There was a time when this place fed the island of Oahu. Then the concrete poured over nearly everything.
No development, no Ala Wai Park, which was home away from home for me as a kid. For better, for worse.
Decades ago, there was talk of a bridge extending from the bottom of University Ave. over the canal to Waikiki. Residents on the mauka side rejected the idea vociferously. Traffic and other issues remain largely on the makai side in Waikiki, the busiest neighborhood in the islands.
#concretejungle #aina #waikiki #alawaicanal #alawai #alawaipark #dailywalk
The basketball court was redone several years ago. Long gone are the original backboards, which had a three-legged metal base. The court was actually moved around 30 feet from its original place, and the new court has the high fence. Also long gone are everything from the original playground: the merry-go-round, see-saws and swings. Some of us were daredevils on those things. It's a wonder more kids didn't get serious injuries. The only one I remember — aside from playing football every day in the summer — was a friend breaking an arm while trying to jump from the wall onto the pavilion rooftop.
We called this covered bench area "The Island" and spent many hours hanging out here when we were pau playing basketball, football or baseball. It is one of the only relics still standing from those fun times of the 1970s and '80s.
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