Kapiolani Park

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Kapiʻolani Regional Park is the largest and oldest public park in Hawaiʻi, located in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi on the east end of Waikīkī. The 300-acre (1.2 km²) park, named after Queen Kapiʻolani, the queen consort of King David Kalākaua, is home to the Waikiki Shell and the Honolulu Zoo.

The park was created in 1876 when the Kapiʻolani Park Association leased the land from King Kalākaua for $1 per year. After the overthrow of the monarchy, the land was conveyed to the Republic of Hawaiʻi and managed by the Honolulu Park Commission. The legislation provided that the park be set aside permanently as a free public park and recreation ground, forbade the sale or lease of land in the park, and prohibited charging of any entrance fees. Since 1913, the park has been maintained by the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks & Recreation.^[1]

Besides the zoo and the Shell, the park includes tennis courts, soccer fields, and an archery range. Its bandstand serves as an entertainment venue. It is also a popular course for joggers who travel its two-mile (3 km) circumference. The park also serves as the site (or the starting and finish lines) of road races in Honolulu. This includes the world-famous Honolulu Marathon, the finish line of which is located on Kalākaua Avenue on the west end of the park.

Kapiolani park is also home to Honolulu Cricket Club, the only cricket club in the Hawaiian Islands. Founded in 1893, it is the oldest sporting club in the Pacific according to Guinness World Records.^[2]

As Kapliolani Park continues south it becomes Kapiolani Beach Park, adjacent to Kuhio Beach and Waikiki Beach. The park itself also serves an a natural border between Waikiki and Diamond Head neighborhood.

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