8 Steps to Raising a Well-Rounded Child
A well-rounded child is one who thinks for him- or herself, who is secure in his or her decisions and has a developing sense of who he or she is and where he or she fits in the world.…
Author: Honolulu Family Team
A Geocoaching Family Adventure in Honolulu
Slightly spoiled by a lifetime on gorgeous Hawaii hiking trails, my children sometimes think my suggested Sunday family hikes sound “soooo boring, Mom.” Recently, after hearing about a friend's geocaching adventure, I looked up geocaching on the internet and…
Good Reads: October 2013
Maka the Magic Maker by Shannon Scott, illustrated by Holly BraffetAges 5 to 8Reviewed by Honolulu Family reader Will F. and her 7-year-old son, Fynn, of Salt Lake. What do you get when you combine a good storyline, wonderful illustrations…
Editor’s Page: Fun Times
For fun, I did a few unofficial calculations. A typical two-kid household hosts an average of 36 “kid-friendly” parties in a lifetime. Three will be extra-special events celebrating a baby's first year, a teenager's sweet 16 and a you're-off-to-college graduation…
Good Reads: October 2013
Awesome books for keiki from preschool through 8th grade plus a little something for mom and dad. Some titles are available in eformats. These books and many others for all ages are available at your public library or you can…
Good Reads: August 2013
Great reads for keiki from preschool through 8th grade plus a little something for mom and dad. Some titles are available in eformats. These books and many others for all ages are available at your public library or you can…
Prepping Your Garden for Winter and Spring
You may have noticed that I haven't blogged about gardening lately, that's because earlier this year our home garden was struggling to grow the vegetables it so easily produced a year ago. Bugs and slugs invaded, and in lieu of…
Boys vs. Girls: Do boys and girls learn differently?
When Tracy Kimura's 8-year-old twins, John and Sophia, study at home, "they completely play out the differences in learning styles between boys and girls," says Kimura, director of counseling for grades nine to 12 at Iolani School. (The twins…
The Making of a Super Kid: 15 Fab Foods to Build Strong Minds and Bodies
For busy parents, whipping up three nutrient-packed, wholesome meals per day, plus healthy snacks, can sometimes feel downright impossible. “Here in Hawaii, many families get home late because parents may spend hours commuting each day or work more than…
Fall 2013 book recommendations for your family
Reviewed by Honolulu Family reader Jen T. and her 4-year-old daughter, Emi, of Makiki. "THAT SOUNDS LIKE A FUN PARTY!" my daughter, Emi, announced five pages into Baby Dinosaur's Luau in Hawaii. She chose the book for her bedtime story…
Beware of Dangerous Plastics
It is hard to believe summer break for the kids is over and it's back to school. Avery has been anxious to get back to preschool after a one-week break. Ensen is very excited to be starting first grade this…
Three Hawaii families share discipline strategies that work
Lyman Family Ethnicity: Hawaiian, Caucasian, Puerto Rican, Filipino and Spanish Discipline Strategies: • Use charts and checklists to track family members' roles • Reward good actions with “behavior bucks” Pomaikai Lyman, a Hawaiian-music artist and hula dancer, brings her four…
Cool Cuts
Our friends at W Salon at Ala Moana Center created fresh, stylish looks for these eager students. Haircuts, highlights, curls, braids and products helped to transform these little cuties into fashion-forward pupils.
Tips for making healthy kids’ meals
Kathy's Simple Handroll “My kids enjoy this easy-to-prepare snack,” says nutritionist Kathy Price, R.D. Note: Amount and proportions can be adjusted to suit individual taste. Ingredients: • Cooked rice “I use Gen Ji Mai rice, which is a lightly polished…
Five Great Camping Places for Families in Hawaiʻi
Camping provides an opportunity for families with children of all ages to spend the weekend together while enjoying our beautiful island. It's also the cheapest staycation around. Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, Kāneʻohe Hoʻomaluhia is a beautiful, green botanical garden with…
Web exclusive: Interview with parenting advice columnist John Rosemond
Effective discipline requires old-fashioned parenting techniques, not child psychology, says John Rosemond, a nationally renowned speaker and author of more than a dozen books, including The Well-Behaved Child: Discipline That Really Works, Teen-Proofing and Making The Terrible Twos Terrific!…
10 Ways to Avoid the Headaches of Homework
Hawaii experts share strategies on tackling the dreaded task. 1. Set a Routine ✔ A key strategy is to establish a routine for when and where homework gets done. “The best thing to do is to get homework…
Out & About in August, September
Now - Sept. 15 Discover the Dinosaurs Life Through Time: Dinosaurs and Ice-Age Mammals, Bishop MuseumAll agesNow through Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays)Take the family back in time and enjoy an entertaining and educational…
Editor’s Page: So It Begins
The alarm goes off. It's still dark outside. Shuffle to the kitchen. Grab a cup of coffee. Prep a hearty breakfast, a healthy snack and a well-balanced lunch. Get the kids fed, cleaned and dressed. Coordinate schedules, check homework folders,…
Part 2: Simple Recipe for Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups
In last week's blog post, I mentioned that our family would be experimenting with a recipe for homemade fruit leathers after finding a recipe online. This week, I'm glad to report that our inaugural efforts to make strawberry li…
Keiki Snack: Homemade Fruit and Veggie Leathers
It’s getting harder and harder these days to keep Ensen and Avery satisfied with healthier snack options. Who can blame them? Taking dried apricots, fresh fruits, and Wheat Thins to summer fun and preschool each day can get boring for…
Parent to Parent: Benefits of a 26-Minute Power Nap
Last Sunday, I found myself knocked out on the couch at a friend's house shortly before noon. It was a nice two-hour nap after a late night of backyard camping with friends and family coupled with an early 6:30 a.m.…
Good Reads: July 2013
Great reads for keiki from preschool through 8th grade plus a little something for mom and dad. Some titles are available in eformats. These books and many others for all ages are available at your public library or you can…
Pas De Deux Hawaii Grand Opening (Sponsored)
News Bulletin: Something big has moved into Waipio. People near Starbucks report hearing nonstop music and rhythmic steps punctuated by joyful cheers and laughing. This weekend, you can join in on the fun fueled by a little star power.Pas De…
Embracing Our Children’s Independence
With Fourth of July just around the corner, I couldn't resist writing about a topic near and dear to my heart—Avery, my 3-year-old daughter. My princess! In retrospect, her middle name should have been “Ms. Independence.” From the time she…
Keeping Keiki Safe On the Fourth of July
A recent shopping trip to Sam's Club served as a reminder that Fourth of July is right around the corner. Pallets of boxes containing smokeless pop-pops and party-pulls lined the aisles in an effort to seduce parents and children to…
Summer Good Reads: Book recommendations for you and your keiki.
Reviewed by Mandy Suganuma, 94.7 KUMU's morning radio host. As you pass Kualoa Ranch and gaze off over the ocean, you'll see Mokoli‘i Island. The locals call it “Chinaman's Hat” for its resemblance to the straw hat Chinese immigrants…
From Good Mornings to Good Nights
Tannya, Hana, 1, Kaimana, 4, and husband Alan. Photo: Christiaan Phleger ADVERTISEMENT For two years, Tannya Joaquin spent her Sunrise with more than a quarter million viewers every week. Now, she spends her mornings in front of a not-always-captivated audience…
Preparing for Hurricane Season
The start of June annually signals the beginning of hurricane season here in the Hawaiian Islands. Are you and your family ready? While national weather experts predict a busy hurricane season in the Atlantic region, history tells us that we…
Download HONOLULU Family’s Activity Calendar
Every month, our editors search for the best events for all ages across Oahu. We've put our favorites in one, easy-to-use calendar so you can plan out a whole month ahead of time. Each day has the information about…
Sing to Win!
This contest is now closed. Go to HONOLULU Family's Facebook page to see the winners. Sesame Street first aired in 1969, taught kids to "Sing, sing a song" in 1971 and has kept entire families humming ever since. Now…
Staying Healthy While Traveling
With summer upon us, thousands of Hawaii families will be heading to points around the world for much needed vacations. The plan is to enjoy a little rest and relaxation, but some of us will unfortunately nurse a cold,…
Entertaining Kid-Tough Products
Got It Covered 1. (Ages 3 and older) Keep your handy dandy iPhone or iPod covered and protected. Fisher-Price Apptivity case, amazon.com or target.com. Say Cheese 2. (Ages 8 to 10) This camera allows…
Helping Your Child Deal with Grief
The devastating tornado that changed so many lives in Moore, Oklahoma last Monday still saddens me every time I think about it. I had just arrived in Memphis, Tennessee for a conference and checked into my hotel room when…
Beyond the Beach
Illustrations by Andy Catanzariti Earlier this year, famous syndicated advice columnist Dear Abby (Pauline Phillips, a.k.a. Abigail Van Buren) passed away, leaving behind a treasure trove of common-sense advice for her legions of readers. The no-nonsense quote below, concerning parenthood,…
We Tried It: Ice Cream Magic
Don't underestimate the power of marketing, especially when it comes to kids. Last week, during dinner at my in-law's house, Ensen mentioned to Nana (the name our kids affectionately call my mother-in-law) that he saw a commercial on television that…
The Seven Most-Asked Questions About Kids’ Teeth
The keys to a great smile are healthy teeth and gums. As parents, we face challenges when it comes to ensuring the best oral health for our children. We asked some local experts and parents to answer seven common questions…
Good Reads: May 2013
Just in time for summer, great reads young kids will love and one fun read for parents. These books and many others for all ages are available at your public library or you can place a request for titles. You…
Editor’s Page: Simply the Best
Where do you and your mommy friends go for a rare, but well-deserved girls' night out? Planning a birthday party for your daughter, but not sure who to call? How about those beautiful curls that frame the face of your…
Quick and Healthy Dinners for Busy Hawaii Parents
After a long day at the office, the last thing Kelly and I want to do is spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner. The kids need to be bathed, cats need to be fed, and homework needs to…
Best of HONOLULU Family 2013
By Helen McNeil, Christi Young, Ashley de Coligny and Terri InefukuPhotography by Karen DB Photography The quest for the best is endless… especially when it comes to finding the BEST places to party, play, shop, eat, relax, learn, live…
Locally Grown Tomatoes: Nature’s Candy
There's nothing that makes me prouder than to hear my kids say, “Dad, can I have more broccoli” or “Daddy, I want more yummy tomatoes.” The latter being a common request from our 3-year-old Avery these days. How can…
Healthy Lifestyle Tips from a Pescetarian Honolulu Mom
Through the magic of social media, more specifically Instagram, I recently reconnected with a long lost friend after 15 plus years. It happened one day after stumbling upon a delicious photo stream posted by someone by the name “iheartnatto”…
Five Light Downtown Honolulu Lunch Options High on Taste and Value
One of the perks of working in downtown Honolulu on Bishop Street is the abundance of restaurant options that surround you, all within walking distance. It's a blessing for convenience, but a curse to your wallet, especially for me…
VIDEO: The Honolulu Zoo welcomes three lion cubs
The Honolulu Zoo's new baby lions have three local students to thank for their names. The 4-month-old cubs, Kekoa, Alohi and Iolana made their debut at the zoo this past weekend. Each of the cubs got their names from a…
Container Gardening in Hawai‘i
Geobunga can turn black or brown thumbs green. That's what Geobunga owner Andrew Dedrick said when I asked him to tell me about his company, during a recent visit to his shop on Lawehana Street (across from Target in Salt…
