep practicing your craft and stay sharp when we hopefully return to an in-person Lei Day Celebration and Lei Contest for 2022. For more information about the Lei Day Celebration and its history, visit http://bit.ly/HonoluluLeiDay #lei #leiday #may1 #mayday #leidaycelebration #halawa #oahu #honoluluparks #honolulu #hawaii