Local folks and visitors will soon have an opportunity to ice-skate outdoors in shorts and T-shirts at Mike Inc.’s synthetic ice rink in Kakaako.
The 30-by-60-foot rink at 805 Ala Moana Blvd. will host a formal opening at the Kaka‘ako Christmas Wonderland event on Friday.
The ice rink was created using a specially formulated recyclable plastic material and is coated with a water-based glide enhancer. The materials used are environmentally safe, according to Christine Miller, director of Mike Inc., and the “ice” doesn’t require electricity or water.
“The surface is slippery, which makes it easy to ice-skate,” she said. “Professional ice skaters and hockey players use this type of rink to practice.”
Miller says the ice rink is suitable for ages 3 and up. “My son is 4 years old, and after his third time he is skating good,” she said.
Following in the fashion of other major cities, Miller feels the rink is a good idea for Honolulu. “We wanted to bring that mainland Christmas feel to Hawaii,” she said. “And, you don’t need to be cold while ice skating.”
Kau‘i Burgess, community relations specialist for property owner Kamehameha Schools, called the ice rink “a new, innovative experience for Kakaako.”
“It’s another example of what we are trying to do in Kakaako. It falls in line with our vision,” Burgess said. “We are trying to build an urban community and really redefine the neighborhood.”
Proceeds from the Kaka‘ako Christmas Wonderland event and another on Christmas Day will benefit Aloha First, a nonprofit native Hawaiian group that offers language, culture and political classes.
Festivities on Friday include photographs with Santa and an oversize snow globe, craft booths and “Eat the Street” food trucks from 4 to 9 p.m. The food vendors, including Kai’s Pasteles, India Cafe, Koi 808, Elena’s Restaurant, Extreme Tacos, Ono Pops, Simply Ono and Hawaii’s Fried Musubi, will decorate their trucks with lights and holiday decor; event-goers will be able to vote for their favorite and win a chance at $50 in food vouchers for January’s “Eat the Street” event.
The Shogunai DJ crew will be spinning holiday tunes, and Lightsleepers will hold an art battle.
