Sharp rusted holes and a broken railing aren’t typical playground features. 

But they’re the norm at the playground in Mililani’s Makaʻunulau Community Park, also known as 16 Acres, where for an unknown period of time keiki have played over the rusted holes and around a gap in the railing.

A viral Instagram post from @hawaiinewsreport, an account that reposts local happenings to its more than 400,000 followers, illustrates the issue. 

“You can, like, cut yourself on these,” the videographer said while feeling around the jagged hole with her fingers. A few seconds later, a child can be heard playing in the background and yelling, “Uncle, watch this!”

The park was mostly empty late morning Monday. Caution tape surrounded the playground, where parks maintenance worker Kaiki Kaimiponi was plugging the rusted holes with six old metals signs repurposed as patches. He said it’s a temporary safety measure until the city can get parts from the mainland for a full repair.

Mililani Neighborhood Board Chair Danielle Bass said she’s glad the city implemented quick safety measures. She hopes the playground is repaired quickly, she said, and she figures its repair status will come up at this month’s board meeting. 

“I think all of our communities deserve safe, non-hazardous, well-maintained parks that are accessible for all of us,” she said. 

The damage seems to be the result of normal wear and tear after significant renovations in 2019, Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation spokesperson Nate Serota said in an emailed statement. 

“We do plan on fixing the playground, but are currently limited by unexpected staffing issues,” Serota said. “As a result, we do not currently have a timeline for repairs.”

Update: A Playground Gets Its Slide Back

In other playground news, the slide that had been missing from Waipiʻo Neighborhood Park since last February was fixed days after Civil Beat wrote about it in November, according to Serota. 

Serota had said the slide was removed after vandals damaged it and that a replacement slide was ready for installation in July 2025 but that the contractor didn’t have the equipment needed, delaying its repair. 

Who Is Responsible?

Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation Director Laura Thielen, (808) 768-3003.

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