The Heart of Līhuʻe

Nestled in the center of downtown Līhuʻe, Kalena Park has been a gathering place for Kauaʻi's people for more than four decades. Bounded by Rice Street, Kalena Street, and Mālama Street, and sitting adjacent to the Līhuʻe Fire Station, the 1.33-acre neighborhood park has welcomed kānaka of all ages — keiki, teenagers, adults, and kūpuna — for generations. It is more than a park. It is a piece of the ʻāina that belongs to all of us.

​By 2019, Kalena Park was showing the wear of decades of use and neglect. The perimeter fencing felt unwelcoming, the playground equipment was aging, the restrooms needed work, and the park had developed a reputation that kept many families away. But the community knew what this land meant — and what it could be again.

 

That same year, a coalition of neighbors, community organizations, and county partners commissioned a redesign plan through Barth and Associates. What followed was something Līhuʻe does well: people showed up. Over 100 volunteers contributed their time, skills, and aloha to the park's transformation — installing rubber tile pathways, planting native trees, painting murals, refurbishing the basketball and pickleball court, and building a brand-new playground.

 

The Kalena Park Community Action Group is the community organization behind this ongoing effort. We work in partnership with the County of Kauaʻi, local businesses, schools, and neighbors to steward this land — planning projects, hosting events, and making sure Kalena Park remains a place that belongs to everyone. Our work is rooted in the belief that public spaces reflect community values, and that when we mālama our parks, we mālama each other.