Nuʻuanu Valley Park — Attraction in Honolulu

The air up here feels cleaner, cooler, and is much windier than down closer to town. This park is usually busy after school and on the weekends, with large family picnics (complete with bouncehouses and screens for outdoor movie viewing), group sports, tai chi and karate groups, and LARPers, among others. During school hours, it's nice and quiet. There are large grassy areas, and gorgeous old trees, a cool play structure (see separate section foe that review), undamaged tennis and basketball courts, and bathrooms that are clean and well-stocked (also reviewed in its own section). Note: there are several little packs of friendly chickens around. They stay mostly up by the parking area. They will approach if you throw breadcrumbs, or if you happen to have a vehicle that resembles one like one of their feeders. They are not aggressive, but WILL approach- sometimes en masse. However, they are easily shooed if you don't want them around. There is a gorgeous wooded area just behind the basketball courts and bathrooms. It's shady and damp, with a stream running through it. Use caution while walking, especially around dusk, as there are many little frogs toads...

I love this park. It's always shady and cool, there's a fair amount of parking, the bathrooms are poorly lit but generally very clean and usually stocked with toilet paper and it has one of the only truly functional wheelchair access ramps that I've ever seen at one of these parks. There's a huge wide open green grassy space, there's several enormous beautiful shade trees, and there's a pretty decent kids playground. The two water fountains in my experience have always been working whenever I've been here. The road off the Pali that actually leads in and out of the park is pretty busted up but for all this park has going right for it I really can't complain.

Update: the previously mentioned "busted up" road leading off the Pali to the park has been observed sporting construction cones in recent weeks but as the cones seem to be replaced almost randomly, and have not been joined in the same time by any sort of construction-like activity or road-repairing behaviors, my best guess at this time is that they are some kind of fashion statement for the road. They are quite orange. Will continue to update as this situation...

Nuʻuanu Valley Park is a fantastic spot for a picnic! The park is beautifully maintained and offers plenty of green space to spread out and enjoy a meal outdoors. The lush surroundings and serene atmosphere make it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

There are numerous picnic tables and benches scattered throughout the park, providing ample seating options. The playground area is great for kids, offering a safe and fun space for them to play. Additionally, the park features clean restrooms and convenient parking, making it easy to spend a relaxing day here.

The only minor drawback is that it can get a bit crowded on weekends, but the spacious layout usually ensures there's enough room for everyone. The scenery, with its towering trees and picturesque views, more than makes up for it.

Overall, Nuʻuanu Valley Park is a lovely place to enjoy a picnic with family and friends. Highly recommend for anyone looking to unwind and...