castleparkhi.html

Before there was the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, there was Castle Park. Located next to Aloha Stadium, it had the big castle with arcade games, two miniature golf courses, a batting cage, go-carts, bumper boats, and the water park. Tailgating at the stadium always meant a walk over to the park. For years, it was a favorite destination for school field trips and family fun. It wasn't all fun and games though. Every time it rained, the golf courses became flooded. Poor maintenance caused the water park to be shut down frequently due to bacterial infections. I guess that's why they paved Castle Park and put up a Big K-Mart.

Castle Park

I had a lot of fun at this 16-acre amusement complex, which opened in 1980 across the street from Aloha Stadium, but I think I went there only once. True to its theme, it had a castle, moat and drawbridge, although I dont know why the developers thought islanders would respond to it.

Visitors could play an 18-hole miniature golf course, explore a haunted mansion, volcano, pirate ship and drive grand prix race cars or bumper boats. It had two 400-foot water flumes snaking down from a hilltop into a fresh water lagoon. Castle Park did not attract enough visitors, and it closed in 1990. It became a shopping area with a Kmart, Foodland and McDonalds.

CREDITS:Unknown: Photocopy -- Honolulu Library

Primo Village of the Pacific

During the 1970s, Primo Beer was very popular. Well over 50% of the beer sold in Hawaii was Primo.

Primo Village was located by a Hawaiian fishpond on the brewery property at 98-051 Kamehameha Highway in Waimalu from 1973 to 1979. It was a little makai of where Best Buy is now.

The village consisted of a “chief’s house” as well as houses for cooking, eating, tapa making and canoe building. It had meeting rooms, an information center, a refreshment area and a gift shop.

The village re-created an ancient Polynesian community. It had gardens of tropical plants and trees, flowing water, Polynesian temples and statues, and thatched Pacific island buildings. And, of course, complimentary Primo beer. Entertainment included music and Polynesian dancing.