Author: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni

Our Family Guide: Aloun Farms Pumpkin Festival 2019

Photo: Courtesy of Aloun Farms Editor's Note: This story was updated October 2019. Aloun Farms hosts the biggest Pumpkin Festival on the island. When we say big, we mean BIG. After all, the Kapolei farm produces up to 36,000 pumpkins…

Inside Look: Hawai‘i State Farm Fair

Photo: Hawai‘i Farm BureauEnter the "Keiki Farm Hands" tent and you'll find dozens of chicks in an incubator and get to milk a life-size cow replica. Editor's Note: This blog was updated on July 8, 2019. Would you like to…

Free Fun: 15 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

Photo: Karen DB PhotographyTempura and udon at Gyotaku. If your keiki are eating a hole in your wallet, you'll appreciate these 15 restaurants that offer free kids meals with the purchase of an adult meal. For more free fun, check out our…

Your Ultimate Guide to the 2020 ʻIolani Fair

This year’s fair takes place Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18. Here’s your guide to where to park, which gourmet foods and new flavors of malassadas to try, and everything else the event has to offer.

We Tried It: Keiki Swap Meet

Photo: Jennifer Carlile DalgamouniFamilies sell their gently used kids' items at the Keiki Swap Meet with the Hawai‘i Children's Discovery Center in the background. Editor’s note: The swap meet has been canceled in 2020 because of new City and County…

We Tried It: Keiki Swap Meet

Photo: Jennifer Carlile DalgamouniFamilies sell their gently used kids' items at the Keiki Swap Meet with the Hawai‘i Children's Discovery Center in the background. Editor’s note: The swap meet has been canceled in 2020 because of new City and County…

Inside Look: Honolulu City Lights 2018

Photo: Ron Slauson, courtesy of Friends of Honolulu City Lights The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a family trip to see the Honolulu City Lights, Shaka Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Christmas trees at Honolulu Hale. We asked the…

We Tried It: T-Rex Planet/Jurassic Tour

Photos: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni Sept. 2018 Editor's Note: The animatronic dinosaur exhibit currently in Hawai‘i is called Jurassic Tour. However, the website reflects the same photos, descriptions and the contact information for the company is the same as T-Rex Planet.…

30 Tips for Flying with Children

Photo: Jennifer Carlile DalgamouniTraveling with young children is never easy, but there are ways to make it a lot more bearable. Are you flying to the Mainland, Asia or beyond but worry about entertaining your keiki on the long plane ride?…

We Tried It: Poi Packs

Photo: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni As parents, we’re always looking for tasty, nutritious snacks for our children. They also need to be easy to carry, mess free and resealable. Given these requirements, I’ve never heard a mom or dad suggest sticky…

Inside Look: Hawaiʻi’s New Center of Innovation

Photo: Courtesy of Boys & Girls Club HawaiiThe Center of Innovation focuses on STEM learning. School-age children have a new place to explore science, technology, engineering and math with hands-on activities in West Oʻahu at the Center of Innovation, which…

We Tried It: Living Art Marine Center Reef Walk

Photo: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni Who: Mom, Dad, Uncle and 5- and 7-year-old boys What: Living Art Marine Center Night Reef Walk Where: Shoreline near Kāhala When: Saturday, 6 to 7:45 p.m. Our family had gone on a few daytime reef walks…

We Tried It: UH Institute for Astronomy Open House

Photo: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni What: Institute for Astronomy Open House Where: UH Institute for Astronomy in Mānoa, 2680 Woodlawn Drive. When: 1 to 3 p.m. at last year's event in 2017. Who: Mom, Dad, 4- and 6-year-old boys, joined by two…

Your Weekend: The Best Family Events-March 14, 2018

Photo: Bishop Museum Fall in Love with Science Preregister now to visit Bishop Museum for free and try out dozens of hands-on activities this Sunday. We tried it last year and our boys had a blast going from booth to…

We Tried It: Star of Honolulu Whale Watch Cruise

Photo: Star of Honolulu Cruises and Events What: Star of Honolulu Premier Whale Watch and Lunch Cruise Where: Departs from Aloha Tower Marketplace, Pier 8 Who: Mom, Dad, Uncle, 5-year-old and 7-year-old boys When: Sunday, the cruise departed at noon and returned…

We Tried It: “Expedition: Dinosaur”

Photo: Jennifer Carlile DalgamouniClimb inside a T-rex's mouth at Bishop Museum's new exhibit. What: Expedition: Dinosaur Where: Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St. Who: Two adults, 7-year-old and 5-year-old boys and a 10-year-old girl When: Friday evening, 4 to 6:30 p.m.,…

We Tried It: Honolulu Theatre For Youth OnStage Workshop

Photo: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni Editor's Note: The next Onstage workshop will be Saturday, Feb. 25, for the production Rainbow. Click here for details.  What: Honolulu Theatre For Youth's Onstage workshop for The Ballad of Mulan Where: Tenney Theatre Who: 5-…

19 Fun Ideas for Fall Break

Photo: Kahuku FarmsTour at Kahuku Farms. It's Fall Break for Oʻahu's public schools. Vacation days start out fun, but can quickly descend into battles over the statement, "I'm bored." So, if you're looking for somewhere to go or something to make or…

10 Tips for Talking to Your Keiki About Tragedies

Photo: ThinkstockThe Las Vegas skyline during a more peaceful time. News of the mass shooting in Las Vegas has shaken all of us. As parents, we also worry about what our keiki will see and hear about deadly events. Television, the…

Our Guide: Children and Youth Day 2017

Photo: Children and Youth Day The 24th Annual Children’s and Youth Day is Sunday. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. kids can try 300 educational and fun activities as well as museum tours, a plant give away, goodie bags and a fun run. Itʻs all free.…

We Tried It: Ala Moana’s New Play Area

Photo: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni The new keiki climbing structure at Ala Moana Center is unlike any other on the island. So, we had to try it out. “‘Oh my gosh!’” my boys squealed when they saw the 20-foot-tall maze of blue,…

Date Night Idea: 2018 Hale ‘Aina Awards

Photo: HONOLULU Magazine New restaurants, new chefs, and creative dishes and cocktails are always popping up in Honolulu's vibrant dining scene. For parents, our cuisine “scene” often involves mac and cheese, sometimes stuck in our keiki’s hair. When we do score a rare…

Inside Look: Best of Honolulu Festival 2017

Photo: Kelli Bullock Looking for a place where your kids can burn off some energy, be entertained and learn something while you eat, drink and shop? Saturday, Aug. 5, you can have it all at the second annual Best of…

Money Matters: How Much Does The Tooth Fairy Pay?

Photo: ThinkStock When your child lost his or her first tooth, did you wonder what the Tooth Fairy would pay? Did you Google it or later worry that the fairy had given too much or too little? Our oldest son…

Free Fun: 6 Volunteer Opportunities

Photo: Tien EngaFamilies helped clear a lo‘i at Ka Papa Lo‘i O Kanewai in Mānoa as part of the 2017 HONOLULU Family Volunteer Day. Do you want your keiki to learn the value of volunteer work? Check out these six…

Free Fun: 10 Outdoor Adventures

Photo: Courtesy of Na Kama Kai (Note: This blog was first published in April 2017). Does your family get bored going to the same beach or playground every weekend? If you want to try something new, check out our ten…