June and July Events

photo by Kokoro Exhibits

Life Through Time:

Dinosaurs & Ice Age Mammals

Now till September 15, 2013

This entertaining and educational exhibit features 10 full-sized moving and roaring animatronics dinosaurs and ice-age mammals. The exhibition starts in the time of the Ice Age, more than 2.6 millions years ago, with a family of Saber Tooth Tigers and a Mastodon, which most closely resembles a modern day elephant. Going even further back in time, visitors are transported to the age of the dinosaurs where they will encounter the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex and a giant Apatosaurus, formerly known as a Brontosaurus. Examine the hatchlings of the Maiasauras and see how dinosaurs cared for and raised their young.

Additional features include a hands-on robotic skeleton, which visitors can control, crayon rubbing tables of simulated bone impressions, and a dinosaur dig.

The Bishop Museum is located at 1525 Bernice Street in Honolulu. Visit their website at http://www.bishopmuseum.org or call (808) 847-3511 for more information on upcoming exhibits.

JUNE

50^th State Fair

Weekends till June 30^th

E.K. Fernandez Shows will be putting on its annual 50^th State Fair, weekends from May 24^th through June 30^th at Aloha Stadium. The fair features carnival rides, arcade games, live entertainment, a petting zoo – and even a piglet race! Take the family to this annual tradition for what is guaranteed to be a fun event, and be sure to check out the new rides added for 2013. Tickets are cheaper if you go earlier in the day and keep your eyes and ears open for specials on family days. E.K. Fernandez Shows has been entertaining Hawaii’s families for over 100 years. For more information, check out their website at http://www.ekfernandez.com or call (808) 682-5767.

Keiki Swap Meet

June 22^nd

Start cleaning and collecting gently loved children’s items to sell at Children’s Discovery Center’s Keiki Swap Meet. Children have the chance to earn extra money by selling old toys, trading cards, clothes, comic books, video games or anything else of interest to children on Saturday, June 22^nd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is $3 per child and the deadline is June 14^th. Late registration is $5 per child. Download a registration form at the Children’s Discovery Center’s website, discoverycenterhawaii.org or call (808) 524-5437 for more information.

JULY

Ala Moana Fireworks

July 4^th

See the 22^nd Annual Fireworks show at Ala Moana beach park, sponsored by Ala Moana Center. This Independence Day event is always a huge draw for locals and tourist alike so arrive early to secure a picnic spot. The show is named among the top 25 shows in the country and it is the only fireworks show in Hawaii to launch from three separate platforms.

Home of the Brave Quilt Project

July 4^th

Remind your family of the price paid for freedom and independence at the Home of the Brave Quilt Project at Pacific Aviation Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See quilts being made and sign one that will be presented to the family of a fallen Hawaii soldier.

Camp Erdman is located at the breathtaking Mokuleia Beach

Fourth of July Family Camp

July 5^th -7^th

YMCA Camp Erdman opens its ground for a family camp on the weekend of July 5^th to July 7^th, providing families the opportunity to come together, participate in camp activities, and enjoy each other’s company away from technology and TV. Activities include arts and crafts, swimming, archery, the odyssey alpine tower, and more. Prices vary depending on membership, non-membership, and whether or not your family will camp in a cabin or your own tent. Visit the website for more information and registration at http://www.ymcahonolulu.org/camp_erdman.

Hawaii State Farm Fair

July 13^th & July 14^th

The 51^th annual Hawaii State Farm Fair will be at Kualoa Ranch July 13^th and 14^th. The weekend event will include workshops and activities that allow visitors to sample local products, visit live farm animals and participate in exciting demonstrations. Plants and produce will be for sale at the country market and 4-H members will exhibit their livestock. The cost is $5 for adults, and $3 for keiki. Entry is free for children twelve and under and students with a valid ID. Free parking is also available. For more information from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, visit hfbf.org or call (808) 848-2074.

Sesame Street Live

Sesame Street “Can’t Stop Singing”

July 12^th-July 21^st

Sesame Street Live “Can’t Stop Singing” offers a fun-filled learning experience packed with the razzle-dazzle of interactive live performance, including up-close and personal interactions on the audience floor! Each Sesame Street Live production features timeless lessons for all ages. The universal appeal of the Broadway-quality musical production continues long after preschool. Adults will appreciate the high-tech stagecraft, cleverly written scripts, and music they’ll recognize and enjoy sharing with children, including fun new parodies. Sesame Street Live will be at Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall July 12^th-14^th, and July 18^th-21^st. Tickets are $12, $19, and $28. Special $70 Sunny Seat tickets are available at all shows and feature a pre-show meet and greet with two Sesame Street friends. For more information, visit http://www.sesamestreetlive.com or call (808) 768-5252.

The Little Mermaid jr.

July 18^th-20^th & 25^th-27^th

HEARTS (Hawaii Education of the Arts) presents The Little Mermaid jr. at Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College. The performance will be the accumulation of a HEARTS 6-week musical theatre program. There will be several performances, including a discount Thursday show on July 18^th. The remaining shows will be July 19^th, 20^th, 25^th, 26^th and 27^th at 7 p.m. with two additional matinees on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Children 9 through 18 years old who prefer to be on the stage, rather than watching from the audience, can sign up for HEARTS 2013 Musical Theatre Program from June 10^th through July 18^th. Students learn the basics of theatre, choreography and acting, as well as building skills and confidence on stage. HEARTS provides challenging arts programs for youth of all ages, and enriches the community by providing high quality arts events for the community. To register, visit http://www.heartshawaii.org, or for more information, call (808) 741-ARTS.

Happy Birthday, Amelia!

July 24^th

Celebrate Amelia Earhart’s Birthday at the Pacific Aviation Museum. Birthday cake and punch will be served to all museum visitors to celebrate the famous aviator’s 116th birthday. The Museum fronts Luke Field on Ford Island, where Ms. Earhart ground looped her Lockheed Electra on take-off March 20, 1937, while attempting her Round-the-World Flight. Free cake with Museum admission. Visit www.PacificAviationMuseum.org for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Cinderella

August 9^th – August 11^th

Take your family to a full-length ballet production of Cinderella with professional dancers at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, August 9^th through the 11^th. The production showcases the innovative choreography by Septime Webre, artistic director of the Washington Ballet, music by Sergei Prokofiev, spectacular costumes by Judanna Lynn and amazing sets by James Kronzer. Auditions for the performances are held during Ballet Hawaii’s first week of Summer Intensive. Performances are Friday, August 9^th at 8 p.m., Saturday, August 10^th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 11^th at 2 p.m. For more information on Ballet Hawaii, visit http://ballethawaii.org

Pacific Hall Reopening

September 21^st

Pacific Hall (formerly Polynesian Hall) at Bishop Museum will reopen September 21^st, 2013. The permanent exhibit explores the origins of Pacific Islanders, the migrations and settlement of the Pacific Ocean, and the cultures and values of its people. The grand opening will reveal many archaeological findings that were never previously exhibited. When completed, Pacific Hall will consist of 42 cases, 12 digital media displays, and seven contemporary art pieces. The Bishop Museum is located at 1525 Bernice Street in Honolulu. Visit their website at http://www.bishopmuseum.org or call (808) 847-3511 for more information on upcoming exhibits.

LEGO Travel Adventure

October 5^th, 2013 – January 5^th 2014

This October, Bishop Museum will bring the blockbuster children’s exhibit, LEGO Travel Adventure to Honolulu! In this exhibit, children are invited to create vehicles capable of flying, driving, and floating – or all three! To go on a travel adventure to exotic locations, children are asked to think creatively, plan, and build vehicles to move through all kinds of terrain – mountains, oceans, jungles, deserts, and more. This newest LEGO exhibit is filled with colorful backdrops, kid-friendly building activities, and eye-popping LEGO sculptures.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Damien Memorial School Winners

Damien Memorial Students Place in Top 10% of Exploravision Competition

Every kid hates getting shots, but up until now it has been seen as a necessary rite of passage. This was the motivation behind four student’s projects that won them an honorable mention in a nationwide science contest. Four Damien Memorial School freshmen placed in the top 10 percent of this year’s Toshiba Exploravision competition out of several thousand entries from across the U.S. and Canada when they theorized how to eliminate syringes from vaccinations. Toshiba Hawaii president Renee Gomes came to the school on April 17^th to present honorable mention award certificates to the students. Their project concluded that a microscopic vaccination pod could eliminate the need for needles. The pod would contain the vaccine and be suspended in a water-based lubricant. When applied to the skin and exposed to heat the pod would be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. The students’ invention involves nano-robots that would be absorbed and able to transmit information about the patient’s internal health to doctors. The nanotechnology needed for this to become a reality is still in development, but one day it could be a realistic possibility.

April and May 2013 Events

(please leave a comment if you know of any additional events around town) 

Healthy Kids Day

APRIL

Ohana Music Together

Free Sample Class

April 1^st & April 4^th 

Check out a free sample class for Ohana Music Together on April 1^st at their Kaimuki location, or April 4^th at Smart Karate in Kapolei. Both classes will start at 10 a.m. Ohana Music Together’s mission is to inspire and encourage the next generation of music makers to sing in tune, move in rhythm, and participate with joy and confidence as they create music with family and friends. Visit OhanaMT.com for a list of classes and schedule, as well as more information.

A Family on the Odyssey at Camp Erdman

YMCA Camp Erdman Community Day

April 8^th 

Bring your family and friends to the beautiful North Shore for an amazing day at Camp Erdman. Free activities include: Alpine Tower, Odyssey, archery, swimming and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Don’t forget to bring swimsuits, towels, and sneakers! This event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Camp Erdman, located at 69-385 Farrington Highway, Waialua, Hawaii 96791. Call (808) 637-4615 or email camperdman@ymcahonolulu.org for more information.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day

April 13^th

Join in the fun and learn how to get healthy and fit at the Annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day, Saturday, April 13^th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bishop Museum.  Admission is free for kama’aina and military families and includes entry to the Bishop Museum’s exhibits and newly renovated planetarium.  Attendees may pre-register for the event online at www.ymcahonolulu.org or register onsite when they arrive for the event.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a can of food for the Hawaii Foodbank drive collection at the event.
This event features more than 30 exhibitors highlighting the importance of physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices, and active play through fun, engaging and creative activities.

Kids and family activities include games, a family obstacle course, a YMCA fun zone, healthy cooking demonstrations, face painting, free health screenings, exercise demonstrations, non-stop entertainment and prizes.  Food and refreshments are available for a nominal cost. For more information about YMCA Healthy Kids Day, visit http://www.ymcahonolulu.org or call (808) 531-YMCA (9622).

Teachers can win this shrimp aquarium

Living Art Marine Center

Teacher Appreciation Day

April 13^th

Find out what the Marine Center can offer your school’s summer programs and beyond. On Saturday, April 13^th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Living Art Marine Center is hosting a free event for teachers and their families to thank them for all their hard work. This Teacher Appreciation day will include pupus, drawings for prizes, and free entertainment provided by internationally acclaimed Tahitian dance group, Tamatoa. Teachers can RSVP to this event online at livingartmarinecenter.com/rsvp for a chance to win a free Opae Ula pet shrimp aquarium.

Fifth Annual Hawaii Ocean Expo

April 13^th & 14^th

The Fifth Annual Hawaii Ocean Expo comes to the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall April 13^th and 14^th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is $7 for general admission, $3 for children six to twelve years old, and free for children under five.

Representatives from the boating, fishing, canoe paddling, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, SCUBA, sail boarding, and skin diving communities will be there to share their love of Hawaii’s ocean-centric culture. There will also be a keiki fun zone, poke contest and more. Each year, this family-friendly expo fills the Blaisdell with a rich gathering of activities, exhibitions, educational opportunities, entertainment and shopping that will appeal to anyone who loves the ocean. Visit www.hawaiioceanexpo.com for more information.

The Little Mermaid, Jr. Auditions

April 13^th

HEARTS (Hawaii Education for the Arts) 2013 Summer Arts program will feature a production of The Little Mermaid, Jr. in June. Auditions will take place at 535 Oneawa Street (Kailua Church of the Nazarene) on Saturday, April 13^th at 9:00 a.m.  Bring a song to sing (no CD tracks) and comfortable shoes.  Please call (808) 741-2787 for an earlier audition date.

Keiki weaving lauhala at the Grow Hawaiian Festival

6^th Annual Grow Hawaiian Festival

Earth Day Celebration

April 20^th 2013

Hawaiian Electric Company presents the 6^th Annual Grow Hawaiian Festival on Saturday, April 20^th 2013 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bishop Museum. Admission to the Grow Hawaiian Festival and Bishop Museum’s exhibits is free for kama‘āina and military with ID. Plan an interesting, fun-filled day with your children at this Earth Day celebration that highlights Hawaii’s culture, native plants, and sustainable lifestyles.

The festival offers activities for everyone in your family. Learn from traditional artisans how to make a lei, weave lauhala, beat kapa, and craft implements. Attend a special presentation on healing with Hawaiian plants. Buy native plants and products made in Hawaii.  Learn about conservation, clean energy, and electrical safety. Participate in activities with your children and play games offering prizes. View students’ creative entries in the Sustainable Gift Contest and vote for your favorite gift idea. Relax on the lawn with a plate of Hawaiian-style food, enjoy hula, and listen to live music by popular musicians.

Hearts Spring Review Last Year

HEARTS 100-Voice Annual Musical Theatre Review Spring Concert

April 25^th-April 27^th 

HEARTS, Hawaii Education for the Arts, presents their 100-Voice Annual Musical Theatre Review & Spring Concert at Windward Community College’s Paliku Theatre the last weekend of April. The program features Windward area youths from age seven to nineteen performing songs and dances ranging from Hawaiian and Classical to Broadway. Tickets are $10 for students, seniors, and military, $12 for adults, and $15 for premium seats. There is a $2 discount for the Thursday show on April 25^th. All shows will start at 7 p.m. with an additional matinee show at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

HEARTS is a Windward side 501 © 3 nonprofit arts education organization celebrating its 10^th year sponsoring musical theatre, choirs, theatre production and dance classes. For more information, visit the website at www.heartshawaii.org or contact executive director Pam DeBoard, PhD via email at pamdeboard@gmail.com or by calling (808) 741-2787.

Moanalua High School Spring Craft Fair

April 27^th

Moanalua High School Music Boosters Association will have a Spring Craft’s Fair on Saturday, April 27^th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2825 Ilima Street, 96818. The Fair will feature over 100 vendors, fabulous crafts and plants, live entertainment, and ono food. Free parking is available in the school parking lot, which will open to the public at 8 a.m. and plenty of street parking is available as well. Email craftfair@mohsmusic.com or call (808) 738-5088 for more information or if you are interested in being a vendor.

Dinosaurs and Ice-Age Mammals at Bishop Museum

April 27^th – September 15^th

A Maiasaurus and her young will be on display at the Bishop Museum

Dinosaurs return to Bishop Museum’s Castle Memorial Hall! See the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex, gaze upon a giant Apatosaurus or just “chill out” in the Ice Age with a Saber Tooth Tiger family and a Mastodon. This “Life Through Time” exhibit includes a robotic skeleton you can control, crayon rubbing tables, and a dinosaur dig.

If visiting after May 18^th, check out the MAMo Native Hawaiian Arts exhibit (May 18^th through October 7^th) which celebrates the artistry, mastery and beauty of the Hawaiian visual arts community. Bishop Museum and PAI Foundation come together for the MAMo Exhbit, a month-long celebration of Native Hawaiian arts.

The Bishop Museum is located at 1525 Bernice Street in Honolulu. Visit their website http://www.bishopmuseum.org or call (808) 847-3511 for more information on upcoming exhibits.

MAY

Third Annual Mele Mei

April 26^th-May 25^th 

The Hawaiian Academy of Recording Artists will present the third Annual Mele Mei, a month-long celebration of Hawaiian music. Mele Mei will include more than 30 workshops, concert performances and other events, including the International Hula Conference May 17^th to 19^th, and will culminate with the 36^th Annual Na Hoku Hanahano Awards on May 25^th. Visit www.melemei.com for more information

Flores De Mayo

Santacruzan

May 5^th

For the first time, The Filipino Community (FilCom) Center is expanding its annual Filipino Fiesta into a weeklong Flores De Mayo (Flowers of May) celebration from May 5^th through May 11^th at various locations across Oahu. May is a traditional fiesta month in the Philippines when towns celebrate to ensure a successful harvest and honor patron saints.

The Santacruzan Pageant Parade will occur Sunday, May 5^th from 3 to 7 p.m. at The Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. Beautifully dressed reynas and princesas representing biblical characters will parade under colorful flower arches. Visit www.filcom.org for more information and a complete list of character roles in the pageant

The 21^st Annual Filipino Fiesta and Parade

May 11^th 

The 21^st Annual Filipino Fiesta and Parade will take place in Waikiki on Saturday, May 11^th from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kapiolani Park, starting with a lively morning parade along Kalakaua Avenue. The parade will end in Kapiolani Park, where there will be Filipino food, games, cultural exhibits, and live entertainment. For more information, visit www.filcom.org or call (808) 680-0451.

YMCA Mother’s Day Family Camp Getaway

May 10^{th  –} May 12^th 

Sign up for a weekend at Camp Erdman packed with fun for the whole family. This weekend is a great gift for the mom in your family. Check-in is from 3:30 to 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. and check out is 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Register online at www.ymcahonolulu.org or visit the website for a printable version you can fax, scan, email, or mail to the camp.

UnitedHealthcare New Baby Expo 2013 

May 18^th & 19^th 

The New Baby Expo is Hawaii’s largest prenatal to preschool event of the year. Each year, the expo hosts “Hawaii’s Largest Baby Shower” celebrating Hawaii’s hapai (pregnant) moms. Even a few brave dads can throw on a faux baby belly to get a taste of the whole “experience.” The event also hosts the famous “Baby Crawling Contest” where babies can race (crawl) on down and parents can capture the special moment with their very own photo finish. The expo also includes a children’s activity area, infant/toddler play area, demonstrations and visits from beloved cartoon characters. Doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Check out the website at www.newbabyexpo.com or call (808) 239-7777.

Sesame Street Presents: The Body (April 7-July 30, 2012)

“Sesame Street Presents: The Body” at Bishop Museum April 7-July 30 2012

Castle Memorial Building

1525 Bernice Street

Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

IN A NUTSHELL: 

Pros:

• Educational
• Fun
• Suitable for keiki 1-9
• Stools and mini staircases so small toddlers can still be hands on
• Nice breezy area outside for a picnic lunch

Cons:

• The exhibit is loud and children with sensory issues might be bothered by the noise, or take a moment to get used to it.
• At least three or four individual exhibits were out-of-order, if not more.

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Castel Memorial Building

Sesame Street Presents: The Body is a temporary exhibit at the Bishop Museum’s Castle Memorial Building. It includes interactive and educational hands-on multimedia games featuring keiki’s favorite Sesame Street characters. Keiki learn about everything from fitness, digestion, hygiene, healthy eating habits and more. It is a great way to get kids to have fun learning and especially exciting if they are fans of Sesame Street, but plan your visit soon as the exhibit leaves Bishop Museum July 30th, 2012.

When we first entered the Castle Memorial Building, my normally fearless daughter grabbed onto my leg for dear life. Certain exhibits within “The Body” are very loud, particularly for little kids who might have sensory integration disorders. My daughter usually does not flinch at anything. Living a block away from a fire station she can sleep through anything. But there is a bit if a chaotic volume to the exhibit, although we were both used to it within a few minutes. It might just be the contrast from the serene and quiet museum quality of the Hawaiian Hall next door.

But for the record, if you were going to the Bishop Museum to check out the Transitions and Tradition: Hawaiian Immigration exhibit on the second floor, expect to sporadically hear the Count yell out “PANCREAS!” or “STOMACH! You have ONE stomach”

Elmo’s World

Once my daughter got over her initial shy-ness, she was all over the place and the exhibit was set up nicely for that. Individual features are perfectly suited for even the youngest walker up to to the elementary-aged child. Children who can not yet read or fully understand the processes within the body can still do puzzles, sort plastic fruit at the “mini mart” or hang out on the bean bag chairs at Elmo’s World.

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In the first room, keiki can learn about the face, and exercise, including a fun activity requiring them to pedal, kick, and jump to sound off a buzzer. There is also a musical organ stationed by The Count, who sings out short informational songs about the organs in the body when children press the keys.

*

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My two-year-old loved the “Hands” station in the second room, which featured a puzzle for children to place wooden fingers on their correct location on the hand, a lighted box for making shadow puppets, as well the braille alphabet and sign language. One thing I have always appreciated about Sesame Street is their ability to seamlessly be inclusive of all children regardless of their abilities or special needs. There was also a stationary wheelchair in the front room, where children could exercise their arms the way one who uses a wheelchair might, and try to race through an imaginary “park.” Unfortunately this was out of order, although my daughter did not seem to notice and still wanted to sit in the wheelchair and practice moving the wheels.

Loved these!

Another favorite exhibit was the hygiene “bathroom” area, which featured three realistic sinks with a bar of soap, a tooth brush, and a hair brush. A video screen asked children various questions requiring them to touch the appropriate hygiene tool. Even if children touched the wrong tool, the screen will still react appropriately with “I supposed you could brush your hair with a tooth brush, but there is a better tool for it. What do we use to keep our hair from getting tangled?”

For older kids who love gross stuff, there is a giant nose with pretend snot, and the digestion exhibit ends with the simulation of an actual bowel movement, complete with fart sounds followed by a toilet flush.

Towards the end, there was a complete deli/mini mart, where children could design balanced meals incorporating the appropriate food groups, or just pretend to go shopping and play with the cash registers.

It took us less than an hour to play with just about everything in the Sesame Street exhibit, and that is including the twenty minutes my daughter insisted on doing at the hand and hygiene stations over and over. Given the price of entrance at the Bishop Museum, I would definitely recommend taking advantage of more than just the Sesame Street exhibit during your visit. Have a picnic in the outdoor grassy area (I’ve heard their lunches are amazing, although we brought a lunch box from home). Head over to the Science Adventure Center, which is also perfectly suited for keiki.

Science Adventure Center

Check out our post on the Bishop Museum for information regarding the keiki-friendliness of the rest of the museum as well as prices, or visit the Bishop Museum website to plan your trip around the planetarium and volcano presentations at: http://www.bishopmuseum.org

Bishop Museum

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

BISHOP MUSEUM

1525 Bernice St. 

Tunnel underneath the Volcano

Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

(808) 847-3511

IN A NUTSHELL

Pros: 

• Interactive Vocano
• Educational
• Cultural History 
• Nice grassy picnic areas

Cons:

• Many exhibits and features were out-of order when we went, making the $10.95 Kamaina Admission Price seem rather steep. 

 Be Sure To Check Out:

The Black Light Tunnel and Volcano in the Science Adventure Center is perfect for kids and makes learning about local geology fun.  

Hawaiian Hall

Kahili Room in Hawaiian Hall

The Bishop Museum, formerly the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, was built in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in memory of his wife, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last legal heir of the Kamehameha Dynasty. Charles Bishop was also the co-founder of Kamehameha Schools, and the museum was built on the former boys’ campus of the school.

Upon entering Hawaii Hall I thought I had made a huge mistake. I was surrounded by beautiful Native Hawaiian Artifacts, robes and feathers worn by the monarchy themselves, and plenty of fragile historical treasures begging for my two-year-old to handle and break. I tried to keep pushing through, holding her hand, chasing her down, or carrying her while she repeated “Wanna walk!” to all the quiet intelligent people within earshot trying to soak up some culture.

Sperm Whale

Luckily though there were other families there, and the occasional high pitch scream that kids and toddlers are prone to making. While I personally would have loved to stay and learn more about the history of our islands, as well as others in Polynesia, this part of the museum was just not tailored to toddlers. There was, however, a giant sperm whale hanging from the ceiling, as well as sharks, schools of fish, turtles, birds, and more sea creatures. We went to the third floor to get a better look at everything, but did not stay in there for more than ten minutes (probably to everyone else’s relief)

Science Adventure Center

As soon as we made our way down to the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, I knew we had come to the right place. The Science Adventure Center is far more tailored to keiki (as well as adults who might find traditional museums tedious). Virtually everything in the building is interactive. A giant volcano was on the right, and the entrance to a tunnel was to our left. We decided to head through the tunnel first, after passing an “interactive” globe that was out of order.

Tunnel

To say it in the most simple terms, the tunnel was far-out. It was dark with a black light illuminating neon colored  native Hawaiian flora, fauna and rainbows lining the walls. Every keiki who entered got a kick out of the way their shoes or shirts lit up in the black light. Continuing through the tunnel brought guests to another fascinating exhibit on volcanos and under water adventure.

Keiki could put on a scuba diver vest and manipulate the view on a screen with Wii technology to stimulate being an underwater photographer. There was also a giant tank with an underwater camera and controls on the outside for chidden to change the direction of the shot. A “hot wax” volcano provided additional fun. Turning a wheel one way made the volcano spill hot wax “lava”, simulating the slow spilling eruption of a shield volcano. Turning the wheel the opposite way was supposed to create craters, although I did not really see that happening when I tried.

Hot Wax Volcano

volcano slide

Continuing up into the Volcano are more educational activities regarding volcanos, such as boxes where children can “feel” hardened lava with out seeing it to determine if it’s a’a or  pahoehoe. My daughter’s favorite by far though was the actual slide for children to slide out of the volcano! It is easy to miss as it appears to just be a cave in the wall, but as you walk through it you find yourself on a long white slide. Parents feel free to let even the youngest baby on this slide, it is the slowest flattest slide ever, but still exciting for the keiki because hey – it is a slide in a museum.

I had to drag my daughter out of the Science Adventure Center because she loved it and wanted to stay. In hindsight we might have done better skipping Hawaii Hall and going straight to the Adventure Center, at least while she’s still too young to fully appreciate history (although the koa wood display cases are beautiful!)

We had a picnic lunch on the grass between Hawaiian Hall and the Castle Memorial Building and the weather could not have been nicer. There were iron chairs and tables in the grass under a tree that suited us just perfectly.

While there, we checked out one of their current special exhibitions. For more information on this super keiki friendly exhibit, check out our post Sesame Street Presents: The Body, located in our events section since it is not a permanent feature of The Bishop Museum.

Globe in Jhamandas Watumull Planetarium

The Jhamandas Watumull Planetarium had fun interactive features and a mesmerizing globe in the center of the outside room. A touch screen exhibit allows guest to enter their address to figure out if they are in a tsunami danger zone, and another gives users the opportunity to go on a Gemini Observation Virtual Tour of Mauna Kea.

Unfortunately, the planetarium was temporarily closed for the installation of a new full-dome video system so we were not able to check out the show.

There was also supposed to be a  Lava Melting Demonstration at their “Meet Me At The Hot Spot” show in the Science Adventure Center Hot Spot Theater at noon daily, but the furnace in the theater was closed for refurbishment.

This was in addition to the fact that about 25% of everything we saw had an out-of-order sign on it. At $10.95 an adult, having this many features down, two of them being highlights they advertise on their website, is somewhat disappointing. To their credit, they had signs posting that the planetarium and lava show would not function at the entrance (although it was not posted on their website). Still, it might have been nice for them to perhaps schedule the new installations and refurbishment at separate times. Luckily, according to their signs, the Planetarium should be up and running by the time you are reading this, although I recommend calling before heading out there just to make sure you do not end up disappointed.

Parking is available in the museum parking lot and is free of charge.

For more information, check out their website: http://www.bishopmuseum.org

General Admission
Adult: $17.95

Senior, 65 & over: $14.95

Child ages 4-12: $14.95

Child, age 3 & under: Free

Kama‘āina/Military Admissions (ID req’d)

Adult: $10.95

Junior: $8.95

Senior: $8.95

Children 3 and under: Free

Guest of Kama‘āina/Military (sponsor’s ID req’d)

Adult: $14.95

Junior: $11.95

Senior: $11.95

Children 3 and under: Free