Your Weekend: The Best Family Fun in Hawai‘i for January 6–12, 2022

Sign up for free pickleball or acting classes, wade into the mud and watch for wild birds, watch a holiday film on a 360-degree dome and sign up for a winter-themed STEM workshop.

January 6, 2022

Christi Young,

Archery Parks City And County Of Honolulu — Photo: Honolulu Dept. of Parks & Recreation

Honolulu Dept. Parks & Recreation Spring Sessions

The list of classes is out and next week registration opens for Honolulu’s parks classes. Kids can learn everything from ‘ukulele to basketball, pickleball to acting to ceramics for free. Classes are small—about 5 to 20 students, depending on the activity—so you should register as soon as possible. Families signing up in the Hawai‘i Kai to McCully (District I) and Makiki to ‘Aiea (District II) areas get to go first on Tuesday, Jan. 11. All other districts open registration on Wednesday, Jan. 12.

Sessions are available for kids 3 years and older.
Many classes are free. Ones that have a fee require in-person registration.
Sign ups for Districts I and II open Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. All other districts open online registration on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 4 p.m.
Register online at pros.hnl.info

Nēnē Awards Book Club

Join a virtual book club just for local kids. In the weeks before voting opens for the 2022 Nēnē Awards, which honors one book selected by Hawai‘i 4th, 5th and 6th graders, eligible students are invited to chat, play games and read with the library’s virtual Nēnē Awards Book Club run by some of the state’s youth librarians. Registration closed on Jan. 1, but we reached out to organizers who said keiki can still join. Want to know what titles will be talked about? Take a look at the 30 nominees at neneaward.org.

For kids of Nēnē Award-voting ages, which is grades 4 through 6.
Free
The first meeting is Thursday, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. The club meets every other week after that on Zoom.
Call (808) 483-7333 or (808) 675-0358 or email nenezoomclub@gmail.com to register or ask questions.
librarieshawaii.org

Kōlea or Pacific Golden Plover near Kawainui Marsh in Kailua. Photo: Robbie Dingeman

Kawainui Marsh Volunteer Day

Go birdwatching while you wade into a marsh to clear invasive weeds. This volunteer opportunity is best for older kids who like getting muddy (because you will) and can appreciate searching for wildlife in Kailua. Bring water; wear closed-toe shoes, a long-sleeve shirt and pants you don’t mind getting wet; sunscreen and insect repellent. Hand tools will be provided but you may want to bring your own gloves, especially for keiki. RSVP is required.

12 years and older.
Free
Saturday, Jan. 8, 8:30 a.m.—noon.
Meet at 743 Ulukahiki St., Kailua
(808) 223-6139
dlnr.ivolunteer.com

Star of Bethlehem: The Magi’s Story

Hōkūlani Imaginarium is back open. If you didn’t go to see Season of Light before Dec. 25 (and you’re going through a little Christmas withdrawal), you can learn more about the wise men and what could have been the star that the story says led them to Bethlehem on the Imaginarium’s 360-degree dome. Since the theater reopened, Windward Community College has mandated people 6 years and older provide proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test, and audiences are kept to 44 to allow for social distancing. Reservations are required by phone or email as you will need to provide your information and be assigned a seat prior to the show. Prices will return to $8 for adults and $6 for kids after this weekend. You can see the full schedule here.

Best for preschool age kids and older.
$5 per person.
Friday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.
45-720 Kea‘ahala Road, Kāne‘ohe
Call (808) 235-7450 or email dineene@hawaii.edu for reservations.
aerospace.wcc.hawaii.edu

Register: Winter Wonders STEM workshop

The workshops are not until the end of the month but they always fill up. So, if you’re interested in using a snowflake cannon, harnessing centrifugal force to paint a snowflake and building a tasty snowman, reserve your spot now before the deadline of Jan. 15. The fee includes a 45-minute workshop followed by an hour to play in the galleries. Registration is also open for February’s Heart-y Party.