Honolulu Weekly

Last Friday, the gutters flanking Merchant Street were dotted with cigarette butts, a squashed Styrofoam cup, shards from a broken CD, a flattened empty pack of Kool cigarettes and other bits of trash. All, sadly, par for the course. On this afternoon, however, the familiar line of debris was broken up by bright sod patches of plush green grass where a parallel parking space had been converted into a mini-park, complete with benches, poi-pounding demonstrations and the musical stylings of local group Kupa’aina. The spot was one of more than 450 temporary parks set up in public parking places in more than 80 cities for what the Trust for Public Land calls National Park(ing) Day.

“We really just want to remind people how important it is to keep natural space, parks and gardens. I think we can forget about it sometimes,” said Lea Hong, director of the Hawaiian Islands Trust for Public Land, one of the organizations that helped set up the temporary park on Merchant Street. “These parks are all over the country and each one has its own little wrinkle.I think we’re probably the only ones who had a poi pounding and Hawaiian music. I heard Whole Foods sponsored one that had an Oktoberfest theme. There’s something for everyone in every little space.”

Hong said a mix of people, from those who had heard about the park and came specifically to see it to those who just happened upon it during their lunch hour, appreciated taking the time to enjoy an unusual grassy spot downtown.

“One family came with their kids and sat on the grass and had a little picnic,” said Hong. “Another guy just walked by and sat down on the bench for a while and ate his lunch.”

A sign taped to the meter in front of the temporary mini-park requested spare change from passersby to keep the spot for three hours. Throughout the day, person after person walked by, laughed a little, and contributed a couple of quarters or more.

“We don’t really have a permit to be here, but the city has been cool as long as the meter is fed,” said Hong.

Hong encourages anyone interested in learning more about the natural spaces across the island to check out the O’ahu Land Trust. There are more than a dozen community gardens available to residents, some of which require around $15 per year in user’s fees and dues.

“There are a whole bunch of efforts like cleaning up beaches and community gardens,” she said. “There are lots of opportunities here, it’s just a matter of getting involved.”