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.

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 

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.

Hawaiian Hall Gallery at Bishop Museum

The first time I took my kids into Hawaiian Hall at the Bishop Museum I wasn't sure how it would go.  The museum's science adventure center is very kid friendly but I had visions of them endangering ancient artifacts or whining about how bored they were in Hawaiian Hall.  Happily we did not have to make a speedy exit and they enjoyed our time there so much that we have gone back.  The renovations that were completed a few years ago definitely took children into consideration.  

On the first floor there is a large screen TV that shows nature scenes from the Hawaiian Islands.  It draws my kids in and gives me a chance to look at nearby exhibits without them urging me to quit reading and move on.  If you're there as a family or with another adult it's also an easy place to have all the kids hang out with one adult while the other one looks around the museum.  

On the second floor there is a row of hands-on exhibits.  Children (and adults too) can pretend to pound tapa cloth or poi, wrap a gift in leaves, identify flowers by their smell and follow along with videos of native dances.  

Throughout the rest of the exhibit hall there are small TV monitors in various locations with touch screens to access various videos.  My kids like these too.  They also enjoy a quick look at the displays in the exhibit cases but they move at a pretty fast pace.  

The hall is filled with a wealth of information about ancient Hawaii, the Hawaiian royal family and the end of the monarchy.  Sometime I want to visit without kids so I can read more of the displays and soak up more Hawaiian history but in the meantime I read a few new signs every time we're there.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

Directions:  Why reinvent the wheel?  Click here for directions to the museum from wherever you might be.

Parking:  There is plenty of free parking right in front of the museum.

Hours:  9am to 5pm Wednesday to Monday (i.e. closed on Tuesdays).  Also closed on Christmas.

Cost:  Adults $17.95, Seniors (65 and over) $14.95, Children ages 4-12 $14.95, Children 3 and under are free.  They have reduced rates for kama'aina and military visitors with proper identification.  To save money, consider purchasing a membership (they have several levels available) or be on the lookout for free admission days; they have a couple a year and I try to post them on the Weekend Events page when they occur.

Facilities:  There are restrooms and an elevator in Hawaiian Hall.  

Other:  The Bishop Museum has a large gift shop and a café.  We have also taken our own food and had a picnic on their lawn.

Related:  Read my post about the Bishop Museum's Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center and the Bishop Museum's Abigail Kinoiki Kehaulike Kahili Room.

More info:  Contact the Bishop Museum at 808-847-3511

Kuhio Beach Free Hula Show in Waikiki

We had family visiting last week and they wanted was to see a hula show so one evening we headed down to Waikiki to watch the show at Kuhio Beach.  We got there 20 minutes before it started and got a nice spot on the lawn in front of the hula mound.  As showtime got closer the area filled in around us and by the time the show started the lawn was filled with people and there was standing room only on all sides of the venue.  

Different hula halaus (hula schools) put on the show different evenings.  The evening we were there the atmosphere on stage was one of ohana (family).  Songs sung in Hawaiian were translated into English and cultural traditions were shared and explained.  The dances were well done and the music was beautiful, but I went away feeling I had caught a glimpse of the real Hawaii rather than feeling like I had watched a super polished made-for-tourists-only show.  I really enjoyed how genuine it all was.

The hula show was well done and the setting was beautiful.  As we were watching the show the sun set behind us over the ocean and the tiki torches surrounding us burned brighter.  This was a fun way to take in a hula performance!

Do it yourself on Oahu
Location:  Kuhio Hula Mound in Waikiki is located on the ocean side of Kalakaua Ave. between Uluniu Ave. and Liliuokalani Ave.
Hours:  Currently the shows are from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.   I've read that in the winter months (I believe Nov-Jan) the show begins at 6pm.
Parking:  We parked in the zoo parking lot where rates are currently $1/hr.  Entrance to the zoo lot is off of Kapahulu Ave.  From here it's about a six block walk to the Kuhio Hula Mound.
Facilities:  There are public restrooms located a block or two down the beach.  Some of the retail establishments across the street also have restrooms that are open to the public.
Cost:  Free
Other:  We just sat on the grass, but you can also take mats or blankets to sit on.  We packed a picnic supper for the kids and I'd definitely recommend doing that.  Afterwards we went across the street to Yogurtland for dessert.  Yum!
More info:  Before heading to Waikiki, please call 808-843-8002 to confirm show days and times.

King Kamehameha Day Lei Draping

Last year I blogged about seeing the Kamehameha Statue draped in leis for King Kamehameha Day.  If you want to see this for yourself now is the time.

The lei draping ceremony will begin this Friday, June 10, at 3:30pm with a prelude concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band.

The ceremony occurs in front of Aliiolani Hale at 417 South King Street, across from the Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu.    (For Hawaii Five-0 fans, you'll recognize this location as "Five-0 Headquarters.")

If you don't make it to the ceremony, I would recommend at least stopping by sometime to see the leis.

Have a great weekend!

Royal Mausoleum

Ever wonder where the royal families of Hawaii are buried?  The Royal Mausoleum in Nu'uanu Valley is the principal burial site for the Kamehameha and Kalakaua Dynasties.  I stumbled upon this place, called Mauna 'Ala (Fragrant Hills) in Hawaiian, when I was walking along Nu'uanu Road.  The beautiful black gates with gold accents caught my eye and last month I finally got a chance to stop in and visit.

On the grounds of the Royal Mausoleum there are a chapel, an underground burial vault and several free standing tombs.  The grounds are beautiful and peaceful and you forget how close you are to both downtown Honolulu and the Pali Hwy.  

The underground crypt is where the remains of many members of the royal family are kept, with their names and dates of birth and death marking their final resting place.  Many of the remains were transferred here after the mausoleum was finished in 1865.

There are free standing tombs and monuments both beside and behind the chapel.  As we walked around looking at them I had an opportunity to teach my children about graveyard etiquette and respect, as well as a bit of Hawaiian history.

We also saw many beautiful leis which had been left on the graves.  On May 2, leis from Lei Day competitions held on May 1 are ceremoniously placed on graves at the Royal Mausoleum.  Our visit was in the afternoon after the ceremony and the leis were intricate and beautiful.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  2261 Nu'uanu Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii

Directions:  From the Pali Hwy, take the Wyllie Street exit.  If you are coming from Honolulu, you will loop around to the right, crossing over the Pali, and come to an intersection where you will take a left at the stop sign.  If you are driving towards Honolulu, you will exit and arrive at the same intersection where you will go straight at the stop sign.  You will be on Nu'uanu Ave. and pass two churches on your left and the Mausoleum will be just after them and before the large cemetery.

Hours:  Mon-Fri, 8am to 4:30pm; Closed on weekends and holidays, except Memorial Day.

Parking:  Free and located along the loop inside the gates of the Mausoleum.

Facilities:  There are restrooms located behind the chapel.

Other:  Picnicing is not allowed on the grounds of the Royal Mausoleum.

More info:  For a brief history of the Mausoleum, read about it on Wikipedia


This post is part of the Carnival of Aloha at Homespun Honolulu.  Head there to find links to more posts about the Hawaiian islands.

Ali'i Tour at the Mac Nut Farm

I really enjoyed the Ali'i Tour at Tropical Farms and so did the rest of the family, visiting grandparents included.  In trying to decide how to blog about this adventure I've decided against the blow by blow description and instead will give you some highlights and share some pictures.

The tour had a very relaxed and personable feel to it.  The guys who led the tour all seemed to be laid back and have a great sense of humor.  (Not enough seats on the bus?  No worries!  We'll just grab a folding chair and put it in the aisle.  Problem solved!)

They made sure everyone got a chance to see, taste or touch whatever they were highlighting during the tour.

They took the time to take group pictures with everyone both at the end of the amphitheater program and during the boat tour.  (They offered the amphitheater photo for sale at the end of the tour, but were happy to also take it with our cameras.)  That was my favorite part of the tour, the unhurried pace and relaxed attitude that prevailed.  Well, that and the view of the mountains.  Tropical Farms just happens to be next to my favorite section of the Ko'olaus, and even on a cloudy day the view was spectacular.

Our boy's favorite part of the tour was the boat ride, and he's been asking to go on it again.

I thought our girl's favorite part of the tour was going to be the many chickens wandering around at the amphitheater, but in the end the fire dance won out and was her overall favorite.

My husband said his favorite part was watching the guy make fire in a matter of minutes just by rubbing to sticks together.  He'd have done well on Survivor!

You also get the chance to see the setting, and in some cases the sets, for a number of movies and TV shows.  The boat and the bus go by these places so you get a good view of them.  ER, Off the Map and 50 First Dates are some of the shows that have been filmed here.

Definitely a fun tour - one I'd recommend and one we will take again!

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location:  Tropical Farms: the Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet, 49-227 Kamehameha Hwy #A, Kaneohe, HI  96744

Directions:  

• From Kaneohe, head NW on the Kahekili Hwy.  After the juncture with the 830 (where the Hygenic Market is on the corner) this will become the Kamehameha Hwy. and you will continue on it for just under 5 miles.  The turn for Tropical Farms will be on your right.  It is tucked in the trees and is off the road a little bit but is marked with a sign.  If by chance you get to Kualoa Regional Park or Kualoa Ranch you have gone too far. 

• If you are coming SE on the Kamehameha Hwy from the north shore, Tropical Farms will be on your left, shortly after you pass Kualoa Ranch and Kualoa Regional Park.

Parking:  Free parking right out front in their parking lot.

Hours:  Closed Sundays.  Only one tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays and it is at 11.  Tours from 11-4 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  I think the tours begin on the hour, but when I called them it sounded kind of like it depended on when people sign up and how many are signed up and...like I said, it's a laid back pace but relax and go with the flow and you'll have a good time.  Our tour was scheduled for 11 but there were enough people to fill two buses so they divided everyone up and some headed out at 11 and others at 11:30.  

Cost:  $20 for adults, $15 for military and kama'aina with ID, $10 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under.

Other:  

To purchase tickets for the tour, go through the gift shop at Tropical Farms to a separate building in the back where there's a sign and counter for the Ali'i Tour.  

I didn't see any restrooms during the tour, so visit the nice ones in the gift shop before you get on the bus.  

For more info:  The best way to find out more about the tour is to call them directly at 808-589-7411.  They have a webpage but they said it is outdated so I'm not going to link to it.

Lei Stands at Honolulu Airport

When I meet visitors at the airport I like greeting them with flower leis.  I stop at the airport lei stands and buy leis there.  When my parents came to visit last week my kids and I made our traditional stop before picking them up.

I often let my kids pick which leis to buy (within my target price range).  My boy always has to check out several of the stands before deciding on a purchase.  It's pretty cute, unless I'm in a hurry.

I like to see the variety of leis and watch them being made.  When we stopped in last week one of the lei sellers was making this beautiful haku lei (a lei worn around the head like a garland).

To appreciate the fragrance of the leis you will have to check this place out yourself.  The tuberose and plumeria leis smell especially wonderful.

Do it yourself on Oahu:

Directions:  The lei stands are well marked when you drive to the airport.  Head towards arrivals until you see the sign for the lei stands on your left.

Hours:  Each lei stand has its own hours, but from talking to one of the vendors it sounds like you should have no problem purchasing a lei as early as 6am and as late as 10pm.

Parking:  Free parking directly in front of the lei sellers.

Prices:  Better than your local drugstore or grocery store.  Prices range from $5 to $20 or so.  Some vendors will bargain with you, especially if you are buying multiple leis.

Many people like to buy leis in Chinatown, but for me the convenience of the airport lei stands is hard to beat.  We stop here for leis for special occasions like graduations and birthdays too.


To see lots of great photos from around the world, check out Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Ulupo Heiau in Kailua

Over the summer I took my kids and some friends to the heiau in Kailua but didn't get a chance to blog about it until now.  (For those who don't know, a heiau is a temple built and used by ancient Hawaiians.)  I'd driven by it countless times and even peeked at it from the YMCA pool area but had never taken the time to check it out.

From the top it is an impressive foundation of stones, upon which wooden structures are thought to have been built when it was in use.  But it's when you walk around to the lower side of the heiau that it's massive size can really be appreciated.  It is clear that a lot of time and energy went into building this place.

My kids would have loved to climb around on the rocks of the heiau, but out of respect for the site and those who hold it sacred I took them down the path below the heiau to explore there instead.  There are a number of taro patches planted below the heiau and it was interesting to see the taro in various stages of growth and to check out the ditch irrigation system that waters them all.  

The path ends at the Kawainui marsh where it is built out onto the marsh for a short ways, similar to Na Pohaku O Hauwahine which can be seen from this spot.

This was a fun spot to spend time outdoors and teach my children a little about ancient Hawaiian culture at the same time.

Do it yourself on Oahu:

• Directions:  Tour buses use a pull-out on Kailua Road to get to the heiau, but if you have a car it is better to park at the Kailua YMCA.  Coming from Kailua on Kailua Road, take a right on Uluoa St., another right on Manu Aloha St., and one last right on Manu Oo St. which will end in the YMCA parking lot.  Take the sidewalk to the left of the YMCA building which will lead you to the entrance to the heiau.

• Here is the Hawaii State Parks' website for the Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site.

• There are no restrooms or other facilities here.

King Kamehameha Day

Update: Here is a link for information on the 2011 Lei Draping Ceremony.

On Friday we stopped to see the statue of King Kamehamea draped in leis for Kamehameha Day.  The leis were beautiful and amazingly long, as you can see in this picture.  For scale, the statue is eight and a half feet tall and the pedestal is even taller than that.  The longest leis were made of plumeria flowers. 

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

May 1 is Lei Day in Hawaii, and in honor of Lei Day there are lots of festivities and programs featuring traditional Hawaiian culture.  Many events are on Lei Day itself, but often schools have their programs at various times before or after May 1.

Sunday night we went to the May Day program at a high school where a number of our favorite teenagers go to school.  It's not a very big school, but they put on an excellent program!  They started with the introduction of their May Day court, with the prince and princess representing each island wearing the traditional colors and leis of that island.  The program included traditional Hawaiian hulas but also included dances from many other Pacific cultures including the Philippines, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti and a few others.  The students had obviously spent a lot of time rehearsing and their costumes were all very good too.

The Maori men's dance scared our girl and made her cry, but she recovered and enjoyed the rest of the program...well, except for the fire dance at the end.  She didn't cry for that one, but definitely wasn't thrilled with it and we think it gave her nightmares.  That night she woke up crying a couple times and when my husband checked on her he said she mumbled "fire."  Poor thing!

Our boy enjoyed the program, especially the dances that included spears and sticks.  "Dad, are there going to be any more dances where they pretend to fight?" he asked and then added, "I hope so!"

The program was long, just over two hours, but I can't think of any part of it that I'd have wanted them to leave out.  It was a great cultural experience, kind of like our own Polynesian Cultural Center show but without the hefty admission price.

Do it yourself:

Here is more info on the history of Lei Day.

If you're on Oahu, check and see if there are any schools that haven't had their May Day program yet.  If they're open to the public I would recommend taking your keiki.  Like I said, definitely a great cultural experience!

Punchbowl Cemetery

A cemetery may seem like an odd choice for an outing, especially with kids, but that’s where we went recently.  We were meeting friends visiting Oahu and the place we were meeting and the time frame we had made the Punchbowl the obvious choice for something to do.

The Punchbowl, officially called the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, has a couple of areas I usually visit.  This time we started by going through the memorial with its mosaic maps of famous battles from WW II.  This one is my favorite - a map of Saipan where I grew up.

Both of my kids could fit right through the protective railing and since no one was around I was irresponsible and let them march in and out of the railings.  They thought that was great! 

 

They also enjoyed going up and down all the stairs and checking out the water fountain in the center of the memorial.

We walked up to the viewpoint area next.  While I chatted with my friends, my kids both enjoyed climbing and walking on the various walls along the way.  There was a lot of vog so the view of Diamond Head and the view toward Pearl Harbor were not as clear as usual but we still had fun checking out downtown from that vantage point.

Do it yourself:

Punchbowl Cemetery is located between Prospect Street and the Pali Hwy.  You will go through neighborhoods to get there and may feel lost at times, but there are signs at the main turns and overall it’s pretty easy to find.

As you enter the cemetery, take a left and drive up behind the memorial where there is parking between the memorial and the viewpoint.  Entrance and parking are both free.

If your children like walking along the tops of walls like mine do, keep an eye on them.  In some places the ground next to the walls drops away and your children can suddenly be many more feet up in the air than is safe.

I did my best to teach my children respect for the cemetery and the service members whose lives it was built to remember and honor.  I hope you will do the same.

 

Chinatown

Over the holiday weekend we decided to go to Chinatown to look around. We've been there a number of times to eat at various restaurants and last year we went to the Chinese New Year parade there, but we realized we'd never just gone to wander.

We meandered through some of the stores and saw lots of fresh produce and fresh seafood.

Some was even more fresh than this and was still swimming around in the tanks. Came across a lot of food items I wouldn't know what to do with, but if I'm ever cooking Asian food and need to find an ingredient I definitely will know where to go shopping!
When the kids got tired of shopping we walked along the canal for a bit to break things up for them.
Then we went in a few more stores. One sold beads and jewelry and both kids wanted to touch everything in the store. Miraculously we made it out of there without breaking anything, whew! Another store we went in was filled with all kinds of cooking utensils and when my current wok wears out I have my next one picked out.
Challenged our boy to get the ball out of this lion's mouth, then we talked about how it was made. The teacher in me getting him to learn through exploration I guess.

I've tagged this post as a free activity because there is no charge to walk around Chinatown, but we didn't leave with as much money as we arrived with. I bought some bananas and papayas, canned gluten (tastes better than it sounds or looks) to use when I make stir-fry and lettuce wraps, and a little bit of jewelry at the bead store. Oh, and we paid $2 for parking. It was a fun cultural experience, just 30 minutes from our back door.

Do it yourself:

• I don't want to label Chinatown as unsafe during the day but I was glad my husband was along for this outing. We didn't have any problems or anything weird happen but I just felt more comfortable having another adult with me. My recommendation would be to go as a family or invite a friend to join you.

• Location: Along the west side of downtown Honolulu.

• Parking: There are some open lots as well as a number of parking garages in Chinatown. We parked in a garage along Maunakea with an entrance between Hotel and King Streets. They have special weekend and holiday rates. During the week it might be less expensive to park in one of the open lots. We saw one on Maunakea and I know there are others.

• Markets: In addition to the stores you can see from the street, there are a couple of marketplaces that are interesting to stroll through. Maunakea Market is between Hotel Street and N. Pauahi Street in the block closest to the canal and Kakaulike Market is between King Street and Hotel Street in the same block.

• Produce: Lots of fresh, local produce at great prices!