Hawaiʻi County Unveils Comprehensive Parks Directory with Amenities, Accessibility Details

Hawaiʻi County Department of Parks & Recreation has assembled a comprehensive facilities and parks directory that catalogs beach parks, community parks, district parks and regional parks across Hawaiʻi Island. The directory lists each park's address, phone contact where available, amenities such as restrooms, pavilions, BBQ pits, playgrounds, sports courts, boat ramps and camping, and categorizes parks by district - for example Puna, North Kona and South Hilo. Built-in search and filter tools allow users to locate parks by category and by specific amenities, including ADA accessibility.

The directory functions as a practical planning tool for everyday island life. Parents looking for playgrounds or restrooms, kupuna seeking ADA-accessible sites, and community organizations arranging pavilion rentals can identify appropriate locations and see whether camping or boat access is available. Key entries include Hawaiian Beaches Park at 15-2727 Manini Street, Hawaiian Beaches, HI 96778, noted as ADA accessible and listing BBQ pits, an outdoor basketball court, pavilion, pickleball courts, playground and sports fields. Pāhoehoe Beach Park at 77-6434 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96764 is listed under Beach Park in North Kona. Onekahakaha Beach Park at 74 Onekahakaha Road, Hilo, HI 96720 shows ADA accessibility alongside pavilions, BBQ pits, playgrounds and restrooms.

For county governance and oversight, the directory increases transparency about park assets and accessibility. Public-facing details about ADA features, pavilion rental and camping reservation rules make it easier for residents to hold the county to operational standards and to compare amenities across districts. Civic groups and neighborhood boards can use the listings to plan events with clear expectations about facilities, and to raise maintenance or funding priorities with County Council members armed with specific site information.

Operationally, the directory is useful for emergency planning and visitor information because it clarifies where restrooms, boat ramps and camping areas are located mauka to makai. For equity advocates, the ability to filter for ADA-accessible parks gives community leaders data to press for upgrades in under-served neighborhoods. For local businesses and tourism operators, clearer pavilion and reservation details should streamline bookings while reducing ad hoc impacts on neighborhood parks.

What this means for Big Island residents is practical: you can now identify parks that meet activity, accessibility and reservation needs across Puna, North Kona, Hilo and beyond. Use the listings to check pavilion rental and camping rules before planning events, verify ADA features if accessibility is a concern, and bring specific park entries to the attention of county officials when advocating for maintenance or budget priorities. The directory makes community conversations about parks more concrete, and gives residents a clearer basis to engage with county decision makers on how public recreation spaces are funded and maintained.