The last time I went to the park in Moanalua Valley (not to be confused with Moanalua Gardens, a completely different place) I didn’t have children which means it was more than 5 years ago. I remembered it as a nice place so I invited a few friends to meet me there today. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed a picnic lunch, some adult conversation for the moms and lots of running around and playing for the kids – enough that both of mine took a nap when we got home. If that’s not a sign of a successful outing I don’t know what is.
The park has a standard playground set and no swings. The shreds of caution tape on the playground were a little concerning but, although it looked like it had seen better days, I didn’t see any major problems with the structure. The park also has a circuit-training setup and the kids enjoyed playing on that too.
There are beautiful trees in the park, but no shade on the playground itself. The park has a gentle slope to it and some of the kids had fun running up and down the hill. At the back of the park is the trailhead for a hike back in the valley, but it has been such a long time since I’ve been on it that I need to hike it again before I blog about it.
Do it yourself on Oahu
Location: 1857 Ala Aolani Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96819
Directions: Access to this park is off of the Moanalua Freeway (A.K.A. the 78).
If you are headed east on the 78, exit at Red Hill. Go straight at the first stop sign at the top of the offramp (you’ll be on Moanalua Rd), then take a left at the second stop sign onto Ala Napunani St. and go under the freeway. Take a second left at the next stop sign onto Ala Aolani St. You will pass a golf course on your left and then go through a residential area for about 1.5 miles before the road dead-ends into the park’s parking lot. (When you leave, don’t retrace your steps but instead go straight at the intersection of Ala Napunani St. and Ala Aolani St. This will put you on a frontage road that, if you keep going straight, will get you back on the 78 going east.)
If you are headed west on the 78, take exit 2: Moanalua Valley/Salt Lake/Red Hill. The road will split and you want to turn right to Moanalua Valley. You’ll then be on Ala Aolani St. You will pass a golf course on your left and then go through a residential area for about 1.5 miles before the road dead-ends into the park’s parking lot. (When you leave, I believe you make a right turn on Ala Napunani street to go under the freeway and get to an onramp to head west on the 78.)
Parking: Free parking in the parking lot
Facilities: There are restrooms which were clean and stocked with TP when we were there. There is a drinking fountain. There is a covered lanai type area attached to the restrooms which extends to the edge of the playground. There are also a couple of nice picnic tables in the park. Oh, and last but not least there is a basketball court.
On the web: Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park
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