Kalena Park & the Honu Healthy Half Mile: Community Voices Leading the Way

By Bev Brody, Get Fit Kaua‘i

The past two months have brought a wave of momentum, creativity, and community energy to Kalena Park and the Healthy Half Mile in the heart of Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i. This work is led through a partnership between Kaua‘i Path, the Kaua‘i Planning & Action Alliance, and Get Fit Kaua‘i, with support from the Hawai‘i State Department of Health and the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute. It continues to grow through the voices and lived experiences of the community.

Listening First: Hundreds of Community Voices

February and March focused on gathering experiences from the people who use these places every day. Through the Kalena Park & Healthy Half Mile Safety Perception Audits, more than 400 responses from residents—spanning keiki to kūpuna—offered insight into what supports safety, what creates challenges, and which improvements matter most.

Strong partnerships with the Līhu‘e Boys & Girls Club, Līhu‘e Court Townhomes, Kaniko‘o/Rice Camp Senior Housing, and dozens of community members who scanned the QR codes or completed hard‑copy versions of the audit helped generate a rich, diverse set of perspectives. These voices now form the foundation for every improvement moving forward. 

What Was Heard

Across both months, several themes rose to the top:

• A desire for more seating along the Healthy Half Mile.
• Better access to water, especially in and around Kalena Park.
• Clearer visual cues and wayfinding to help people navigate safely.
• Concerns about nighttime parking around the park.

Turning Feedback Into Action

In response to what the community shared, the artist leading the Healthy Half Mile installations expanded the project to include artistic benches and new water fountains within Kalena Park. These additions will bring both beauty and comfort to the space, blending natural materials with functional design.

At the same time, outreach to surrounding businesses continued, especially around the proposed 10:00 PM–6:00 AM overnight parking restrictions. Every business contact so far has expressed support, recognizing that this change directly addresses safety concerns raised in the audits. Only a few businesses remain to be reached in the coming month.

What Comes Next

The project is now entering the “Make Improvements” phase—quick‑build enhancements, wayfinding elements, and park entry upgrades shaped by the priorities residents shared. Preparations are underway to support a smooth rollout and maintain alignment with community feedback.

As the next phase begins, the same spark that has carried this work from the start remains strong—the kind that grows when a community shows up for itself, together, one step at a time.

The photos, stories, and smiles captured throughout February and March say it best: this project is working because people are showing up with curiosity, honesty, and a shared desire to make Kalena Park and the Healthy Half Mile safer, more welcoming places for everyone.

View photo highlights from the pre‑intervention safety audits.