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City Votes to Rename Waimānalo Bay Beach Park to Hūnānāniho

Catherine Cruz
/
HPR

The Honolulu City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to change the name of Waimānalo Bay Beach Park, also known as Sherwoods, to Hūnānāniho—the original name for the area.

A 1933 book "Archaeology of O’ahu" by J. Gilbert McCallister described the land as a hill that served as a refuge from battle.

It was known as “Bellows Field” because of the adjacent U.S. Air Force facility until 1972. That’s when it was transferred to the state, which then transferred the park to the city in 1992.

Kapua Medeiros is a Waimānalo resident who testified in support of the resolution.

"Sacred places here on Oʻahu, as well as our paeʻaina Hawaiʻi should have the original names restored, because they have cultural significance and deeper meanings than the current English names as well as nicknames given to places," she explained. "Each of those areas have very special significance in our cultural history."

Resolution 21-132 received a unanimous vote from the Honolulu City Council as well as overwhelmingly positive testimony at Wednesday’s meeting. The park falls under the jurisdiction of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

Zoe Dym was a news producer at Hawaiʻi Public Radio.
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