Forty-seven schools statewide were represented at yesterday's 2013 Hawaii Geographic Bee, held at the Blaisdell Center. Winner Andrew Anderton, of Lihue, Kauai is an eighth grader at Island School. Anderton is no stranger to this competition; he also won the…
Best First Haircut Location Pigtails & Crewcuts Editors' Pick 930 Valkenburgh St., near airport, 422-4300, pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/Honolulu. Best Residential Solar Sunetric Editors' Pick 262-6600, sunetric.com. Best Babysitter Referral Service PATCH Readers' Pick 839-1988, patchhawaii.org. Best Pediatric Dentist Clyde…
Best Airlines for Kids Hawaiian Airlines Editors' Pick When you're stuck in one spot for hours, any distraction is welcome relief for parents. Hawaii's largest local airlines could have won this category just with its complimentary meals, something unheard of…
Best Party Entertainment Balloon MonsoonReaders' PickBalloon king Greg Hirashiki has been entertaining Hawaii's keiki for more than 20 years. You can spot Hirashiki in action at Wahoo's Fish Tacos, Kahala, on Wednesdays at “Kids-Eat-Free” night or at the…
Best Place to Get Your Kids to Try Sprouts Without Complaint Andy's Sandwiches and Smoothies Editors' PIckIf you attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and somebody says, “let's go to Andy's,” you know exactly what he or she is…
Best Place to Learn to Dance Pas De Deux HawaiiReaders' PickLearning to sing, dance and perform has never been more fun! Former Disney Imagination Movers star Wendy Calio is at the helm of this popular Waipahu dance studio. What to…
Photography by Karen DB Photography Best New Place to Jump for Joy i-TrampolineEditors' PickThey'll have your kids bouncing off the walls, literally! Imagine an indoor trampoline park with 360-degree all-trampoline jump areas (which prevent keiki from falling off edges).…
Best Neighborhood to Raise Kids ManoaEditors' PickWith elementary schools that consistently rank near the top in Hawaii, crime rates well below the national average and miles of well-maintained sidewalks that make it the 10th most walkable neighborhood in Honolulu, Manoa…
As the old adage goes, “Don't knock it till you've try it.” That's what Kelly told me years ago when she kindly announced were have frozen Brussels sprouts with Velveeta cheese as a side dish one night. I confessed…
Wyatt and Sky take in the lawn and garden at the Spalding House. Growing up in Hawaii means that my children are regularly surrounded by beauty. When we visit beaches, hike trails or stop at scenic overlooks, we talk…
Akira Takabayashi, an eighth grader from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School on Kauai. The winning word was lamentation, but other words such as Hemerocallis and baruhkzy were among the list of words that moved him forward in the competition. He…
The Monster at the End of this Book By Jon StoneIllustrated by Michael SmollinReview by HONOLULU Family reader Lisa Hartwell-Tindle and her son, Nainoa. “There's a monster at the end of this book!” screams our 21/2-year-old son, Nainoa. Like most…
According to the experts, here's what financially literate children should look like: They should be able to evaluate financial information, set financial goals and possess the skills to achieve them, be able to use financial services (like banks and loans)…
“I think Avery has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFM). She has a sore on her tongue.” This was the text message my wife Kelly sent me last week after Avery mentioned she had what she thought was a…
How one family taught their way to three of the state's finest spellers. The 2013 aio Hawaii State Spelling Bee airs this Saturday, March 23 at 7 p.m. on PBS Hawaii. Get ready by taking a look at the legacy…
The last time I attended a spelling bee, I was in it.Actually, I was in my class qualifying spelling bee where I failed to correctly spell mosquitoey. The winning word was triceratops. I indignantly noted in my diary, "That was…
Is it just me or have mornings on Oahu been colder than usual over the last several months? It sure feels that way and as a result it's been harder and harder for me to pull myself out of…
Cooking at home is one of the most rewarding things a family can do together for a number of reasons. Not only is it an incredible way to bond and inspire creativity, it allows you to control what your family…
Photos by David Croxford and Kristen Hook
I'm not sure when I became a techno dinosaur, but it was somewhere between my daughters' births and their entrance this year into fourth grade. I spent 30 minutes recently trying to figure out how to work Face Time, only…
I'm trying to recall the last time I had a legitimate tan that covered more than 50 percent of my body. Nothing in recent memory comes to mind. Honestly, the last time was probably back in high school when my…
LION DANCE PHOTO: WES FUNAI. OTHER PHOTOS: CHILDRENS DISCOVERY CENTER CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONAGES 3 TO 10Children's Discovery CenterFeb. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Celebrate the Year of the Snake with special activities and a lion dance and performance…
PHOTOS: MARC SCHECHTER Morning showers did not deter the unveiling of the new Lani Moo Keiki Corner exhibit at the Honolulu Zoo today. School children don rain jackets and trash bags as they made their way through the Keiki Zoo…
Can a bar of soap get dirty? A rather silly question, but one I like to bring up in light-hearted conversations to see how people respond. Think about it. If I were a gambling man (which I'm not), I'd bet…
As much as Kelly and I enjoy cooking at home, we equally savor the opportunity to check out a hot, new restaurant or return to an old haunt for a delicious meal. Dining out is exciting as it's a…
Book Recommendations for Your Keiki—from Preschool Through Eighth Grade, Plus a Little Something for Mom and Dad. Ethnic and Cultural Reads Looking to incorporate a little ethnic and cultural education this holiday season? Here are some recommendations the whole family…
Childhood Trauma Resource Guide The following is a list of local organizations that provide counseling and support for families affected by traumatic events. Family Peace Center (PACT) 832-0855, pacthawaii.org Catholic Charities Hawaii 535-0158, catholiccharitieshawaii.org Child and Family…
We're always looking for the best events and activities for your entire family online! Every week, we round up five family-friendly events for your weekend on honolulufamily.com's Weekend Guide. But subscribers to our free weekly e-Newsletter receive even more events,…
It has been said many times that you're likely to find inspiration in the most unlikely places. I must say from personal experience, this is very true. I think I speak for everyone when I say that at some…
Despite the fact that my beloved New England Patriots won't be playing in this year's Super Bowl, the annual party must go on.Just like thousands of others across Oahu on Feb. 3, we'll be hosting a party at our…
Let's face it: none of us likes to admit we might be wrong, or God forbid, making mistakes disciplining and raising our children. The fact is, parenting is the biggest responsibility we will ever take on in our lives, and,…
When we asked Ensen last year whether he wanted to give soccer a try this spring, Kelly and I anxiously awaited his response. After all, our attempts to get him into kendo faded as he seemed more interested in…
Something interesting happened over the winter break. I'm not naming names, but a certain 5 1/2 –year-old whose name rhymes with “Benson” turned into a gaming fanatic, addicted to playing Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga on our Wii.…
Kids can draw their way to an all-expense paid trip to Japan. What would your child's fantasy car look like? Toyota Hawaii wants to know.The 7th Dream Car Art Contest is happening now. Student artists 15 years and younger are…
Celebrating the arrival of 2013 with family and friends was incredible as always, but unfortunately quite a few friends of ours spent it caring for their children who were under the weather. As noted in a previous post, December tends…
It's absolutely crazy to think that 2013 is here! Where did the time go? Why does the New Year always seem to arrive so quickly? Like many of you, reflecting back on the year confirms it certainly was a busy…
There are so many things to be thankful for this holiday season; it would be difficult to list them all. However, the one thing that stands out is Ensen and Avery's understanding of compassion and genuine feelings of kindness…
I'm on vacation! It's a phrase I rarely ever use as a busy public relations executive where the work never seems to end, but boy does it feel good to say it. I'm on vacation! For the next two and…
Don't intentionally expose your children to any of the media regarding this tragedy. If your child learns of the incident today or in the next few days, listen attentively to his or her feelings and thoughts. Stay calm. Say…
And the Cover Kids Are … Congratulations to all our 2013 entrants! We had so many cute kids with such great personalities this year, that we selected not only five Cover Kids based on online and judges votes, but seven…
We know it's important to eat a balanced diet, complete with a variety of vegetables chock full of essential nutrients that keep us healthy. Our parents explained this to us and our grandparents repeated the mantra. Now, Kelly and I,…
Enjoy the hustle and bustle this holiday season and get organized. Here are three storage and organization solutions that will help make your life easier.
Winter in Hawaii usually brings cooler weather and evokes visions of Santa in aloha wear, plenty of presents under the Christmas tree and happy, warm fuzzies. Not to burst your happy bubble, but our friends at the State of Hawaii…
Book Recommendations for Your Keiki—from Preschool Through Eighth Grade, Plus a Little Something for Mom and Dad. Ethnic and Cultural Reads Looking to incorporate a little ethnic and cultural education this holiday season? Here are some recommendations the whole family…
Imagine the benefits of having friends who cook gourmet fare for a living and everyday meals for their families? We asked three local chefs who are also daddies to each share a family-favorite dish. Fred DeAngelo, chef/owner, Ola Restaurant, Turtle…
Age-appropriate app recommendations for children 1 to 10 years old. Nowadays, kids are so tech savvy. Hand them your smartphone or iPad and they'll easily maneuver their way through options you never knew you had. With fun at their fingertips,…
Help your little one to party like a tot star with festive, soirée-ready fashions loaded with swagger and shine. Photography: Karen DB Photography.Models: Alice Armijos, Emi Catanzariti, Alakai Moses and Jayson Osbun. Shopping Guide Adore, Kahala Mall, 737-0608. The Children's…
Wicked, Broadway’s big hit, is playing at the Neal Blaisdell Center from now until Jan. 12. The story takes place in the Land of Oz, long before Dorothy ever trotted down the yellow brick road. Wicked tells why the emerald-green-skinned…
