Diamond Head as your backdrop. Shoes optional. Sunscreen not. Every Wednesday and Saturday, Kapiolani Park turns into one of the best places to play volleyball in the world.
Every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, something special happens at Kapiolani Park. The Honolulu Volleyball Club sets up anywhere from five to eight nets along Paki Street, play starts around 3:30pm, and the game doesn't stop until the sky says so. I've been playing with this group since 2023 and it never gets old.
This is Kapiolani grass volleyball — one of Honolulu's best-kept open secrets.
The Setup
Depending on turnout, the organizer divides the courts by level so everyone plays where they belong. The breakdown runs from A players down through B upper and B lower intermediate, all the way to recreational. No egos, no awkward mismatches — just the right game for the right group.
Diamond formation, front middle as designated setter on a slightly smaller court. With only four players per side, every individual covers significantly more ground. The rallies are faster, the reads sharper, the margin for error smaller.
Think you're ready? Come find out.
Traditional sixes — full rotation, front middle as designated setter. If you're newer to the game or still learning court positions, this is exactly where to start. Social, welcoming, and the perfect place to learn the game the right way.
Few volleyball venues anywhere can compete with this backdrop — and that's before the rainbows show up.
The Setting
Few volleyball venues anywhere can compete with this backdrop. Diamond Head to one side, the Ko'olau mountain range framing the horizon, the ocean just a two-minute walk down to Kaimana Beach. The Waikiki Aquarium sits right there too if you want to make a full afternoon of it.
It's the kind of place where you finish a game, look up, and remember you live in Hawaii.
Who Shows Up
The crowd at Kapiolani is a genuine mix — longtime locals, former college players, current competitive players keeping their game sharp, and newer residents who found this through Meetup.com and never looked back. The community is inclusive and the level of play is high enough to keep things interesting regardless of which court you land on.
Just Show Up
No registration. No fee on site. Bring water, bring sunscreen, and bring your legs. Play starts around 3:30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and wraps whenever the light runs out — which in Hawaii, always feels like it comes too soon.