The Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Lagoon, also known as Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon, is a 5-acre, man-made public wading pool located in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It was built in the 1950s as part of Henry J. Kaiser's Hawaiian Village development project. Upon completion, a nearby beach and the lagoon were named after surfer and Olympic swimming champion Duke Kahanamoku.
In 1961, Hilton Hotels acquired the Hawaiian Village Resort but the lagoon remained a property by the state of Hawaii. Over the years, the lagoon became unfit for swimming because of its murky and stagnant water.
In 2006, the lagoon underwent renovations which was reported to have cost approximately $15 million. The extensive renovations included the installation of a new water circulation system which draws about 15,000 gallons of water per minute from the ocean, completely recirculating the water about five times a day.
A small landscaped island was also added in the lagoon while grassy picnic areas with coconut palm trees, a new lighting system, and a boardwalk with benches were built around the lagoon. The lagoon's bottom and perimeter is lined with coarse sand.
The lagoon was officially re-opened at a ceremony on October 16, 2007 attended by Hawaii Lieutenant Governor James Aiona and several relatives of Duke Kahanamoku. The refurbishment made the lagoon slightly smaller and shallower (now only 5-foot deep from the original 14-foot deep) but the cleaner water and park amenities regained its popularity as a tourist attraction in Waikiki.
Other nearby tourist attractions in the area are the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, Fort DeRussy Military Reservation, and Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.
