Mikey C.
Yelp
"Elephants and acrobats, lions snakes monkey.
Pele speaks,'righteous,' Sister Zina says,'funky.'" - O.M.C.
Mad, mad respect to Kalakaua, the last King of Hawaii (1874-1891).
Kapiolani Park (named after the King's wife, Queen Kapi'olani) was a gift from the King to his people. Kalakaua was blessed with a generous spirit and boundless love for his people. He is sometimes known as the Merrie Monarch.
Originally Kapiolani Park was operated under Royal charter, now it is a regional park.
I can't imagine a more exciting place to be in Honolulu. The whole scene literally throbs with activity. There are probably more things here to do, or have done to you, than anywhere else on O'ahu.
Check it: this amazing park, the largest and second oldest in Hawaii (est. 1876), features free-to-use public tennis and basketball courts, as well as soccer, rugby, baseball and lacrosse fields. There's even an archery range.
We rode through the park on our eBikes. There are dedicated bike/jogging trails all around the park so you don't have to ride in the downtown traffic. Near Kuhio Beach there's a paved path that runs right down the beach on the sand. Fantastic!
Originally, back in Kalakaua's day, there was a horse race track, but it's long gone now. Back then much of the area was a marsh, so it was a fitting home for the King's personal collection of tropical birds. Although the racetrack and aviary are faded memories, the Zoo built for the King is still thriving.
Before Kalakaua's reign, Christian missionaries had largely succeeded in suppressing important aspects of Hawaiian culture, namely hula dancing and the traditional songs (mele) that accompanied the dances. Those prohibitions against hula and mele ended with Kalakaua's ascension to the throne. His coronation celebration prominently featured hula and mele.
Over on the Big Island, every year in the week following Easter, Hawaiians honor the memory of the King by holding the Merrie Monarch Festival, a celebration of Hawaiian culture. Dancers and singers fund raise and practice intensely for four or more hours a day, all year, just for the honor of performing for the public. Winning teams travel to and perform in Japan.
Here in Kapiolani Park you can see hula dancers and singers perform on the park bandstand .The bandstand features both modern and ancient Hawaiian music
The Waikiki Shell, another feature of the park, holds lots of concerts and events, It is the home of a weekly (Wednesdays) Farmer's Market, and it is where local schools hold their graduation ceremonies.
Now, if all the above wasn't enough, Kapiolani Park is also the home of Waikiki Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world.
Mikey C says: want to know the rest? Hey, buy the rights.