Keiki's Day Out

Activities on Oahu from Miss Mary, the Honolulu Mommy

May 15

Urban Garden Center

by Keiki's Day Out

The Urban Garden Center

Urban Garden Center: Children’s Garden
955 Kamehameha Highway
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782
(808) 453-6050
 

The Garden is open for visits weekdays 9 am-2pm. 

Pros:

  • Educational
  • FREE
  • Fun
  • Beautiful covered pavilion for snacks or lunch
  • Perfect for kids of all ages

Cons: 

  • Hot and very sunny (bring sunscreen)

Features:

The Maze

  • Maze
  • Alika Rabbit Garden
  • Boardwalk Garden
  • Pizza Garden
  • Animal Garden
  • Hawaiian Alphabet Tree Garden
  • Sundial Garden
  • Sensory Garden
  • House Garden
  • Butterfly Garden
  • Bathrooms
  • Waterfountain
  • Keiki Map available with a “treasure hunt” of sorts at front desk so children can feel even more involved with the trip

Be Sure to Check Out: 

The gardening playhouse in the Alika Rabbit Garden was my daughter’s favorite. Buckets and shovels are available for children to “pretend” to plant near a small wooden playhouse. I literally had to drag my daughter away from this only to find a table set for tea party a few yard away, which she might have loved just as much as the gardening house. 

Lilly Pads in the Children’s Garden

Right at the entrance of Kamehameha Highway (after turning in to what appears to be a Home Depot Parking lot) there are large plastic flowers at least ten or fifteen feet high. If you see them, you’re in the right spot. You can continue to drive down the path and park closer to the actual garden, although I parked at the entrance because I was not sure if the short road into the Center was for employees only.

Check in at this office

Check in at the front office, an inconspicuous trailer with the Hours of Operation posted along with the 4-H symbol. While the center is free, they need to keep track of guest and you are required to sign a waiver for yourself and any children with you. They will also give a you a map for either yourself or the keiki. The Keiki Map has fun pictures making up a treasure hunt of flowers and plants and gardens for them to point out as you stroll the grounds.

The bathrooms and water fountains are close to the office, so be sure to use them then before you are fully immersed in your visit.

Rainbow at the Children’s Garden

Just past the handful of trailers used for offices, classes, and gardening tools storage, is a small maze of flowered hedges. Right away my toddlers was running through them and to my delight, stopping to smell every single flower.

Soon we saw a large rainbow marking the entrance of the Children’s Garden. At this point, my daughter naturally declared that it was time for a snack, although we had only been there for all of twenty minutes. Luckily, there was a large beautiful covered pavilion that was the perfect spot for a snack in the shade. Be sure to bring plenty of water.

What do plants need to grow?

The first thing we saw was the Alika Rabbit Garden, a keiki-sized trail that tells the story of the Hawaiian Adaptation of Peter Rabbit and Mr. McGregor. Along the trail are wooden signs telling the story, and charming educational pit stops. One such stop prompts children to think about what plants need to grow next to a covered box. Inside the box is a wooden sun, water, and a list of vitamins, making the answer tangible even for children who are not reading yet.

Still further on the Alika Rabbit Garden was a wooden gardening shed with shovel, pails, and child sized rakes for children who might wish to “plant.” My daughter probably could have spent the entire three hours there as she was having so much fun putting dirt in the pails with the shovel, and moving them from the ground, to the flower box, and back to the table.

When I finally tore her away from the gardening shed, there were more play areas, one set up for a garden tea party, and another with a scare crow to dress. If that was not enough, there were tunnels, stepping stones, bird houses and vibrant flowers lighting our path every step of the way.

Garden Tea Party

Tunnel

Tunnel

Behind there Alika Rabbit Garden there was an exhibit that was still being constructed, so we headed over to the Boardwalk Garden, which as you might expect is a boardwalk-like path through plants, bushes, and trees and more. Sometimes in the hustle bustle of urban Honolulu, it is wonderful to walk through a beautiful garden of thriving tropical plants reminding you why we’re “lucky we live Hawaii.”

Boardwalk Garden

Pizza Garden

One of my favorite features of the Children’s Garden was the Pizza Garden, a larger than life circle shaped garden separated into triangles, just like a pizza pie! Each triangle features a plant likely to be found on pizza, including tomatoes, green peppers, and your traditional herbs and spices. The circle stepping stones looked just like pepperoni for a nice finishing touch. For older children who might believe pizza grows out of a delivery box, it can be quite fascinating to get back in touch with nature.

Animal Garden

The rest of the Children’s Garden is equally beautiful and fun, for children as well as adults. The Animal Garden features 45 different plants named after animals (leopard plant, for tail asparagus, cat’s tail, catnip, etc.) The Hawaiian Alphabet Garden uses Native Hawaiian trees for the 13 consonants and vowels in the Hawaiian language, and the Sundial Garden provides the perfect opportunity to talk to children about how we our ancestors told time before clocks and watches.

The Urban Garden Center recommends bringing your sneakers, sunscreen, and a water bottle for your trip. In addition to those three necessities, I would also make sure the keiki wears loose fitting, cool clothing they can get dirty so they can feel free to have all the fun the center has to offer.

For more information, visit the Urban Garden Center’s website: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc/

Free Zoos * Aquariums * Centers

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Apr 20

The Honolulu Zoo

by Keiki's Day Out
 
 

Entrance to the Honolulu Zoo

The Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
9 a.m. – 4:30 pm daily
(Keiki Zoo closes at 4) 
  • Children under two are free
  • Kama’aina (local) rate: $8 for adults, $4 for children 3-12
  • General Admission: $14 for adults, $6 for children 3-12

IN A NUTSHELL

PROS:

  • Great Location
  • Plenty of Parking
  • Hands-on Keiki Zoo
  • Playground on Location
  • Inexpensive membership rates

CONS: 

  • Almost None! There are fairly aggressive peacock waiting to take any stray food but as long as your child is not terrified of birds it’s not real issue and actually pretty entertaining and cool to see them up close.
  • In spite of the new elephant exhibit, we did not see any while we were there and it ca not be easy for an elephant to hide.

Features:

  • Bathrooms (including family bathroom) 
  • Snack/Lunch Vendor (Kapahulu Market)
  • Picnic Tables
  • Playground
  • Goat Petting Zoo
  • Gift Shop
  • Wheelchair and Stroller Rentals
  • Animals
  • Gardens

Be sure to check out: 

The Keiki Zoo is fantastic for children, especially for little ones that might have trouble focusing on animals far away in their exhibits. Children can go right in the pen with the goats, and crawl through tunnels to see guinea pigs and impressive koi. 

Fun Fact: 

The peacocks on the grounds of the Honolulu Zoo are not actually part of the zoo. The land where the Honolulu Zoo resides used to belong to Princess Kaiulani. She had a penchant for peacocks and kept them as pets, and those that nest and wander around the zoo are the descendent’s of the princess’s very own peacocks.  

Flamingos near the entrance of the Honolulu Zoo

The Honolulu Zoo is a fantastic outing for children of all ages located across from Waikiki beach at the intersection of Kapahulu, Monsarat and Kalakaua avenue on the grounds of the beautiful Kapiolani Park.

Playground near the entrance of the Keiki Zoo

While the zoo features the traditional opportunity to view animals from afar, it also features a keiki zoo and a playground for the active child who do not always do well in their strollers for long periods of time. The playground area features two different jungle gyms; a larger one for older children, and smaller one for toddlers, as well as benches and picnic tables an a green grassy area perfect for lunch time.

The zoo also has “Kapahulu Market,” where they sell food, drinks, and snacks. As one might expect, the food is on the expensive side in spite of being your average cafeteria variety. A hot dog is $8, a cheese burger is $10.25 and chicken tenders are $7.75. I would recommend bringing your own lunch, although I think their “keiki sippers” are a good deal (an animal shaped reusable sipper that you can refill for free through-out the day knocking-out both souvenirs and hydration in one)

There is paid parking available right next to the zoo off of Kapahulu avenue, but if you’re willing to venture a block further, there is free parking at the Waikiki Shell parking lot usually available in the case that there are not other events going on, as well as both free and metered parking along the diamond head side of Kalakaua Avenue.

The Keiki Zoo

Inside the Keiki Zoo

Most younger children, particularly toddlers, will be completely content to spend their entire zoo trip at the Keiki Zoo and the adjacent playground. Even if you do plan to see the entire zoo, it is the perfect place to begin your zoo trip and allow the keiki to run around out of the strollers and burn off their energy before loading them back in the stroller to see the rest of the animals.

Tunnel through fish tank

The Keiki Zoo is located behind the Kapahulu Market (lunch area) and the playground. Once inside, even the youngest toddler can get out of the stroller and explore. There is a keiki-sized tunnel through the middle of a tank of koi offering fun views for the kids, as well as a tunnel with hamsters and guinea pigs.

Goat Petting Zoo

The Keiki Zoo tends to feature more “farm” related animals which is a great learning tool for babies just learning how to speak. My daughter was thrilled to see a “Moooo” at the cow and “Baaa” at the sheep. But the best part of the whole keiki zoo is the Goat Pen, which allows children inside. After seeing so many animals behind bars or gates, it can be especially thrilling to have the opportunity to pet a goat up close. A big hand washing station is available just outside and a favorite of my toddler’s for some reason.

Toy Pavilion behind the Lizard Terrarium in the Keiki Zoo

There is also a covered “toy” pavilion located behind the lizard terrarium. Not only is the toy area a great place for the younger set to wind down and play in the shade, but it is perfect for nursing mothers who could use some shade or some entertainment for their other children while they feed baby.

Membership

The Chimps at the Honolulu Zoo never disappoint

Additionally, their membership is the best deal in town. Although the names of the membership options have changed in the past year (and the price has increased two dollars) it is still one of the only attractions where a membership is totally worth the price. We have the “Flamingo” Membership (now the “Ground Hornbill” Option) which was $38 (now $40) and provides unlimited free admission to the park for me and my daughter’s fathers, and my daughter is free because she’s under three. We only have to visit the park five times in a year for the membership to pay for itself. A “Chimpanzee” Membership is $55 for two adults, and up to four children.

Unlimited admission membership to most of Hawaii’s attractions are well over $100. Given that the zoo is so close to our home (as well as being close to the beaches, parks, and playgrounds) the membership is well worth it. It also alleviates the pressure to see everything in one trip. Most of the time we spend our whole trip in the keiki zoo, and only occasionally venture out to see the other animals, although the Chimpanpanzees, Siamong, and Tigers rarely disappoint.

Peacock

For a fun evening for older children, check out their Twilight Tours! For more information, check out this video:

For more information, visit the zoo’s website:

http://www.honoluluzoo.org

1-808-971-7171

Zoos * Aquariums * Centers

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Apr 5

Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center

by Keiki's Day Out

111 Ohe Street, Honolulu, HI 
Mondays: Closed
Tuesday-Friday: 9am – 1pm
 
Weekends: 10am – 3pm

IN A NUTSHELL

PROS:

  • Great for even the youngest children
  • Educational
  • Indoors

CONS:

  • The Hours (close early)
  • Pricey Membership

Be Sure to Check Out:

In addition to all the amazing exhibits, there is a giant lite brite on the first floor near the entrance on the left.

Life-sized Lite-Brite on the first floor

The Children’s Discovery Center is the ideal rainy day outing for restless children. Actually, it is the ideal activity for any occasion because it really is that much fun.

Although I had heard of the Children’s Discovery Center, I put off going because I thought my daughter was too young to enjoy it. I could not have been more wrong. Younger babies can enjoy watching the older children play and manipulate the activities, the play areas are sturdy enjoy for handling from even the roughest toddler and most of the exhibits are adaptable for any age.

Additionally there is a specific area, the “Tot Spot,” for the very young. The center’s Web Site describes the Tot Spot as being for children 5 and under, but that is stretching it in my opinion. My daughter was already over the “baby” area and on to the big kid exhibits by the time she was one and a half. And given that the center closes at 1pm on weekdays, we did not want to waste time on toys she can see at a McDonald’s play place when there were so many amazing other things to see.

The Children’s Discovery Center can best be described as a cross between a Children’s Museum and a gigantic pretend play house where children can pretend to be anything from a bus driver, actress, store clerk, or even Filipino. And I am not just saying that, the third floor exhibit “Our Rainbow World” features a variety of cultures with clothing and shoes for children to try on, and little rooms in the design of each respective culture.

The first floor begins with “Fantastic You!” an inside look at the human body. While the educational aspect of this exhibit might allude the younger crowd, the giant “stomach” which children can crawl through (filled with pretend food and bean bags) will be sure to please. And as an adult, I enjoyed the “foot prints” from everyone to Obama to Kristi Yamaguchi.

Famous Footprints in the "Fantastic You" exhibit

The next exhibit on the first floor is the “Your Town” exhibit. This is literally a miniature child-size town where children can climb into the firehouse, “drive” a bus, watch themselves as a new anchor in the studio, play with the cash register in a grocery store (complete with mini shopping carts and groceries lining the walls.)

Backstage at the "Our Town" exhibit's theater

They can even be an actress in the local theater, complete with a fully stocked backstage dressing room, lighted mirror, and buttons to adjust the stage lights, mood music, or even evoke applause or laughter. The theater was my daughter’s favorite part of the trip, but she also enjoyed the pediatrician’s office. Here children can throw on a white lab coat, grab the clipboard (with real pen and paper so kids can get the full effect), weigh the babies, take their temperatures, and even put x-rays up on a light board. Honestly, I was having as much fun as my daughter. “Your Town” is every imaginative kid’s dream.

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Pediatrician Time

The second and third floors are a lot smaller than the first, but are just as thorough and interactive. While the first floor caters to younger children, the upper floors are more educational and have more to offer older children. The second floor is all about Hawaii, and takes visitors from the plantation days all the way too modern Hawaii. The third floor, “Your Rainbow World” features pretend homes from a variety of cultures.

"Hawaiian Rainbows" exhibit on the second floor

Unfortunately, we did not have as much time for the top two floors because the Children’s Discovery Center closes at 1pm on weekdays. This is truly a shame because one could easily spend hours on the first floor alone. We were advised to go after 10nam on weekdays to avoid the crowds from school trips and sure enough, when we arrived around 10:30, we saw a ton of school buses and school children eating lunch on the grounds outside of the discovery center. There was no crowd at all once we got in, and it really added to our experience since my daughter did not have to share the exhibits with others.

But given the cost, which was $16 total, $8 for each of us, it seems a shame that we could only stay there till 1 pm. The employees were nice enough to go around and suggest people check out the upper floors since the center closes soon, but I used to be a waitress, I know every kind way to let people know it’s closing time. My daughter would have gladly gone the whole day without food or drink if she could have stayed, which is saying a lot for a kid whose first word was practically “Snack.”

On weekends, the Discovery Center stays open till 3pm, but I imagine it is a lot more crowded. While memberships are available they are awfully pricey. The Discovery Center is $150 for a ONE-child family. It’s an additional $50 to add another family member to that. I would have to take my daughter ten times a year for it to be worth it, and while I doubt she would complain, I would rather keep this place a special occasion destination. When I was growing up, places like the water park, or the amusement park, or even Chuck E Cheese were things that we would look forward to for weeks. And the anticipation made it all the more fun. I consider the Children’s Discovery Center to be one of those places. Make a big deal about it before you go, watch your children’s eyes light up at all the fun in front of them, and expect them to take fantastic naps afterward.

PARKING:

I have to make a note about this because people on internet forums have said that the center is difficult to find and that they drove in circles looking for it. It is a giant building painted pastel colors with bright stars on it at Kaka’ako Beach Park. Turn makai (towards the ocean) on Ohe street from Ala Moana Boulevard. Keep driving toward the beach, staying on Ohe Street. The street will steer slightly left. Look for a giant yellow building with blue poles coming out of it and a star on the side. Plenty of parking is available at the actual building, but even if that lot is full, there are tons of other parking spaces in Kaka’ako Beach Park. 

For more information visit the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center Web Site: http://www.discoverycenterhawaii.org or call (808) 524-5437

Zoos * Aquariums * Centers

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Apr 1

Waikiki Aquarium

by Keiki's Day Out

Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Ave.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815

Waikiki Aquarium

IN A NUT SHELL

PROS:

  • Location
  • Educational
  • Outdoor “Run Around” Area
  • Interesting for adults as well as children

CONS:

  • Membership can be pricey for many families
  • Small, and as a result, sometimes crowded

Be Sure to Check Out:

The Monk Seals and the Jellyfish exhibits are sure to evoke a little fun and amazement from everyone. 

The girls checking out tropical salt water fish and reefs.

The Waikiki Aquarium is located on Kalakaua Avenue on the diamond head side of Waikiki. Although I walked past the Aquarium for years, I never made it inside until my daughter was one and a half, and then returned again recently with my daughter and the two girls I nanny.

With children under five being free, the four of us got in for just $6, the Kama’aina rate for one adult (general admission for non-residents is $9, and children 5-12 are $2).

Neon Tetras (freshwater fish) at the Waikiki Aquarium

Each paid admission comes with a virtual wand tour, but given that I had an infant, a toddler, and an “almost” 3 year old with me, I knew we probably would not use it. That said, I imagine the virtual wand tour could be a fascinating learning tool for an older child.

The darkness inside the aquarium, surrounded by the stunning aquariums creates a beautiful and calming effect. The shark tank, with its glass rising nearly from floor to ceiling, is mesmerizing. It is also the only exhibit that features raised tiered seating, making it a natural favorite for nursing mothers.

Another indoor exhibit worth noting is the fascinating jelly fish section, although the children favored the more colorful polka dotted fish.

When it comes to the outdoor exhibits, the Hawaiian Monk Seal was the crowd pleaser of the trip each and every time I have attended. There is always a knowledgeable staff member there, either engaging the crowd and encouraging visitors to ask questions while they feed the fish, or hanging outside the tank, offering facts and tidbits about the mammals. And the seals do not disappoint. One continuously swam up to the girls, came out of the water, only to turn around and swim away, repeating this at least a dozen times to the children’s delight. Meanwhile the other seal seemed to be floating straight up and down in the water, slowing spinning around the whole time. The staff member explained that this funny little dance means they are sleeping.

The Aquarium has a nice-sized enclosed grassy area for having a picnic lunch, but bring a waterproof beach blanket as the field seems to be perpetually muddy. Mud aside, all three girls enjoyed burning off some steam chasing (or crawling) after the birds in the grass after lunch.

Because this place is so close to both our home, and the home of the children I nanny, I would love to get a membership. However, memberships are more expensive than the zoo memberships and I would have to go back quite a lot for it to be cheaper than paying as I go, since the kids are free anyway. (A Zoo Membership for two adults and their children is $35 while an Aquarium Membership for two adults and their children is $85) I can see a membership being reasonable for families with several children over the age of five.

The Aquarium also hosts a number of educational classes and programs for children, including a “small fry” programs for one, two and three year olds to enjoy with an adult. For more information check out the Waikiki Aquarium Web Site, www.waquarium.org.

Zoos * Aquariums * Centers

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