In the course of my layover in Honolulu, I walked over to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Cultural Gardens…a gorgeous centerpiece of one particular of my favored airports in the entire world.
Honolulu Airport Gardens, A Zone Of Tranquility
Most airports, particularly in the United states of america, are so sterile. On the entire, the encounter is acquiring greater, and still with couple exceptions (and there are exceptions), the airports are not just attractive.
But then there is Daniel K. Inouye Worldwide Airport in Honolulu. On the one particular hand, the airport is an odd concrete behemoth that is arguably both unattractive and aged. And but there are these kinds of endearing qualities of that “retro” airport and one particular of my favourite elements is the cultural gardens in the middle of it.
In which else can you action exterior on a attractive afternoon and love the shade of the yard and the enjoyable sound of jogging water between planes having off and landing?
The gardens have been developed by Richard C. Tongg and initial launched in 1962. Currently, the gardens replicate the Hawaiian, Chinese and Japanese heritage of the island of Ohau and the condition of Hawaii.
Pathways, bridges and stepping stones connect the three gardens. Waterways movement amongst these garden ponds and lakes to symbolize the intermingling of the cultures in Hawaii.
In situation you are curious, right here is how just about every back garden is described by the airport:
Chinese Back garden at HNL
The Chinese Garden has a vibrant red resting pavilion with a curved roof of yellow glazed tile crafted by Hong Kong masons and artists and assembled in Honolulu. A statue of Dr. Sunshine Yat Sen, founder of the Republic of China, was donated by the Chinese neighborhood to the garden. There is an arched bridge symbolic of the hope of spanning the seas to accomplish earth peace. Koi fish peacefully swim about in the guy-built pond. Pine and bamboo trees together with other native Chinese flowering trees are strategically positioned among the craggy rock formations.
Hawaiian Back garden at HNL
In the Hawaiian Gardens, there are silent lagoons stuffed with koi fish, gurgling springs and waterfalls cascading down lava partitions. In a tropical location, banana, coconut, hala (pandanus) and kukui (candlenut) trees shade ti crops, exotic ferns, this kind of as the lawai and monstera and eye-catching flowers, white ginger, crimson torch ginger and bird of paradise. At evening, Luau torches illuminate the yard. You will also discover plaques commemorating the 25th anniversary of John Rodgers Terminal on October 15, 1987 and a gorgeous kukui nut tree planted for the event.
Japanese Yard at HNL
Serenity is discovered in the Japanese Backyard. Across a zigzag bridge (which retains away evil) is a wood shingle-roofed shelter with stone benches. Colorful carp fish develop patterns in the ponds surrounded by sculptured pine and weeping willow trees. Stone lanterns softly illuminate the environment at dusk. A commemorative pagoda on an elevated plateau at one conclusion was donated by Hawaii’s Japanese community on the Centennial Anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.
I expended 30 minutes just building laps via the yard.
Conclusion
The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Cultural Gardens are a excellent spot to shell out time right before, right after, or amongst flights. Really don’t miss out on this quite exclusive element of a incredibly exclusive airport.
