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Ice Palace Review

By: Victoria Valiente

Credit: Victoria Valiente

Ice Palace, closed for nearly three years, now reopens. The establishment was closed on March 16, 2020, due to the pandemic. Many people in Honolulu haven't been able to experience skating since. Skating groups found and utilized artificial ice to continue their winter sport on a tropical island. Ice Palace, now refurbished with many new additions, has its doors open for anyone to learn to skate.

Ever since Ice Palace opened in September 1982, people living on Oahu have been able to experience the cold winter sport, skating. Although temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, because of the pandemic, it was able to reopen on December 20, 2022. With the reopening Ice Palace has a few new things to offer. The first is something most people wouldn't prefer, which is a price raise for general admission. 16$ for individual admission and 14$ for groups with 25 people or more, each. The second new feature is a new snack bar with the addition of hot cocoa sold. And the third new feature is upgraded bleachers, an updated party area, repainted walls, and a new Zamboni. Ice Palace now offers lessons for freestyle sessions and beginners for those who want to start somewhere on the ice, including opening the party area starting at 225$.

Credit: Victoria Valiente

Ke Ali'i has interviewed a local who visits the Ice Palace often. They visited before it closed, and have recently started to visit since its reopening. Dylan Taylor Valiente first started skating as a hobby around high school and has enjoyed it ever since he was young. He skated so much that he decided to get hockey skates to own for himself. He currently attends the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a part-time worker at Waipahu Zippy’s. Raised in a Catholic setting, attended St. Joseph Parish School and soon attended Damien Memorial School during his sophomore year. Born and raised in Hawaii, Dylan Valiente takes up many different hobbies, such as weight lifting, fishing, surfing, and skating.

Credit: Victoria Valiente

According to Dylan, ever since the reopening, more and more people have been visiting on the weekends. Although Ice skating can be dangerous, the most common injury people will experience are the occasional bruising from falling. Although it can be dangerous Dylan states, “I see people fall, but nothing too serious where you would have to go to a hospital.” Other injuries can be caused by not paying attention to your surroundings and bumping into people. They were reaching long lines and packed areas. Dylan says that when they bring out the Zamboni, the area around is packed to the point where not everyone has a seat, and a bunch of people have to stay standing till they open up the ice again. “It [Ice Palace] originally opened on only the weekend. . . you have to be there exactly when it opens so that you can be first.”Another group, during the pandemic, turned to Artificial Ice during Ice Palace’s closing. (don't forget the other transition with Dylan) Still using skates, when heated up, can glide across but require more effort than regular ice.

Now with the reopening of Ice Palace, almost anyone can learn to skate. As Ice Palace is open in the mornings during the week, Ice Palace is returning to how it was before the pandemic. Living on a tropical Island has downsides, yet Ice Palace offers the winter sport all year. All that is required is to follow the rules and to have fun. Being mindful of your surroundings as this can lead to an injury as bad as spraining wrists or other parts, being safe is a top priority.

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