Leahi Millennium Peace Circle Garden

I literally pass by this park everyday. Today was the first time I actually stopped and walked around. It a small, well kept and landscaped park. It looks as if it was well planned with lots of trees for shade, benches and open grassy areas for a small intimate picnic.
There are plaques with inspirational quotes for different people. There is also a time capsule buried there from 1999 to be opened in 2049.
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!

«Let me tell you now
Everybody’s talking about revolution, evolution…
Regulations, integrations, meditations,
United Nations, congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance…»
— John Lennon «Give Peace a Chance»
The Le’ahi Millenium Peace Circle was founded as a place for the community to gather and work to restore the surrounding landscape of Diamond Head. It was officially opened on October 2, 2010 and was built to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Soka Gakkai International’s President Daisaku Ikeda’s first steps in Honolulu on October 2, 1960, the first of his worldwide journeys for peace.
At the entrance of the circle is a bronze plaque bearing the opening lines of Mr. Ikeda’s novel, «The New Human Revolution». Surrounding the Peace Circle are 7 monuments each bearing a bronze plaque with words from eminent peacemakers, such as Martin Luther King Jr, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Queen Lili’oukalani. A Kou tree has been planted in the center of the circle.
#302

Preface:
Meets my basic expectations, with its fortunate location near extra amenities an unrated bonus. Stands out from other park areas, and I favor it.
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Review:
It’s a small park area near the entrance to Diamond Head Monument from Diamond Head Rd (Monsarrat Ave), opposite the corner of 18^th Ave.
There are shady trees, a couple of concrete benches, and the ground is covered with vegetation different from the overly manicured lawns of other parks. Mostly unobstructed view of sunrises, and an early view of sunsets because of being at the base of Diamond Head. Sprinklers come on a little after 9pm.
No lights of its own. Plenty of light from nearby street lighting to interfere with stargazing, not enough for the park. Step carefully after dusk. No restrooms of its own. Restrooms are nearby on KCC campus across the street by following the paved walkway from corner; their water fountains merely dribble. More water fountains can be found by walking along the wide sidewalk above the Diamond Head side of street. Newly installed a few weeks ago when they renovated the DHM entrance. If you’re at the restrooms at KCC, then a water fountain is viewable directly opposite on sidewalk above the other side of the street.
An older friend of mine, who had been wrangled when hit by a car a couple years ago, pointed out to me the steps from the street have no railing. Consider taking the sidewalk near the DHM entrance from Diamond Head Rd. It’s very close by and gradually leads up the hill towards this park. After veering towards the park, there are steps leading down into it, also without a railing. A little further past these steps, there is a gently sloping sidewalk leading into the park, curving behind a green faux-​wood bench and around a large volcanic stone, ending at a curved concrete bench on a concrete floor.
This is also, perhaps, the only place accessible to thin-​wheeled transports, considering the ground is often soft. If moving around upon thin-​wheeled transports, such as bicycles and mobile chairs, there should be plenty of turn-​around room. Comfortable space for two, maybe three. Plenty of space for hand-​drawn cargo transports, for the mega-​picnickers.
Once the rock garden of peace quotes is found, the name of the place makes more sense and isn’t terribly misleading: yourself is where peace grows and develops. Your arrival, absorption of what the place offers, the thoughts you leave behind and carry forth is part of how this garden exists. Well, that’s what I’ll imagine instead of quibbling over «garden» and «park».
Meets my expectations of a park of this size. The amenities characteristic of a larger park can be found close by. I appreciate the lack of extreme monoculture and landscaping, which I believe is important for ecosystems.
Basic existence gets ³⁄₃ yellow stars.
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Unexpected Amenities:
Down the hill, backside of the curved concrete bench, there is a circle of large volcanic stones on a concrete floor, each with a plaque quoting a person of history about the topic of peace. One of the plaques explain the intent of it. In a way, it’s kind of what is expected for a park with «millennium peace garden» in its name. The rock gardened quotes are lightly encircled by young trees providing mid-​day shade. Can be reached by two sets of steps from the upper sidewalk, then must traverse lots of soft ground.
The sign at the top of the steps, leading from the crosswalk at the corner of 18^th Ave, has a website address that is now defunct. A detritus of leaves and dirt, wind-​blown against the base of the curved bench along its concrete floor, seems appropriate and necessary. I get the general feeling this place has been overlooked, not noticed, comfortably forgotten.
The amenities nearby are accidental based on the development of the surrounding area, not itself. If there is anything going beyond expectations, then it’s by happenstance. Somehow that feels like the park is taking care of itself, having what other parks aren’t allowed: freedom of self-​development.
However it has obtained this, this is beyond my expectation and is desirable, to me. ¹⁄₁ blue star.
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Emotional:
My feelings about this place are apparent, coming forth by mere thought when I’m not there, without overwhelm. This place has somehow become important to me, perhaps because I appreciate the differences it has from other parks, perhaps from provoking my thoughts.
Favored, ¹⁄₁ red star.
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Summary:
Unusually close to a high level of people traffic, yet non-​attracting. Quaintly existing for the time being, until it gets the attention of someone with modern aspirations of structure, micromanagement, and segregation. It meets my expectations for a small park, warranting ³⁄₃ yellows stars, the ¹⁄₁ blue star of excelling, and the ¹⁄₁ red star of favoritism.