Your Insider Guide to the Ko Olina Children’s Festival
Everything you need to know about this beachfront bash on Saturday, May 11.
Photo: Courtesy of Ko Olina Children’s Festival
Now in its 8th year, the Ko Olina Children’s Festival is back on the sands fronting ‘Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa on Saturday, May 11, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. A fan-favorite for local families, the event celebrates childhood with hands-on learning opportunities, arts and crafts, fun food, live entertainment and, of course, the highly anticipated Disney character appearances.
This year’s theme is all about bugs, so expect creepy encounters, critter crafts, a butterfly release and “A Bug’s Life” sunset movie on the beach. But the best part is that 100% of the proceeds will benefit Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children’s new project, the Martha B. Smith Cancer & Infusion Center, honoring the inspirational former chief executive officer.
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Photo: Courtesy of Ko Olina Children’s Festival
How Much It Costs
Discounted presale tickets are available now through May 10.
- $40 for adults
- $35 for active military adults
- $27.50 for keiki ages 12 and younger
- $25 active military dependents ages 12 and younger
- Free for infants age 1 and younger
If the event doesn’t sell out (it did last year), at-the-door tickets will be available.
- $45 for adults
- $40 for active military adults
- $35 for keiki ages 12 and younger
- $32.50 for active miliary dependents ages 12 and younger
- Free for infants age 1 and younger
Where to Park
As you enter the Ko Olina Resort, follow signs to the event parking area and hop on a trolley for a short ride to the festival. Presale tickets include parking, otherwise expect to pay $15 per vehicle.
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Photo: Courtesy of Ko Olina Children’s Festival
What to Do
Get your toes in the sand and flitter from booth to booth enjoying educational and entertaining exhibits where you’ll test your knowledge of insect specimens, transform into your favorite bug with face paint, step inside a dome filled with butterflies and pot your own native plant to take home. Renowned street artist and World Wide Walls founder Jasper Wong returns to the event this year and will inspire keiki to create whimsical clay bugs.
Take a break for a treat, such as portable sushi handrolls from Ilea’s Kitchen, colorful popcorn from Ono Kettle Pop, bubble tea from Sama Sama, organic popsicles from Street Sweets, waffle dogs from Celine’s Kitchen and more.
Hawai‘i News Now’s Steve Uyehara will host the program and live entertainment, which includes tunes from Hui Pū, Aulani’s ‘Ohana Hula Show with Disney Friends and several inspiring stories about the keiki who have benefitted from Kapi‘olani Medical Center’s care.
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Photo: Courtesy of Ko Olina Children’s Festival
Activities & Eats
Here are the vendors confirmed so far.
Food, Beverage & Retail
Available for purchase.
- Celine’s Kitchen
- Coco Nene
- Ilea’s Kitchen
- Local Poke Bowl
- Ono Kettle Pop
- Sama Sama
- Street Sweets
Photo: Courtesy of Ko Olina Children’s Festival
Exhibitors & Services
Included with admission ticket.
- Bishop Museum
- Cutie Cake Face x Magical Touch Face Painting
- Hawai‘i Walls by Jasper Wong
- Instapics Hawai‘i Photo Booth
- Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children
- Keiki ID with Hamada Financial Group
- Kuleana Coral Restoration
- Nānākuli High School x Mālama Learning Center Native Plant Potting
- Paradise Monarchs
- University of Hawai‘i School of Entomology
For updates on vendors and activities, visit koolinachildrensfestival.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Ko Olina Children’s Festival
Entertainment Schedule
- Mid-Afternoon: Musical Performance by Hui Pū, three local rising stars
- Early Evening: Aulani’s ‘Ohana Hula with Disney Friends
- Pre-Sunset: Butterfly Release with Paradise Monarchs
- At Sunset: A Bug’s Life (rated G), Disney and Pixar Studios’ animated tale of a misfit ant recruiting a clan of bugs to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers
Photo: Courtesy of Ko Olina Children’s Festival
Tips
- Buy tickets early. Last year, the event sold out in advance, so same-day tickets were not available.
- Bring sun protection. The event is entirely on the beach, so lather on the sunscreen and wear hats.
- Pack a mat or towel. To enjoy the stage entertainment, lay out a blanket for lounging and picnicking. Heads-up: high back chairs, coolers, glass containers and alcohol are not permitted.
- Wear your baby. The sandy setting means a stroller is a no-go. Consider a baby carrier or baby wrap.
- Find a restroom. When keiki have to go, they have to go now. There are two beach bathrooms located on either side of Koholā Lagoon.
- Capture the moment. The best photo of the day? Stop by the Instapics Hawai‘i photo booth where you can print and share your photo on social media.
Ko Olina Children’s Festival, Saturday, May 11, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Ko Olina Koholā Lagoon 1, koolinachildrensfestival.com, @koolinakids
