October 1 & 2, 2011: Weekend Events

I just finished updating the events for this coming weekend.  With October comes fall, even though the weather hasn't changed, and you can go to a pumpkin patch with your family this weekend or attend a rodeo.  There is also an event at the Queen Emma Summer Palace, the Capitol Building and surrounding area.  Lots of family friendly events happening and you can find all the details on the Weekend Events Page.

Be sure to double check my info using the links provided before heading out with the family.  I always recommend that, but especially this weekend since I am suffering from jet lag so the chances of me making a mistake are higher than usual.  And as always, if there's an event you know of that I have forgotten, please feel free to share that with everyone in the comments to this post.

Happy weekend to you!

Scenic Sunday: Enjoying Bellows Beach

Scenic Sunday...because I never get over the beauty of these islands.

My daughter at Bellows Beach

Crepes No Ka 'Oi

I have gotten to enjoy crepes at Crepes No Ka 'Oi in Kailua a couple of times.  The first time I went was for a date night with my husband and more recently I met up with a group of friends there one morning.    

They have savory crepes, breakfast crepes and dessert crepes.  I've tried some of each type and have enjoyed everything I've tasted from there, but I think the dessert crepes are my favorite.  In fact, sometime I'd like to stop in just for dessert.  

My daughter was with me the last time I went and she wasn't as impressed with the crepes as I was.  She ate the whipped cream off of one and then refused to take another bite.  Her loss.  I think it was because she had already eaten breakfast so she wasn't very hungry.  

I should mention that Crepes No Ka 'Oi only serves crepes, so if they are not your thing you will be out of luck.  But for those of you who enjoy a crepe, or have never had one but want to give it a try, head to Kailua and visit this little restaurant.  

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  131 Hekili Street, Kailua, Hawaii 96734 (across the street from Pali Lanes)
Hours:  Mon, Wed & Thurs from 7am to 8pm; Fri & Sat from 7am to 9pm; Sun from 7am to 2pm.  Closed Tuesdays.
Parking:  Street parking.
Facilities:  Restrooms are located behind the restaurant.  You can get a key from your server.  High chairs are available.  You can also order take-out.
Other:  The phone number for Crepes No Ka 'Oi is 808-263-4088

September 24 & 25, 2011: Weekend Events

There are a number of fun activities and events this weekend.  The two that stood out to me were the Aloha Festival Floral Parade and Free Museum Entrance Day.  Check out the Weekend Events Page for all the details on these and other family friendly events.

If you know of an event I failed to include, please share it with others on Oahu Mom's Facebook Page or in the comments to this post.

Happy weekend!

September 17 & 18, 2011: Weekend Events

Looking for somewhere fun to go with the family this weekend?  I just updated the Weekend Events Page with a list of family friendly events and activities happening here on Oahu this weekend.  There are a lot of fun things to choose from at locations all over the island, so head to the Weekend Events Page and I'll bet you will find something your family would enjoy.

As always, if there's an event or activity I missed please feel free to share it with others as a comment to this post.  Have a great weekend!

Scenic Sunday: Sailing on Kaneohe Bay

Scenic Sunday...because I never get over the beauty of these islands.

September 10 & 11, 2011: Weekend Events

I just updated the Weekend Events Page for this coming weekend.  Check there for details on some of the family friendly events happening on island this weekend.

As always, add any events I missed as a comment to this post and have a good weekend!

UPDATE:  Thanks to blog reader Nadine for sharing that the Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point is having an open house this weekend.  You can find all the info. here:  http://www.nambarberspoint.org/

Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii

We spent a day at Wet'n'Wild Hawaii to end the summer in style.  It had been years since we'd been there and our daughter had never been so it was a fun day of discovery for us all.

The slides are rated by height and the taller you are, the more of them you can go on.  The main height restrictions are 42 in. and 48 in. with one slide requiring riders to be 52 in. tall.

For the littlest people there is a Keiki Kove area with super tame slides and lots of fun water features.  There are no height requirements here.  Adjacent to this is Waterworld with a couple slides, lily pads to climb on and other fun water activities.

Keiki Kove and Waterworld are where our girl spent the majority of her day.  She was a little upset that she couldn't go on the bigger slides with her brother and cousin but once she settled into that fact there was more than enough to keep her happy here.

The taller members of our group went on a bunch of the other slides including the Island Racer which was a favorite.  You really get moving on it and I thought I was going to lose a contact when the water started spraying in my face so I went down the steepest part with my eyes closed.  It's a fun ride and our son loved it and so did my niece who is only four.

A number of the slides have mats or inner tubes to ride on and you have to carry them to the top yourself on most of the rides.  An exception to this is the Raging River where the rafts are large and go back up on a conveyor belt.  The line for that slide moved slowly but it was worth the wait.

We stopped to enjoy lunch in the park and then did more swimming and sliding.  We didn't make it to the wave pool but we did enjoy a couple trips around the Kapolei Kooler which is a lazy river you can swim through or ride a tube around.

It got overcast in the afternoon which made it a little cold when standing in line but we continued to have fun and just stopped to wrap the kids in towels for a bit if they got too cold.

A fun time was had by all and the kids are ready to go back anytime.  In the meantime I'm getting my daughter to eat her veggies by saying "this will help you grow tall enough to ride the big slides at the water park."  Hopefully a growth spurt will come along soon or she's going to see through my tricks!


Do it yourself here on Oahu

Location:  400 Farrington Hwy, Kapolei, Hawaii  96707
Directions:  Get on the H-1 West towards Kapolei.  Exit the freeway at exit 1E and you'll see the entrance to the park on the right.
Hours:  Days and hours of operation change seasonally.  Check their operating calendar for specifics when planning your visit.
Cost:  There are so many different ticket prices it can be a bit confusing, but here are some basics.  Children 2 and under are free.  They offer kama'aina and military discounts with ID.  They also offer discounts to seniors.  Children's tickets are less than general admission.  The webpage says this is based on height but when we went they told us it was based on age.  When we bought our tickets at the gate they extended the kama'aina discount to everyone in our party including our family visiting from the Mainland.  And lastly, they offer season passes which usually go on sale partway through the year, but expire at the end of the calendar year no matter when you purchased them.  For the latest updates, visit the Wet'n'Wild admission price page.
Parking:  There is a large parking lot adjacent to the park.  Parking is $5 per vehicle.  Parking is free for gold pass holders.
Facilities:  There are restrooms at two locations inside the park.  There are several concession stands where you can purchase pizza, burgers, nachos, drinks and other food items.  There are also lockers available for rent for storing your valuables.
Other:  • No outside food or drink is allowed in the park except for unopened water bottles.  Bags are subject to search.  If you want to take your own food you can exit the park, picnic in the parking lot and then reenter the park with your ticket stub and a hand stamp.  • You are not allowed to bring your own flotation devices but they have chidlren's life jackets available free of charge.  • There's something for everyone at this park from pools for toddlers to splash around in to rides that will satisfy thrill-seeking teens.  • Use and reapply sunscreen as you'll be in the sun a lot.  We also wore hats much of the time and just held them in our hands when we went down the slides.  
More info:  Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii

Scenic Sunday: View of Manana Island

Scenic Sunday...because I never get over the beauty of these islands.

Manana Island (a.k.a. Rabbit Island) seen from the parking lot at Baby Makapu'u Beach

Friendship Garden in Kaneohe

A nice little hike can be found in Friendship Garden in Kaneohe.  We often head here in the late afternoon when we want to adventure outdoors but don't have a lot of time.  

Friendship Garden is on the side of a hill so you are walking uphill or downhill most of the time.  There are lots of beautiful trees to see along the way and quite a bit of shade.  The edge of the trail is a bit steep in some places but the last time we went our 3 year old hiked the whole loop on her own and only needed help in a couple places.

The trails in the park form two loops so you can choose to do the big loop (which incorporates parts of the small loop) or just do the small loop by itself.  We usually do the big loop and also add in a side trip to the ridge lookout where this is part of the panoramic view you will see:

From the lookout you can continue up the mountain and get up onto the ridge trail but the footing is tricky getting up onto the ridge and although we did it once I wouldn't really recommend that part of the trail for small children.

It's a short hike but our kids seem to associate hiking with snacking so we usually take some food along to enjoy at the ridge lookout or on the stairs near the garden's entrance.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  This park is located on Kokokahi Place in Kaneohe at the top of the hill, just before the road curves and heads downhill.
Directions:  The turn for Kokokahi Place is off of Kaneohe Bay Drive between the Bay View Golf Course and the H-3.  Kokokahi Place is across from the YWCA and you will turn Mauka (toward the mountains).  Follow this road to the top and you'll see the stone sign (see top of post) on the mauka side of the road.
Hours:  Open during daylight hours.
Parking:  There is a pull-out in front of the garden that can accommodate a car or two.  There is also limited street parking in the neighborhood.  If you are going with friends, carpool or consider parking elsewhere and shuttling to the trailhead.
Facilities:  No restrooms or other facilities here.
Other:  There can be a lot of mosquitoes, especially near the beginning of the trail so I would highly recommend bug spray!  We also take water and snacks whenever we go.
Cost:  Free
More info:  Here's a link to a trail map which will help you find your way around since trail junctions are not marked.