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Photographs often are the best way to show dramatic changes in Hawaii, providing an easy update on landmarks, persons and events. At other times, however, photos showing minimal changes during the years remind us that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Look for examples of big and little changes every Monday in "It's about time," which will inform, update and prod a few memories.

Spiffy, sporty
changes coming
to Aala Park

By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Aala Triangle Park, where King Street branches off and
becomes Beretania at the Ewa boundary of downtown
Honolulu, is undergoing yet another transformation.
The $2.3 million first phase will include a basketball court,
softball field, parking lot, elevated grassy stage area,
playground equipment and walkways, and is scheduled
to be completed in February. The $560,000 second
phase will include a skateboard rink and fountain.

By Terry Luke, Star-Bulletin
In the 1920s the Aala Triangle was a popular site for
political and workers strike rallies, but by the 1960s it
had become a slum district -- an easy target for redevelopment
by city officials. This was the King Street view in 1961, when
the city counted 39 families, consisting of 239 people, and 77
businesses on the 4.1-acre lot bounded by Beretania and King
streets and a small park.

By Warren R. Roll, Star-Bulletin
By 1965, the structures had been leveled and the
triangle cleared to make way for a new park. At
one point, city officials were touting the development
there of a park that would serve as "a gateway to
Honolulu." Another set of plans envisioned
three "water features."

By Al Yamauchi, Star-Bulletin
This was the fledgling new Aala Triangle Park in 1967.
In 1990, in an attempt to deal with the homeless population,
the city erected temporary tents. The tent city was a source
of controversy throughout its existence and finally was
removed in 1993.