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PUNAHOU SQUARE
PARK
City and
County of Honolulu
Honolulu,
Hawaii
Nestled on the
corner of Punahou Street and Wilder Avenue is a little .7 acre gem
of a garden called Punahou Square Park. Once the property of
Missionaries, the site was acquired by the City and County of
Honolulu in the 1960’s. The park has not experienced many changes
in the 30 years of its existence. Prior to its revitalization in
the year 2002, the site was only recognizable by the butt shingled
wood roof corner bus stop shelter, a straight beaten dusty dirt
path used by pedestrians as a shortcut from Wilder Avenue to
Punahou Street, and nearly dead grass.
The intent of
the project was to preserve and enhance the existing passive park
character while providing an ADA accessible pedestrian pathway
incorporating low berms to add interest and relief from the flat
plane of the existing park, provide Hawaiian Victorian Style
benches, trash receptacles and bollards, provide a new irrigation
system, protect existing exceptional trees, plant new grass, and
incorporate interesting plant material and native plants for the
neighborhood to enjoy.
Punahou Square
Park is home to several significant exceptional trees, including a
grand Banyan Tree, which serves as a focal point for the park.
The Golden Shower Tree was planted in honor of Betty Crocker’s
husband, Theodore Crocker and the Rainbow Shower Tree was planted
in honor of Betty Crocker’s grandmother. Other trees include an
Opiuma Tree, a False Wiliwili Tree, Kolomona Trees, Be-Still
Trees, a Surinam Cherry Tree, a Royal Poinciana Tree and a
Plumeria Tree. Three Queen’s White Shower Trees have been newly
planted to enhance the pedestrian experience and to provide shade
along the new pathway. There are plans to have a dedication of
the trees in honor of Betty Crocker.
Pedestrians
are now able to stroll through the park under the shade of the
trees and watch the shadow play of the leaves on the pathway. The
pathway meanders through low grass covered berms. The berms aid
in separating pedestrians from the busy traffic while softening
the noise of the vehicles. The berms also provide alternative
informal sitting areas. The meandering pathway surface is made up
of a special scoring pattern, heavy rock salt finish and colored
concrete to enhance the richness of the park’s experience.
The location
of the 3 concrete bench pads were carefully placed so as not to
disrupt the existing Banyan Tree roots while providing 3 quiet
spaces for contemplation and observation with perfect views of the
park and bus arrival under the shade of the grand Banyan Tree
branches.
The
neighboring First Church of Christ Scientist’s umbrella shaped
Monkeypod Tree and Mahogany Tree lends a nice backdrop to the park
and seems to expand the park-like character along Punahou Street.
Flowering
shrubs such as the broad, green leaves of ‘Ape and Green Ti were
planted to frame the view of the historic First Church of Christ
Scientist and at the same time to screen the parking lot and
apartment buildings.
Shrubs and
ground covers were carefully selected and used to define the
park’s boundaries as well as to screen the adjacent Church
driveway, parking lot, and the ewa apartments. New plantings of
Native shrubs such as the Native White Hibiscus, Red ‘Ilima,
‘Akia, ‘Ulei and fragrant and accent flowering shrubs such as Red
and Pink Gingers, Gardenias and Yellow Hibiscus were planted for
the many school children and neighbors that meander through the
park. This is a pleasant way to appreciate our beautiful Hawaiian
flowers and foliage.
Punahou Square
Park has had a very positive effect for the public. Seeing the
neighborhood embrace the park has been the biggest evidence of the
park’s success. From the sweeping of the pathway by a neighbor,
to the strolling through the park by visitors from India, to the
sitting under the shade of a Banyan Tree while waiting for the
bus, to the lovers embracing, shows some of the many joyful
happenings that occur at Punahou Square Park.
Punahou Square
Park was recognized by the American Society of Landscape
Architects for an Award of Merit in 2003.
Punahou Square
Park was also recognized by Scenic Hawaii for a Betty Crocker
Landscape Award of Excellence in 2004.
Project Information:
Name: Punahou Square Park
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, on the
corner of
Punahou Street
and Wilder Avenue
Client: City and County of
Honolulu
Mayor Jeremy
Harris
Mr. Michael Creagh,
project manager
Landscape
Architect: Dana Anne Yee, Landscape Architect, LLC.
Civil
Engineer: Kevin T. Mendes, Civil Engineer
Landscape
Contractor: Naturescape Landscaping,
Taka Ishii and
Robert Alupay
General
Contractor: Site Engineering, Noel, Naka, Ted and
Glenn
Photography:
Hal Lum Photography and Dana Anne Yee,
ASLA |
