March 31 & April 1, 2012: Weekend Events

Oops, no new post since last week's Weekend Events page.  You'd think maybe I'm taking a late Spring Break, enjoying time with visiting family and/or doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work on the blog.  The answer is yes, yes and yes.  In the long run you'll benefit with posts about my latest adventures and a few improvements on the blog but for now, I'm sorry for the shortage of new posts.

Easter celebrations start in earnest this weekend and I have those listed along with other fun things happening on island.  In addition to all the Easter egg hunts on island the Bishop Museum is free on Sunday, there's a Scottish Festival this weekend, an Art Festival with lots of hands-on fun and a couple of events hosted by the public libraries.  All the details are on the Weekend Events Page.

Have a great weekend!

March 24 & 25, 2012: Weekend Events

I just updated the Weekend Events page for this coming weekend.  I don't know if it's an extra slow weekend or if I just had bad luck finding out about what's going on but the list is a bit on the short side this week.  If you know of any events I missed please share them with others as a comment on this post or on the Facebook page.

That said, I did find information about the Prince Kuhio Commemorative Parade, some Easter events and a library storytime.  All the details are on the Weekend Events Page.

Have a great weekend!

Polynesian Cultural Center Island Presentations

This is the third in a series of posts about the Polynesian Cultural Center.  If you missed the first two here are links to Polynesian Cultural Center Activities and Polynesian Cultural Center Canoe Pageant.

Each island village in the Polynesian Cultural Center hosts presentations throughout the afternoon.  There is a printed schedule available which also lists "family presentations" for some of the islands which are supposed to be especially family friendly.  We never made an effort to make it to these shows and I felt like the regular ones were fun for kids too.

We've been to quite a few of the presentations but not all of them.  If you tried to make it to all of the presentations in one afternoon I don't think you'd have time to do many hands-on activities.  We like a mix of activities and presentations.  In a previous post I mentioned that many of the hands-on activities and experiences aren't operating during the presentation times so plan your schedule accordingly.

Each presentation is a fun mix of entertainment and education.  In Samoa we learned about how they get coconuts, cook and make fire.  The emcee does his best at island-style stand up comedy and is pretty funny.

The presentation in Fiji had less humor but we learned about making music with bamboo sticks and even got to give it a try ourselves during the performance.

Of the shows I've seen, Tonga is my favorite.  The emcee there had the whole audience laughing a lot.  It was great to watch my son burst into uncontrollable laughter during the show.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is also famous for its evening luaus and show but due to early bedtimes for our kids we haven't been to those yet.  Something to look forward to when they get older!  (And if you've been, please feel free to share your experience in the comments.)

With this, and a suggestion to take one of the canoe rides through the center at some point during your day, I am going to end my mini series on the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Keep your eyes out for a ticket deal and pay them a visit.  It's a fun place to spend an afternoon!

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, Hawaii 96762

Hours:  Closed Sundays.  Open Mon - Sat beginning at 11:45am.  Island tours and village presentations begin at 12:05pm.  Island villages close at 5pm except for Tonga and Samoa which close at 5:30pm.  Box office closes at 8pm.  

Cost:  • There are numerous packages available so rather than list them all I'm going to give you a couple links to use.  Click here for kama'aina ticket prices.  Click here for tourist/visitor ticket prices.  • They offer a 20% discount for kama'aina.  I believe you need to call ahead to reserve tickets to receive this price.  • The PCC also offers an annual pass that pays for itself in a few visits.  Even better, this pass goes on sale from time to time so be on the lookout for that promotion. 

Parking:  $8 per vehicle.  Free if you have an annual pass.

Facilities:  Restrooms throughout the center.  Snack bar open from 11:30am to 6pm.  Marketplace with numerous stores and gift shops throughout the center.

Other:  • Some of the shows take place in covered amphitheaters but the canoe pageant, canoe rides, some shows and most of the activities take place outdoors so this isn't the best place to head on a rainy day.  • Since you'll be outside a lot I'd recommend sunscreen and hats.  • They sell snacks there but I usually take a few with me too for convenience.

Scenic Sunday: Sunset Over the Ocean

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

Easter time on Oahu 2012

Easter egg hunts, Easter brunch and other Easter-related events and activities are now listed on the new Easter Events Page.  The first event listed happens on March 24 and there are events from that day through Easter Sunday.  I will continue to add events to the page as I find out about them so check back from time to time as Easter gets closer to see new additions to the list.

With the exception of the one at the Punchbowl, I am not going to include the Easter sunrise and church services that will be happening on island because that's a bigger job than I can take on.  However, if you would like to share your church's events please feel free to do so as a comment here or on the Facebook page.

It seems a little too early to wish you a Happy Easter so I'll just say "Have fun making your Easter plans!"

March 17 & 18, 2012: St. Patrick's Day Weekend Events

I just updated the weekend events for this upcoming weekend.  You can watch a St. Patrick's Day parade and join in on other St. Patrick's Day festivities.  It's also another Free Family Weekend at the Honolulu Academy of Arts with lots of fun for the whole family.  If none of that sounds interesting to you, never fear, there are more things to choose from.  Check out all the details on the Weekend Events Page.

As always, if there's something great I missed please share it with others as a comment on this post.

Have a great weekend and don't forget to wear your green!

5 Great Spring Break Adventures

Hooray for Spring Break!  The morning rush isn't as rushed because the kids don't have to pack lunches or catch the bus or remember their homework.  They're home all day!  What?  All day?!  For a whole week?!

Before they drive you nuts, load everyone in the car and head off for some adventures.  Make some memories together and enjoy the extra time with your kids!  Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Go to the park

Pack a picnic and let the kids run off some of their energy.  A great park is Kaka'ako Waterfront Park located between downtown Honolulu and Waikiki.  Take big pieces of cardboard for some "sledding" fun on the steep hills there.

2. Act like a tourist

We live in a vacation destination but it's easy to get into a routine and forget that.  Join the visitors and take the Ali'i Tour at the Mac Nut Farm.  A bus ride, a boat ride, a show, lots of laughs and some learning all in one tour.

3. Go to the beach!  

The weather isn't always perfect for the beach this time of year, but if there's sun somewhere it's likely to be at the Ko'olina Lagoons.  Plus the lagoons sometimes offer protection from the wind.  Sun and no wind, my kind of beach weather!

4. Learn a little history

Punchbowl Cemetery is a place where you can learn a little World War II history, honor fallen service members and enjoy great views of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki.

5. Visit the library

Just because school is out doesn't mean your kids have to completely abandon the books.  Head to the library and let them pick out books they want to borrow and read at home.  You can also rent movies for $1.

What adventures have you thought of for Spring Break?  Leave them in the comments and together we'll create a great idea bank.

Do it yourself on Oahu

You saw all the links in each section, right?  Just in case you missed them, here they are again.  Click these for more information (including 'do it yourself' info) for each place.

Kaka'ako Waterfront Park

Ali'i Tour at the Mac Nut Farm

Ko'olina Lagoons

Punchbowl Cemetery

The Library

Polynesian Cultural Center Activities

This is the second in a series of posts about the Polynesian Cultural Center.  If you missed it, here's a link to the first post: Polynesian Cultural Center Canoe Pageant.

The hands-on activities at the Polynesian Cultural Center really make this a great place for kids.  The center is divided into different 'islands' and each island village has several hands-on things to try.  You can play native games, taste traditional food, take a dance lesson or try your hand at traditional village tasks like fishing or fire making.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Learn to throw a spear in Tonga.

Weave a fish out of lauhala.

Challenge your coordination with this game in Aotearoa.

Get inked (with stamps, not needles).

Climb a coconut tree in Samoa.  (There's a height requirement for this one)

During show times most of the employees in a village are busy with the presentation and many of the activities are closed.  Visit the island village when they are not hosting a show and there will be people there to help you try something new.  Fun for kids and adults alike!

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, Hawaii 96762

Hours:  Closed Sundays.  Open Mon - Sat beginning at 11:45am.  Island tours and village presentations begin at 12:05pm.  Island villages close at 5pm except for Tonga and Samoa which close at 5:30pm.  Box office closes at 8pm.  

Cost:  • There are numerous packages available so rather than list them all I'm going to give you a couple links to use.  Click here for kama'aina ticket prices.  Click here for tourist/visitor ticket prices.  • They offer a 20% discount for kama'aina.  I believe you need to call ahead to reserve tickets to receive this price.  • The PCC also offers an annual pass that pays for itself in a few visits.  Even better, this pass goes on sale from time to time so be on the lookout for that promotion. 

Parking:  $8 per vehicle.  Free if you have an annual pass.

Facilities:  Restrooms throughout the center.  Snack bar open from 11:30am to 6pm.  Marketplace with numerous stores and gift shops throughout the center.

Other:  • Some of the shows take place in covered amphitheaters but the canoe pageant, canoe rides, some shows and most of the activities take place outdoors so this isn't the best place to head on a rainy day.  • Since you'll be outside a lot I'd recommend sunscreen and hats.  • They sell snacks there but I usually take a few with me too for convenience.

More info:  Polynesian Cultural Center Canoe Pageant 

March 10 & 11, 2012: Weekend Events

Looking for family friendly events and activities on Oahu?  I just updated the Weekend Events Page for this coming weekend.  If you know of events I missed, please share them with others as a comment here - especially for Sunday since I couldn't find much going on then.

I hope that, rain or shine, you have a great weekend with your family!

Polynesian Cultural Center Canoe Pageant

For years I skipped the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) thinking it was just an expensive tourist trap but I've changed my mind.  Yes, it's a tourist trap and yes, it can be expensive, but it's very well done, entertaining, educational and a great place for a family outing.


There is so much to do I'm not going to try to fit it all in one post.  So here is the beginning of a short series of posts on the PCC.

Every day at 2:30 all eyes turn to the lagoon for the Canoe Pageant.  It's a parade on the water featuring dancers from the various cultures represented at the PCC.  The parade is fast-paced enough for little explorers but slow enough for adults to soak up and enjoy.  There's great music and it's a fun change of pace partway through the afternoon.

A lot of the seats for the parade are in the sun, but if you stake out a spot early you can get one in the shade.  Before the parade starts a canoe will come by with ice cream for sale.  If you're wanting to have dessert while you're there this is a great time to enjoy it.  You can also send part of your group off to get shave ice for everyone and enjoy that while you wait.

The canoe pageant happens in two locations simultaneously, the lagoon in front of Tahiti and the lagoon in front of Samoa, with half the boats starting at one end of the lagoons and half of them starting at the other.  We've watched it in both locations and on the Samoa side it seemed the boats spent a little more time in front of you, but we enjoyed both spots.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, Hawaii 96762

Hours:  Closed Sundays.  Open Mon - Sat beginning at 11:45am.  Island tours and village presentations begin at 12:05pm.  Island villages close at 5pm except for Tonga and Samoa which close at 5:30pm.  Box office closes at 8pm.  

Cost:  • There are numerous packages available so rather than list them all I'm going to give you a couple links to use.  Click here for kama'aina ticket prices.  Click here for tourist/visitor ticket prices.  • They offer a 20% discount for kama'aina.  I believe you need to call ahead to reserve tickets to receive this price.  • The PCC also offers an annual pass that pays for itself in a few visits.  Even better, this pass goes on sale from time to time so be on the lookout for that promotion. 

Parking:  $8 per vehicle.  Free if you have an annual pass.

Facilities:  Restrooms throughout the center.  Snack bar open from 11:30am to 6pm.  Marketplace with numerous stores and gift shops throughout the center.

Other:  • Some of the shows take place in covered amphitheaters but the canoe pageant, canoe rides, some shows and most of the activities take place outdoors so this isn't the best place to head on a rainy day.  • Since you'll be outside a lot I'd recommend sunscreen and hats.  • They sell snacks there but I usually take a few with me too for convenience.

Scenic Sunday: Panda Cupcakes

Scenic Sunday...because these are too cute not to share.

My son vetoed my big party plans and homemade cake tradition.  Instead he wanted just a few friends over to play tag and he wanted cupcakes.  I reminded myself it was his birthday and went with it.  When he wanted to help decorate the cupcakes I again reminded myself that it was his birthday, resisted my perfectionist tendencies and went with it.  I think they turned out cute, and with more personality than they would have had if they were perfect.

Gyu-Kaku

On a recent date night my husband and I went to Gyu-Kaku where we enjoyed uninterrupted conversation and had fun checking out a new (to us) restaurant.  We discovered not only is it a good place for a date night but our kids would like it too and we can't wait to take them there.

The unique thing about Gyu-Kaku is that each table comes with a little grill and you get to BBQ some of your own meal right there in the middle of your table.

You can grill veggies, chicken, seafood, pork and/or beef.  They have a variety of marinades to choose from and great dipping sauces too.  In addition to the food that you grill you can order a variety of appetizers, noodles, bibimbap and soups that are prepared in the kitchen.

To end your meal, you can choose from a number of desserts including s'mores.  We chose a desert from the kitchen but I know when our kids are with us we'll do the s'mores and they'll love roasting marshmallows over the grill.

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  There are currently 3 locations in Hawaii:
   Windward Mall:  46-056 Kamehameha Hwy F1, Kaneohe, Hawaii
   Kapiolani Location:  1221 Kapiolani Blvd., #105, Honolulu, Hawaii
   Waikiki Location:  307 Lewers Street, Honolulu, Hawaii
Hours:
   Windward Mall Location:  Lunch from 11am to 4pm, Dinner from 4pm to 11pm
   Kapiolani Location:  Lunch from 11:30am to 3:30pm, Dinner from 3:30pm to 12am
   Waikiki Location:  Lunch from 11:30am to 3:30pm, Dinner from 3:30pm to 12am
Cost/Menu:  Here's a link to the Gyu-Kaku Menu
Parking:
   Windward Mall Location: Free parking in mall parking lot.
   Kapiolani Location:  Free parking on first and second floor of parking structure for up to 3 hours with  validation.  Street parking also available after 6:30pm.
More info:
   Windward Mall Location:  808-744-2157
   Kapiolani Location:  808-589-2989
   Waikiki Location:  808-926-2989

March 3 & 4, 2012: Weekend Events

The Honolulu Festival is happening this weekend.  It involves multiple venues, many performances, a parade and fireworks so check it out, I'm sure you'll find something that interests you.  There are also a few free concerts, some children's theater and other fun to be had.  Check out the details on all these events on the Weekend Events Page.

Feel free to share events I missed with others as a comment to this post and if you find the Weekend Events Page helpful, please tell your friends about it!  Mahalo and have a great weekend!

Fishing at Kawainui Marsh

I don't have much experience fishing, so when friends invited us to meet them at Kawainui Marsh to do a little fishing I thought it would be a great chance for my kids to do something new.

Our friends had a basic pole with string and a simple hook on it and they had brought bread for bait.  The kids took turns fishing and by the end of our time they had each caught at least one fish.

The fish aren't very big (if you look VERY closely you can see a fish on the end of the line in the above picture) and we tossed them all back in the water.

What an adventure for the kids!  They strategized and planned, fished and had fun.  Thankfully no one got hooked with the hook and amazingly no one fell in the water!

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  I'm sure there are fish all along the marsh.  We went to the mauka (mountain) end of Kaha Street which is off of Oneawa Street.  There's a park there and we walked on the sidewalk toward the canal and fished right where the trail behind the marsh begins.
Hours:  The park and parking lot at the end of Kaha Street are closed from 7pm to 7am.
Parking:  We parked at the parking lot at the park at the end of Kaha Street.
Facilities:  There is a porta-potty at the park.
Other:  • Read my post about the Trail along Kawainui Marsh.  It's a great place to ride bikes or run or walk.  •  There are lots of ducks here, so take stuff to feed the ducks if that sounds fun to you.

Scenic Sunday: Cool Clouds

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

I confused my kids one day by pulling over to take a picture of the clouds.  

These clouds might mean something to a weather person but to me they just looked neat and unusual.  

Elephants at the Honolulu Zoo

To learn more about the Honolulu Zoo, read my blog post titled The Honolulu Zoo.  To just learn about the new elephant exhibit, continue reading below.

We haven't been doing a good job of putting our zoo membership to use this year but we are trying to change that, starting with a visit a couple weeks ago.

It was the first time we had been since they FINALLY finished the new elephant habitat.  They've been working on that project for longer than I can remember.  I've heard some complaints about it but I have to say it is 100% better than where the elephants lived before.  It always made me so sad to see the elephants in their tiny little space surrounded by concrete and I like their new spot.

The elephants get to walk on the ground now, not just stand on concrete, they have a water feature and they have lots of dirt which they were covering themselves in when we were there.  And their new area is much bigger than their old one.

The electric fence to keep them in definitely takes away from the possibility of this looking like a natural habitat.  Talk about a heavy-duty electric fence.  

But I didn't find it to be near as ugly as the chain link fence they've put up to keep people away from the electric fence.  I thought that was kind of an eyesore.  

But like I said at the beginning, this new spot for the elephants is a huge improvement over what they had before and I'll enjoy seeing the elephants much more than I did in the past.

On a different topic, the peacocks are aggressive!  Beware of leaving small children unguarded, especially if they have food.   The peacocks help themselves, and aren't easily chased off.  My daughter started the day excited to see the peacocks wandering around and ended by wanting to be picked up whenever one was anywhere in sight.

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  On the corner of Kapahulu and Kalakaua Aves. at 151 Kapahulu Avenue, Waikiki, Hawaii
Hours:  9am to 4:30pm daily; Closed on Christmas
Cost:  General Admission: $14 adults and $6 for children ages 3-12; Kama'aina/Military: $8 adults, $4 children ages 3-12.  (Keep reading for my zoo membership recommendation.)
Parking:  The zoo parking lot is adjacent to the zoo along Kapahulu Ave.  This lot is metered parking.  Memorize your license plate number (or park near one of the pay stations) and then pay with credit card or cash at the pay station.  No need to put your receipt on your dashboard, the parking attendants check when your parking is expired electronically using your license plate number.  If I remember right, parking here is $1/hr and you can add time remotely using your phone, how cool is that?!  You can also park for free in the Waikiki Shell parking lot which is along Monsarrat on the other side of the zoo.
Facilities:  The zoo has restroom facilities in several locations.  They have a couple of places to get food and drinks including the Kapahulu Market.  There is a gift shop by the main entrance.
Other:  A zoo membership is worth purchasing and will save you money even if you only visit a handful of times in a year.  You can find membership info and even join online here.
More info:

The Honolulu Zoo 

on Oahu Mom; Honolulu Zoo Webpage, 808-971-7171

February 25 & 26, 2012: Weekend Events

It's a short and sweet list this week, but there are a few fun things happening on island this weekend so check out the newly updated Weekend Events Page for the scoop on family friendly fun.  If you know of events I missed, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post or on my Facebook page.

Ice Palace Hawaii

Taking our kids to the Ice Palace has been on our bucket list and we finally made it happen.  An upcoming school field trip motivated us to get it on the calendar so our son would have some experience under his belt before he went with his class.

It felt odd to put on long sleeves and long pants and get out sweatshirts, socks and mittens when it was a beautiful warm day outside but when we got into the Ice Palace we were glad to have our warm clothes on.  We got our skates and got ready to head out onto the ice.  (Sounds easy but with a 3 and 6 year old it took a little bit of time to get shoes changed, sweatshirts zipped up, mittens on, bathroom trips made, mittens back on, etc. - but I don't need to tell that to you that, if you're a parent then you know how it goes!)

One end of the ice rink is sectioned off for beginners and they have little walker-type things to use in this area.  This makes it much easier to help a beginning skater without ending up with a back injury yourself and it also helps them gain a bit of independence sooner than they would without it.

Don't let the exterior of the Ice Palace keep you from paying it a visit.  My son loves the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover" and that applies to the Ice Palace.  Here's the outside:

Here's the inside

Beginners can skate in the rest of the rink too, but the little walker devices have to stay in the area designated for them.  Our kids wanted to venture out into the big part of the rink after awhile and had fun making their way around the big loop.  

The Ice Palace was a fun family outing for us.  We skated until the kids were ready for a break and then got pizza while the Zamboni cleaned and resurfaced the ice.  Then we skated some more until we were all ready to go.  We turned in our skates, put on our slippers, took off our sweatshirts and mittens and headed out into the beautiful Hawaiian sunshine.  I love winter in small quantities and a morning at the Ice Palace was a perfect amount of winter for me!

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  4510 Salt Lake Blvd. #B6, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 in the Stadium Mall Shopping Center
Hours:  Check their website (linked below) for current public skating hours.
Cost:  $8.90 for every skater, includes skate rental.  No charge for parents who are there to chaperone children but will not be skating.
Parking:  Free parking in the adjacent parking lot.
Facilities:  There are restrooms here as would be expected.  They also have lockers for rent and quite a few arcade type games.  There is a snack bar where you can order pizza, hot dogs, nachos, fountain drinks and other basic fast-food items.  There are bleachers, tables and chairs and an area upstairs for birthday parties.
Other:  It's hard to remember when it's 80° outside, but it's cold inside the Ice Palace so dress accordingly.  Don't forget to take socks and if you have mittens take them too!  • It's also helpful to take cash or small bills (they have a change making machine) if you plan to use the lockers. • Have feet measured if you're not sure what size of ice skates to get.  The skates don't correlate directly with regular shoe sizes.
More info:  Call 808-487-9921 or visit the Ice Palace Hawaii's website

Scenic Sunday: Kailua Bay

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

Kailua Bay as seen from Kaiwa Ridge on the Lanikai Pillbox Hike

This post is linked to Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

January 18, 19 & 20, 2012: Weekend Events

President's Weekend is here and there are lots of family friendly activities and events happening this weekend.  You and your family can watch a musical, visit the Great Aloha Run's Fitness Expo, take a tour at Kualoa Ranch, go on a guided Reef Walk, head to the Free Family Sunday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, go to a family dance party and more.  Like I said, there's a lot happening!  Check out the Weekend Events Page for all the details.

Even though the list is long this weekend, I'm sure I missed an event or two so feel free to use the comments to share other events with our Oahu Mom ohana.

Have a great weekend!

February 11 & 12, 2012: Weekend Events

I just updated the Weekend Events Page for this coming weekend.  Check it out if you are looking for ideas for family-friendly events and activities happening this weekend!

If you know of events I missed, feel free to share them with others as a comment to this post.

My family will be celebrating a birthday this weekend.  I was ready to plan a big old birthday bash but my son just wanted a few friends over to play tag and outdoor games so I took my event-planner hat off and we're going to have a small group of kids over to play tag (and eat cake too of course).  Can't believe I'm going to have a 7-year-old in just a few days!

I hope you have a great weekend!

Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore

Ah, winter.  Those who say Hawaii doesn't have seasons haven't lived here.  Sure they're mild, but there are seasons none-the-less.  Winter means more rain, cooler temperatures (especially in the mornings and evenings) and big waves on the North Shore.

If you haven't made it up to the North Shore yet this winter you should add it to list of things to do.  It's an entirely different place this time of year than in the summer and watching the big waves never gets old.  

A couple weeks ago we had friends visiting who wanted to see the North Shore.  The surf report said waves were around 15 feet and when we got to Pipeline we discovered there had been a surfing competition there earlier in the day but it had been called off because the waves were too big.  There were still a lot of surfers and bodyboarders in the water and we joined the spectators lining the beach and had fun watching them most of the afternoon.

Pipeline really is a great place to watch bodyboarders and surfers because the main break is fairly close to shore so it's easy to see the action from the beach.

They're not quite as close as they look in this picture but this was taken with the zoom on my little point and shoot camera, not a fancy camera with a big lens.  Definitely easy to see with the unaided eye.

If you just want to see waves, hit most any spot along the North Shore, but if you want to see surfers I'd recommend the Banzai Pipeline.  Have fun and be safe!

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  Banzai Pipeline is located near Ehukai Beach Park which is in Pupukea on the North Shore. 

Directions:  Ehukai Beach Park is located along Kamehameha Hwy. between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach near Sunset Beach Elementary School.  

Parking:  There is a parking lot at Ehukai Beach Park.  When this is full find a spot where you can pull completely off the road that isn't marked 'no parking' and park there.

Facilities:  There are restrooms and showers at Ehukai Beach Park.

Other:  When there's a big swell most beaches on the North Shore are closed, and for good reason.  The water is extremely rough and the currents are incredibly strong.  Follow posted warnings and all lifeguard instructions.  Also be on the lookout for unexpected waves that can wash quite a ways up the beach with lots of force.  •  Take binoculars if you have them, but if you don't you'll still be able to see a lot.  •  Big waves on the North Shore can mean lots of traffic on Kamehameha Hwy.  Be prepared to go slow and relax and enjoy the journey.

Scenic Sunday: Surfer

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

February 4 & 5, 2012: Weekend Events

Trying to decide what to do with your family this weekend?  I've compiled my weekly list of family friendly activities and events that are happening on island.  Quite a few things to do on Saturday, not as many choices for Super Bowl Sunday, probably because event planners figure many people will be watching the game.  Will you?

Visit the Weekend Events Page to see the whole list.  As always, feel free to add things I missed by sharing a comment here or on my Facebook page.  Have a great weekend!

Curious George at the Children's Discovery Center

I finally made it to the Children's Discovery Center to see the visiting Curious George exhibit.  If you haven't seen it yet, hurry over for a visit before Valentine's Day when the exhibit will travel to another museum.

My kids are fans of the original Curious George books and I enjoyed seeing many of the scenes from the books portrayed in the exhibit.  Curious George and a rocket, Curious George washing windows, the market where he shopped with his friend, etc.  

As would be expected in a children's museum exhibit there are lots of hands-on opportunities for kids.  They can play mini golf, use fans to blow various windmills, "shop" and "work" at the market and use pulleys to help George get up the side of a building.  A big hit with our school field trip group was the conveyor belt.  It was fun to see the kids working together as a team to load the belt, crank the wheel to get the blocks up, and catch them as they came down the other side.

There are also educational aspects to the exhibit including a number of hands-on experiments with light, shadows and color.  

I almost missed the part of the exhibit that is in the museum's lobby.  It's a section that tells more about the creators of Curious George and their personal and literary history and I learned a few things.

All in all, a fun little exhibit.  Too bad it won't be around forever but go see it while you can!

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  Hawaii Children's Discovery Center, 111 Ohe Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Hours:  The museum is open Tues.-Fri. from 9am to 1pm and Sat.-Sun. 10am to 3pm; Closed Mondays

Cost:  General Admission $10, Kama'aina & Military with valid ID $8, Senior Citizens (62+ with ID) $6, Children under 1 are free.

Parking:  Free parking in the adjacent Kaka'ako Waterfront Park parking lot.

Facilities:  Restrooms and drinking fountain available in the lobby.  Elevators available.

Other:  Strollers are not allowed.  

More info:  For more information on the rest of the museum, check out my post on the Children's Discovery Center.  

Contact the Discovery Center:  808-524-5437

Scenic Sunday: Sunset on the North Shore

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

January 28 & 29, 2012: Weekend Events

In addition to the Pro Bowl, there is a lot going on this weekend.  You can get free admission to the USS Missouri, watch a puppet show, attend a giant bounce house event, tour a traditional fish pond, listen to a concert or two and have another chance to watch a lion dance.  These details for all of these events are listed on the Weekend Events Page which I just updated.  

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

2012 Great Aloha Run & Keiki Run

My husband and son just decided to do the Great Aloha Run this year, the annual event that begins at the Aloha Tower and ends at Aloha Stadium.  Some readers may remember they did the Great Aloha Run a couple years ago and our son only walked about .5 miles of the 8 mile course and my husband carried him the other 7.5 miles.  At first my husband was excited to make it a yearly tradition but then changed his mind and decided to wait.  This is the year to try it again.  Our son just ran/walked 8.25 miles for his school's two hour jog-a-thon so we know that if he's motivated he can do it.  Here's hoping for motivation on race day!

Me?  I'll be home when the race begins.  Our girl is not a happy camper early in the morning, not a happy camper when she has to be in a stroller against her will and not a happy camper when she has to walk against her will.  Eight miles with an unhappy camper just doesn't sound fun so I'm going to sacrifice and sleep in, I mean stay home, with her.

This is a very family friendly race and you'll be in good company if you are there with a stroller.  If you want to give it a try this year, January 27 (that's this coming Friday) is the last day for regular entries to the Great Aloha Run to be postmarked.  After that you must register in person and the price increases significantly.

In addition to the race on President's Day there will also be a special 1.5 mile Keiki Run on Saturday, February 18.  Registration for that is online through January 31.

Here are some links for more information and to register:
Kaiser Permanente's Great Aloha Run
Hawaii 5210, Let's Go Keiki Run

Scenic Sunday: Plumeria

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

One of the many varieties of plumeria flowers at the Urban Garden Center.

January 21 & 22, 2012: Weekend Events

If you are hoping to see a lion dance, chance are you won't have to drive very far to see one this weekend since a number of malls are hosting their Chinese New Year Celebrations this weekend.  You can also watch a hula performance, join a guided tour of the great outdoors, or get into the Bishop Museum for free (if you're kama'aina or military).  The details for these and other events are on the Weekend Events Page which I just finished updating for this weekend.

Have another event to share?  Feel free to leave a comment on this post with a link or the basic info.

Have a great weekend!

Lyon Arboretum

Lyon Arboretum is a botanical garden that is owned and operated by the University of Hawaii.  It is used for research and community education and is open to the public!  It's location in a tropical rainforest in the back of Manoa Valley is a gorgeous spot.

When you sign in at the visitor's center you can get a map of the place which I would recommend.  I found the map a little hard to read and match with the trails themselves but we would have been even more lost without any map at all.

My friends and I began by exploring the trails located near the visitor's center.  My son loved practicing his new reading skills by reading the labels on the trees and plants, my daughter loved carrying our map and all the kids had fun walking on the trails.

Near the visitor's center there are several small gardens you can visit, a traditional Hawaiian hale (pictured here, it has since been completed), and a nice gazebo and adjacent little pond.

We fueled the kids up with a picnic lunch, stopped at the restrooms and then we were off for a grander adventure.  We explored a number of the side and loop trails shown on the map and the kids had fun leading the way as we hiked.  

It was great to see and hear their excitement over birds, flowers and other treasures discovered along the way.  

There is a trail that leads to a small waterfall in the back of the valley and we spent some time on this trail but didn't go all the way to the waterfall.  Something to explore the next time we visit this beautiful spot!

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  3860 Manoa Road, Honolulu, HI  96822
Directions:  Here's a link to directions and a map.
Hours:  Mon-Fri from 8am to 4pm; Sat from 9am to 3pm; Closed holidays
Cost:  The arboretum is technically free, but there is a suggested donation that I believe was $5 per person.  I think I decided kids were half-price and donated $10 for the three of us but I can't remember exactly.
Parking:  There is a parking lot adjacent to the visitor's center.  If it's full, wait a bit and hopefully a spot will open up.
Facilities:  There are restrooms next to the visitor's center.  There is also a covered pavilion nearby with benches - a nice spot to have a picnic.  Oh, and there's a small gift shop inside the visitor's center.
Other:  All visitors must sign in at the visitor's center.  •  I'd recommend you take bug spray no matter what time of year you go.  Even in the summer Manoa valley can get a lot of rain, making it a nice place for mosquitos.  •  You could probably take a jogger stroller on some of the paths here but I think a backpack carrier would be a better choice for little adventurers.
More info:  808-988-0456

Scenic Sunday: Birdseye View

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

The view from the top of the Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail

January 14, 15 & 16, 2012: Weekend Events

It's a long weekend and I have included events for Monday on this week's Weekend Events Page.  There is lots to do with a number of activities in Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year, a couple of events honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., free family Sunday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and events and activities at several of the malls.  All the details for these and other events are on the Weekend Events Page.

As always, if I left something off that you know about, please feel free to share it with others in the comments here.  And if you see that there are comments, check them out because there's probably good information there.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend!