Kapiolani Park facts for kids
Queen Kapiʻolani Regional Park is a very large and old public park in Hawaii. You can find it in Honolulu, at the eastern end of Waikiki, right next to Kuhio Beach Park. This park covers about 300 acres (1.2 square kilometers). It was named after Queen Kapiʻolani, who was the wife of King David Kalākaua. Inside the park, you'll find the Waikiki Shell and the Honolulu Zoo.
History of the Park
How the Park Started
In the 1870s, King Kalākaua needed a good, dry place for horse racing. Since Waikiki was a popular spot for people who loved races, the King chose a flat, dry area at the base of Diamond Head. This is where the park is today.
On June 11, 1877, the park officially opened. It was the first public park in Hawaii. A group of business people, called the Kapiʻolani Park Association, helped make this happen. They convinced King Kalākaua to let them use the land for 30 years for only $1 a year. Many rich people in Hawaii leased land through this group.
Changes Over Time
After the Hawaiian Kingdom changed governments, the land became part of the Republic of Hawaii. The Honolulu Park Commission then managed it. Laws were made to keep the park free for everyone to use. No one could sell or lease land in the park, and no one could charge money to enter. Since 1913, the park has been looked after by the City and County of Honolulu.
In the 1920s, there were plans to drain the Ala Wai Canal through the park. This filled the park with mud and trash, so people didn't use it much. But in 1952, the park was cleaned up and fixed. Its current size and shape were set at that time.
What You Can Do Today
Today, Queen Kapiʻolani Park is a busy place! Besides the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Shell, it has many sports areas. You can find courts for tennis and basketball. There are also fields for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and rugby. You can even practice archery there.
The park often hosts big international lacrosse and rugby games. Its bandstand is a place for concerts and shows. Many joggers love to run around the park's two-mile (3 km) path. It's also the starting and finishing point for big races in Honolulu, like the Honolulu Marathon.
The Honolulu Cricket Club is also in Kapiʻolani Park. It's the only cricket club in Hawaii. It started in 1893, making it the oldest sports club in the Pacific, according to Guinness World Records.
As you go south, Kapiʻolani Park turns into Kapiʻolani Beach Park. This is right next to Kuhio Beach and Waikiki Beach. The park also acts as a natural border between the Waikiki area and the Diamond Head neighborhood.
See also
In Spanish: Parque Kapiolani para niños
