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!

Kawainui Marsh Trail

The Kawainui Marsh lies behind Kailua.  A levy separates the marsh and Kailua and there is a path and sidewalk running the length of the levy.  It's a nice place for a relaxing stroll with a beautiful view of the Ko'olau Mountains and a chance to see a variety of Hawaiian birds and ducks.  The paved sidewalk is great for strollers, scooters, and beginning bicyclists so this is also a great place to get some exercise with kids in tow.

We've been taking our kids and their bikes and running/walking along with them.  When I'm paired with my daughter I'm either trying to keep up with her or stopped trying to persuade her to keep going, but as she improves I'll be able to keep up a more steady pace.

There is no shade along this trail and it can get pretty hot in the middle of the day.  We prefer to go in the morning or late afternoon.  This is a pretty popular trail, especially during those times of day, and you might see a friend or two along the way.

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  This trail can be accessed from either end.  The access point to the Kaneohe side of the trail is at the mauka (mountain) end of Kaha Street (off of Oneawa St.).  The access point for the other end is off of Kailua Road shortly after you leave Kailua town heading towards Castle Hospital.
Hours:  There aren't hours for the trail, but the park and its parking lot at the end of Kaha Street are closed from 7pm to 7am.
Parking:  There is parking at both ends of the path.  There is a parking lot in the park at Kaha street and a pull-out to park in off of Kailua Road.
Facilities:  There are porta-potties in the park at the end of Kaha road.  There are no facilities along the trail.

Scenic Sunday: Croton Leaves

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

I love all the different colors on this croton bush.

Lanikai Pillbox Hike

My holidays were filled with lots of eating and now I'm feeling the need to get out and get active.  Anyone else feeling the same?

The Lanikai Pillbox Hike, also known as the Kaiwa Ridge Trail, is a great place to get some exercise and enjoy some amazing views.  It's a steady uphill climb and will give you a good workout, especially if you are trying to keep up with your 6 year old like I was.  

The first part of the trail is the steepest and the rocks and dirt are loose, but after a bit the trail gets easier and the beautiful views begin.

This is a popular trail with people of all ages.  It's not without it's dangerous spots and has some high drop offs and slippery areas (we came across a lady who had slipped and was waiting for a rescue by the fire department), but with a little bit of caution it can be a safe and fun adventure for the whole family.  A few pictures can describe it better than I can so here's an example of a steep drop-off in front of the hikers pictured:

And here's what it looked like hiking that section.  There's plenty of space to keep away from the edge of the drop-off.  Our 6 year old hiked the whole trail on his own and our 3 year old hiked most of it with my husband behind her holding both of her hands for support.

At the top of the trail are two pillboxes that make a great place for panoramic photos and/or a snack.  You can climb in the pillboxes and sit on top of them.  The last time we hiked this we went to both pillboxes and I think our entire adventure last about two hours which includes all the time we spent hanging out at each pillbox.  I've read that you can take the trail past the second pillbox and it will take you down the other end of the ridge and then you can walk back to your car on the neighborhood streets but I haven't done that.

I'll end this post as I began, by saying this is a great little hike if you want to get some exercise and see some amazing scenery.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  The Lanikai Pillboxes are on Kaiwa Ridge which is behind the community of Lanikai.  

Directions:  From Kailua, head southeast past Kailua Beach Park and the boat ramp.  Stay along the coast and head into Lanikai.  At the Y, stay to the right on Aalapapa Drive.  Then take a right on Kaelepulu Drive.  Find street parking here and then walk up the street.  Just before the road enters a gated community you'll see a road that goes off to the left.  Take this road to the trailhead which is off the right side of this unnamed road.

Parking:  Street parking along Kaelepulu Drive.

Facilities:  No restrooms or other facilities here.

Other:  As mentioned in the post, this trail is steep and has drop-offs in some locations.  Use caution and you'll have a fun and safe adventure.  I'd recommend taking water and wearing sunscreen.  If your kids are like mine, taking snacks will help you have happy hikers.

Cost:  Free

January 7 & 8, 2012: Weekend Events

If you thought the holidays were over, guess again.  The Christmas train at Pearlridge Mall is operating through this weekend and the Japanese Cultural Center is hosting a New Year's event.  You can also celebrate The Three Kings Day with the Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii.  Last but not least, there will also be a Lion Dance at Kailua Public Library.  The details for these events are all on the Weekend Events Page.  

If you know of events I missed, please feel free to share them with others in the comments to this post or on my Facebook page.  

Have a great weekend!