Department of Parks and Recreation

Tour buses and scuba guides will soon be allowed at Hanauma Bay State Park for the first time since March 2020.

It's never too early to think about summer break — at least not for Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation.

The city’s Department of Parks and Recreation is partnering with engineering consulting company NORESCO to improve park amenities to be more energy efficient over the next 20 years.

The Nā Hula Festival returns in person this Sunday at Kapiʻolani Park in Honolulu. The popular event was canceled in 2020 and held virtually last year due to the pandemic. HPR's Jayna Omaye has more.

The city Department of Parks and Recreation says its online reservation system will begin accepting payments for all fall park activities. Walk-in registration will still be available.

The former library building at Makiki District Park will be renovated into a community center. The United Korean Association of Hawaiʻi will assist the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation to fund and manage the community center.

The Trust for Public Land has been preparing to hit the refresh button on ʻAʻala Park near Chinatown. It is working with the City and County of Honolulu to push the criminal element out and get families to return to the area.

The City and County of Honolulu says it recognizes that some residents want to take tennis lessons, but may not be able to afford them at a private club. The Department of Parks and Recreation also recognizes that there are a limited number of public courts — and the rise of pickleball has increased demand.

Among the 100 most populous cities in the U.S., Washington D.C. took the top spot for best parks this year, followed by Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Arlington, Virginia. Locally, Honolulu jumped 14 places since 2021, ranking 43rd.

The Summer Fun Program for keiki on Oʻahu will return to full capacity this year, the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation announced Monday. Face masks will be voluntary.