Peace and tranquility. Nature and realistic rustic surrealities converge here at the Leahi…read moreMillennium Peace Garden. It's one of those places that can bring peace in a troubling world. Be forewarned though, it can get warm and humid here during the summer months, so you might want to go in the winter. You never know what you can find when you least expect it. Even in your backyard or neighborhood, there's always something cool to find, whether it's hidden or out there in plain view. I have come to know the Leahi Millennium Peace Garden during my days attending Kapiolani Community College, but those days are long gone. These days, I've come to rediscover the gardens during my time here on the KCC campus and appreciating the gardens each time I come to visit. It's one of the many bright spots in the ol kaimuki neighborhood. Although it is usually combined with the Kapiolani Community College campus, the Leahi Millennium Peace Garden is as therapeutic and majestic, as nature is always is. As often as I come through Kapiolani Community College to run through the campus, play Pokémon Go with friends, or just enjoy my alma mater on any given weekend. I would usually come here on the weekends though and be reminded of life and how fragile it can be, among random things. The Leahi Millennium Peace garden is a great compliment to the campus and I always look forward to strolling through the area when I come over. Even though the garden isn't technically on the Kapiolani Community College campus, it's maintenance is provided by volunteers connected to the KCC campus. Best bet would be to come here in the morning hours before it gets warm, or late afternoon so it isn't too terribly hot. The unique flora makes it an interesting walk through the gardens. Seeing the bees and other various insects do their thing with the plant life here gives the area its purpose and life meaning. The overall experience here at the Leahi Millennium peace garden is as good as it can be. The garden isn't as large as a community park, but it's quaint and beautiful any time of the day or night. The location of the peace garden can be found at 4184 Diamond Head Road in Honolulu, HI. It's literally across the street from Kapiolani Community College's Diamond Head Road border. Since it is a peace garden, there is not an entrance admission fee to be found. Like all community parks in Honolulu, it is free to come here and I am happy to come here whenever I can. It is connected with the Fort Ruger Pathway and the Bryan Clay workout stations are nearby too. Since I live close to the Leahi Millennium Peace Garden and the Kapiolani Community College, walking there is usually not a problem. You can drive there and park on the Kapiolani Community College lower campus and walk across the street to enjoy the gardens. If public transit is more of your thing, bus routes 3, 9, 23, and 24 come through the area from Waikiki and stop at the Diamond Head State Monument bus stop. From there, you can walk about 50 feet and into the Peace gardens. Uber and Lyft are always options too, if you prefer. For the most part though, a trip to the gardens provides an excellent way to spend the morning or afternoon. It's a way to not spend money and a place to declutter your mind and soul while reorganizing yourself. Much like the beach or public community parks, the Leahi Millennium Peace garden works the same way. It functions easily as a way to minimize stress and helps you focus on what's important in your life. Mindful and spiritual opportunities are abound here and it is definitely helpful when you can get away from the television or your mobile devices and just experience nature in your back yard. Do yourself a favor and come and visit the Leahi Millennium Peace garden one of these days and you would possibly be surprised at how magnificent and magical it can be. It is an uplifting experience that can be one that can fulfill your dreams. Well, maybe not, but it does have a way of brightening up your spirits when life throws curve balls at you. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Definitely recommend coming here if you are in the area. If you are climbing Diamond Head anyway, take a moment and go through the gardens on the way out. It would be a good cool down from the hike. Support local! A+

Kind of a sketchy place to run through when it is dark but it's definitely a nice effort at trying…read moreto give some greenery and a place of respite in this area. Would I venture into this place at night? No. But an effort was made and that is being acknowledged. I also enjoy seeing the resident feral cats that frequent this area when I go for my runs. They are so cute.

Very rocky beaches due to the coral, and the waves were violent and thought I was going to be…read morewashed away. LOL! But I truly appreciate how there's no idiotic tourists around as much compared to Waikiki. Very peaceful. I recommend not venturing too deep because the waves got a bit scary LOL. I always feel like walking along the shoreline is healing. Grounding is real folks and you can do it here without the intrusion of tourists.

Lots and lots of stairs but the view is awesome…read more... Plenty of people too.... You need reservations before you go.... Small parking lot... bring water...

Trough the City & County of Honolulu Parks & Rec Department, the Ala Wai Community Park is one of…read moremany island community park locations offering classes or recreational activities. They can be found online and occur seasonally. Kyrsten is the Director here and has an amazing program due to her experience, tenure, and team she has built. She is organized and keeps the center as clean as possible for an "older" structure as her witty sense of humor would share! It takes a leader who cares about what they are doing and it shows. Every step along they way, from signing up, any questions or inquiries you may have, she and her team are there for you. Sign up early, the activities are affordable and highly desired. Please read as much as you can in advance, but know if you do have questions, there are people available to help.

I am commenting on the community center location, facility, and one class I took. The location is…read moreconvenient and easy to get to. It offers plenty of free parking in the morning. The facilities are well kept and maintained by the hard-working staff. The weekly tai chi class I took this past year was well-taught by a highly experienced teacher and his very skilled assistant. The room they assigned us was large, clean, well lit, and had good air flow. The price per class was a bargain. https://web5.hnl.info/pros-parks/parks/details/59570ad5e4ef9fe84fea4546

The Diamond Head State Monument hike is an absolute must when visiting Oahu! It features a 1.6 to…read more1.8 mile hike (round trip). I would consider this a more moderate hike (steep stairs, and uneven footing at the top). Not to mention a flight of 99 stairs (but that's optional). I made a reso for 4pm. It was the perfect time of day to go with the family (not too hot and a nice cool breeze). Arriving early also helps avoid the midday heat and heavy crowds. I definitely recommend wearing sturdy walking shoes (no flip-flops), bring plenty of water, a hat, and sunscreen, as there is almost no shade on the trail. For a non-resident the cost to visit is $5 per person (children 3 and under are free). And parking is $10 per vehicle. It's totally worth it! The view points are absolutely spectacular. And the 360 degree view at the summit is breathtaking! For some it can be a bit strenuous. Definitely take your time. Most people reach the summit and hike down within 2 hours.

We arrived at the location at 5:00 AM to catch the sunrise. A quick pro tip: make sure your GPS…read moredirects you to the parking lot instead of the trail itself, as it originally led us to a neighborhood right in front of the trailhead. Even at that early hour, there was already a crowd of people heading up. We started with flashlights, but within about 30 minutes, it was light enough to see without them. There are multiple points throughout the hike with small openings off the steps where you can sit on rocks or stand to catch your breath. This is a very family friendly trail. We traveled with our 8 year old and made it up and down within two hours, using the 25 trail markers to keep him motivated all the way to the top. For anyone nervous about heights, there is a helpful bypass for the middle section where the track sits just a foot or two off the ground. Avoiding people on the way down wasn't too bad for us, though I can definitely see it being a bit difficult if the trail gets extremely crowded. Ultimately, the view at the top is breathtaking and completely worth the hike.

This is a beautiful park. This park is also dog friendly. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT AN OFF LEASH DOG PARK…read more People need to respect the community and others around the area. We were there today with 4 dogs trying to practice obedience training and there was several loose dogs playing ball while 1 dog was off leash with no collar and was running up towards our dogs. This dog looked like a pit mix and came up to my dog and almost seemed like a fight was going to start. Human nature made me yell at the owner since we were distant apart and he couldn't get his dog back. Please be responsible people! 1. Don't let your dog loose with no collar 2. Take your dogs to run at a dog park 3. It's the law to have a leash on your dog out in the public except when you go to offleash designated dog parks 4. When your dog is offleash in an area not designated, any damage to human/dog, owner of dog that caused bite will be held liable!!!

This is one of the most manicured public parks around . It's very clean and well maintained. During…read morethe weekend this District park gets real crowded. Every event you can think of from Baseball, Football, soccer, and just famines enjoying the outdoors. Their restrooms are very clean as well and not missing any doors lol .

Aloha peeps! Got up early one morning to get some exercise and walk the Ala Wai Canal. It's…read moreconveniently located next to some of the hotels on Kuhio Ave and lots of folks both visitors and locals can be seen walking or jogging the path. On certain days, you can also watch the outrigger teams paddling along the canal as well. So.. if you're sitting up in your hotel room, put your favorite walking/running shoes on and take a nice stroll along the canal for a little bit of exercise. You might get lucky and see a couple of outrigger canoes quietly glide by for a wonderful photo op. Aloha!

The Ala Wai Canal is an artificial waterway, in which the area is popular for those who are taking…read morea run. There is a path that runs along the canal and various pseudo-like seating areas (but, not really designated). On a great sunny day, the view is great, the canal water is blue, and it's nice t just sit and people-watch and enjoy a good cup of coffee or read a book. Note that the canal has gone through some changes in which they try to keep it clean; sometimes, it gets super gross, as dumped items and debris can wash up and get into the canal due to inclement weather and/or due to a backlog. Accessing the canal centrally can be tough, depending on which side you're coming from, as there's not many pedestrian crosswalks, but there are some located on either side. +pathways for running

This community dog park next to the Ala Wai canal, has great parking, and is well-maintained! I…read moredon't live in the area but love this little community dog park. Located alongside a walking path, this is a great area to walk and then have your dog play with other dogs. There are two sides, for small dogs and big dogs. Secured with a double gate so no one accidently gets out. There even is a gate in the middle so you can switch sides if your dog doesn't vibe with either side. There's a few benches to sit at while your pup plays around, and it's a great way to chat with other dog owners in the community. This is a more simple dog park, there isn't a water fountain for the dogs -- so be sure to bring a bottle + bowl for your dog. What really makes this dog park is it's proximity to the canal, the water really does make the ambiance so much nicer.

It's super small!!! No dogs either. I was sad lol. Our dogs too were lonely. Hopefully more people…read morecome.