Best of HONOLULU 2023: The Best of HONOLULU Family on O‘ahu

SEE ALSO: Best of HONOLULU 2023

• The Best Food and Drinks on O‘ahu
• The Best Shopping on O‘ahu
• The Best of Fitness and Outdoor on O‘ahu
• The Best Services on O‘ahu
• The Best Entertainment and Getaways on O‘ahu

Photo: Courtesy Of North Shore Stables

Best Waterfront Trail Rides

Adults and keiki ages 6 and up can embark on a 1-mile oceanfront adventure on horseback with North Shore Stables. The trail ride, a unique experience that showcases the beauty of O‘ahu’s North Shore, takes you through the working farm, by native plants and along the coastline. Feeling the ocean breeze as your horse trots along the beach in Waialua is a memory you won’t soon forget. North Shore Stables opened to the public in August 2021 and is focused on the community, offering trail rides, lessons and private parties, as well as scholarships and even a work-ride-trade program for those interested in learning more about horsemanship. —JC

67-221 Waialua Beach Road, Waialua, (808) 270-5032, northshorestables.com, @north_shore_stables_hawaii 

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Best Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness Program

Pregnancy and motherhood can be a lonely and isolating time if you don’t already have a community of moms-to-be or new moms, but it doesn’t have to be. Fit4Mom Honolulu provides a variety of fitness and wellness programs that help moms build up strength—body, mind and spirit. Regardless of your physical capabilities, you’re bound to find these classes worth their weight in gold, if only for the social aspect. “It is not just an amazing workout, it’s about connecting and building beautiful long-lasting friendships for our families,” says Whitney McCallum, owner of the Honolulu franchise. There are prenatal classes, ones you can do with your keiki in a stroller and mom-only programs for when you’re finally able to take time for yourself. —JC 

(808) 341-6612, honolulu.fit4mom.com, @fit4momhonolulu 

Photo: Getty Images

Best Child Development Class

New parents, put Dr. Suma Metla on your radar. She’s a pediatric physical therapist, registered yoga teacher and the owner of Three Little Ducks Hawai‘i, a company that helps parents with their children’s motor development. Metla offers physical therapy assessments and treatment as well as classes and workshops. One-on-one infant massage coaching sessions help caregivers develop confidence in relaxing and comforting babies, and group classes and workshops provide them the knowledge and awareness they need as well as a strong community to lean on. The Little Duck and Me classes are especially helpful for first-time parents who wonder if baby is getting enough tummy time, if they’re crawling too slowly or not walking soon enough. What’s more, Three Little Ducks has partnered with Hawai‘i Pacific Health to offer free yoga classes at locations across O‘ahu to help ‘ohana connect with each other and their communities through physical activity. —JC 

(808) 940-2051, threelittleduckshawaii.com, @threelittleduckshawaii 

Photo: Courtesy of O‘ahu Styling Co.

Best Event Styling for an Uber-Chic Kids Party

Let’s be honest: Keiki birthdays are sometimes more for the adults. If that’s the case at your house (no shame), look to O‘ahu Styling Co., especially if you’re one who prefers a natural aesthetic over costumed characters and bright colors. Owner Lyndsea Snow Tasaka designs custom backdrops, tablescapes and more, in styles ranging from bohemian to glamorous and everything in between. First birthdays, graduations, baby showers and the like get a dose of serious style, bringing you and your kiddos’ dreams to a chic reality. Previous themes she’s done (and I especially love) include Two Groovy, Notorious B.I.G., Le Petit Prince and an “under the sea” motif. —JC

oahustylingco.com, @oahustylingco 

Photo: Courtesy of Sean Marrs Photography

Best Children’s Photographer

Reader Pick

Yes, we all have phones with approximately a million pictures of our adorable kids, but there’s something to be said for professional photos of your keiki or the whole family. Sean Marrs Photography is one of the most trusted on the island, and Marrs occasionally shoots for HONOLULU and HONOLULU Family too. His professional eye and calm nature allow him to catch those in-between moments, even if your kiddos aren’t necessarily cooperating. And Marrs can also see you and your keiki through graduation, weddings and beyond. —JC

seanmarrs.com, @seanmarrsphoto 

The Rest of the Best: Reader Picks

Best Afterschool/Enrichment Program

Winner: Kama‘āina Kids
Multiple locations, (808) 262-4538, kamaainakids.com, @kamaainakids

Finalist: My Treehouse Club
600 Ala Moana Blvd., #5A, (808) 585-0508, mytreehouseclub808.com, @mytreehouseclub

Best Amusement Center

Winner: Kids City
Multiple locations, kidscityhawaii.com, @kidscityhawaii

Finalist: Chuck E. Cheese
1199 Dillingham Blvd., locations.chuckecheese.com/us/hi/honolulu, @chuckecheese

Best Annual Pass Value

Winner: Wet ’N’ Wild Hawai‘i
400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei, (808) 674-9283, wetnwildhawaii.com, @wetnwildhawaii

Finalist: Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 926-3191, honoluluzoo.org, @thehonoluluzoo

Best Art Lessons

Winner: KidzArt Hawai‘i
93 N. Kainalu Drive, Room 102, Kailua, (808) 354-5905, kidzart.com/franchise/windward, @kidzarthawaii

Finalist: Art Tent Studio
​800 S. Beretania St., Suite 140, arttentlife.com, @art.tent.studio

Best Back-to-School Shopping

Winner: Fisher Hawai‘i
Multiple locations, fisherhawaiieducator.net, @fisherhawaii

Finalist: Target
Multiple locations, target.com, @target

Best Bakery for Keiki Treats

Winner: Liliha Bakery
Multiple locations, lilihabakery.com,@lilihabakery

Finalist: Brug Bakery
Multiple locations, brugbakery.com, @brugbakery

Best Bento

Winner: Musubi Café Iyasume
Multiple locations, iyasumehawaii.com, @musubi_cafe_iyasume

Finalist: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys

Best Breakfast Restaurant

Winner: Café Kaila
2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., (808) 732-3330, cafe-kaila-hawaii.com, @cafekaila

Finalist: Kono’s North Shore
Multiple locations, konosnorthshore.com, @konoshawaii

Best Children’s Photographer

Finalist: Carly Ragragola Photography
carlyragragola.com, @carlyragragolaphotography

Best Dance Lessons

Winner: My Treehouse Club
600 Ala Moana Blvd., #5A, (808) 585-0508, mytreehouseclub808.com, @mytreehouseclub

Finalist: Hawai‘i Dance Bomb
Multiple locations, hawaiidancebomb.com, @hawaii_dance_bomb

Best Face Painter

Winner: Art is Key Studios Face & Body Art
(808) 909-5622, artiskey.com, @atfacepainting

Finalist: Storybook Station
(808) 428-9698, storybookstationhawaii.com, @storybookhawaii

Best Family Vehicle

Winner: Toyota Sienna
Multiple locations, toyotahawaii.com, @toyotahi

Finalist: Nissan Quest
Multiple locations, nissanusa.com, @nissan

Best Family Wireless Phone Plan

Winner: Verizon
Multiple locations, verizon.com, @verizon

Finalist: T-Mobile
Multiple locations, t-mobile.com @tmobile

Best Family-Affordable Getaway

Winner: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
2005 Kālia Road, (808) 949-4321, hiltonhawaiianvillage.com, @hiltonhawaiianvillage

Finalist: Turtle Bay Resort
57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, (808) 475-2569, turtlebayresort.com, @turtlebayresort

Best Family-Style Caterer

Winner: Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering
94-903 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, (808) 671-3779, taniokas.com, @taniokas

Finalist: Mililani Restaurant
95-221 Kīpapa Drive, Mililani,(808) 625-2000, mililanirest.com, @mililanirestaurant

Best Ice Cream Shop

Winner: Black Sheep Cream Co.
Multiple locations, @blacksheepcreamco

Finalist: Via Gelato
1142 12th Ave., (808) 732-2800, viagelatohawaii.com, @viagelatohawaii

Best Item to Sell for a Fundraiser

Winner: Cookie Corner
Multiple locations, cookiecorner.com, @cookiecornerhawaii

Finalist: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys

Best Kid-Friendly Brunch

Winner: Egghead Café
1210 Dillingham Blvd., #8, (808) 888-2211, eggheadhonolulu.com, @egghead_cafe

Finalist: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
92-1185 Ali‘inui Drive, Kapolei, (866) 443-4763, disneyaulani.com, @disneyaulani

Best Kid-Friendly Burger

Winner: Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Multiple locations, teddysbb.com, @teddysburgers

Finalist: Chubbies Burgers
1145C 12th Ave., (808) 291-7867, chubbiesburgers.com, @chubbieshawaii

Best Local Brand for Kids Clothes

Winner: Coco Moon Hawai‘i
cocomoonhawaii.com, @coco_moon_hawaii

Finalist: Fighting Eel
Multiple locations, fightingeel.com, @fightingeel

Best Mini Golf Course

Winner: Bay View Mini-Putt and Zipline
45-285 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 247-6464, bayviewminiputt.com, @bayviewminiputt

Finalist: Glow Putt Mini Golf
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 235-6600, glowputtminigolf.com, @glowputtminigolf

Best Music Lessons

Winner: Roy Sakuma ‘Ukulele Studios
Multiple locations, (808) 732-3739, roysakuma.net

Finalist: Kapena School of Music
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, #293, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 221-8501, kapenaschoolofmusic.com, @kapenaschoolofmusic

Best Pau Hana with Kids

Winner: Maui Brewing Co.
Multiple locations, mauibrewingco.com,@mauibrewingco

Finalist: Fooki
98-199 Kamehameha Highway, ‘Aiea, (808) 484-9188, fookihawaii.com, @fooki_hi

Best Pediatric Dentist

Winner: Clyde Y. Uchida, D.D.S.
Multiple locations

Finalist: Pediatric Dental Group
Multiple locations, pdghawaii.com, @pdghawaii

Best Pediatric Doctor

Winner: Shelley A. Loui, M.D.
Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, hawaiipacifichealth.org

Finalist: Brandon Young, M.D.
Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, hawaiipacifichealth.org

Best Pizza

Winner: Pieology Pizzeria
Multiple locations, pieology.com, @pieologyhi

Finalist: Boston’s Pizza
Multiple locations

Best Place for Kids Furniture

Winner: Flexa Furniture Hawai‘i
885 Queen St., Unit B, (808) 955-4434, flexahawaii.com, @flexashop_hawaii

Finalist: Walmart
Multiple locations, walmart.com, @walmart

Best Place for Potluck Pickups

Winner: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys

Finalist: Foodland Farms
Multiple locations, foodland.com, @foodlandhi

Best Place to Buy a Healthy Snack Your Kids Will Love

Winner: Whole Foods
Multiple locations, wholefoodsmarket.com, @wholefoods

Finalist: Down to Earth Organic and Natural
Multiple locations, downtoearth.org, @downtoearthhi

Best Place to Experience Cultural Activities

Winner: Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha, Lā‘ie, 1 (800) 367-7060, polynesia.com, @polynesianculturalctr

Finalist: Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., (808) 847-3511, bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum

Best Place to Get a Birthday Cake

Winner: Safeway
Multiple locations, safeway.com, @safeway

Finalist: Costco
Multiple locations, costco.com, @costco

Best Place to Get Educational Toys

Winner: SoHa Keiki
Multiple locations, sohaliving.com, @sohakeiki

Finalist: Thinker Toys
Multiple locations, thinkertoyshawaii.com, @thinkercircle

Best Place to Get Your First Haircut

Winner: Pigtails & Crewcuts
930 Valkenburgh St., pigtailsandcrewcuts.com, @pigtailsandcrewcuts

Finalist: Regis Salon – Windward Mall
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, (808) 235-1177, regissalons.com

Best Play Space/Attraction: Indoor

Winner: My Treehouse Club
600 Ala Moana Blvd., #5A, (808) 585-0508, mytreehouseclub808.com, @mytreehouseclub

Finalist: Storybook Station
(808) 428-9698, storybookstationhawaii.com, @storybookhawaii

Best Play Space/Attraction: Outdoor

Winner: Wet ’N’ Wild Hawai‘i
400 Farrington Hightway, Kapolei, (808) 674-9283, wetnwildhawaii.com, @wetnwildhawaii

Finalist: Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 926-3191, honoluluzoo.org, @thehonoluluzoo

Best Shave Ice

Winner: Waiola Shave Ice
Multiple locations, (808) 949-2269, waiola-shave-ice.com, @waiolashaveice

Finalist: Shimazu Store
330 B N. School St., (808) 721-2441, shimazustoreliliha.com, @shimazustoreliliha

Best Shopping Center for Families

Winner: Windward Mall
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 235-1143, windwardmall.com, @windwardmall

Finalist: Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 955-9517, alamoanacenter.com, @alamoanacenter

Best Spot for a Parents’ Night Out

Winner: The Surfing Pig Hawai‘i
3605 Wai‘alae Ave., (808) 744-1992, thesurfingpighawaii.com, @thesurfingpighawaii

Finalist: Arancino
Multiple locations, arancino.com

Best Store for Locally Made Snacks

Winner: Wholesale Unlimited Inc.
Multiple locations, wholesaleunlimitedhi.com, @wholesaleunlimitedhi

Finalist: Kaimukī Crack Seed Store
1156 Koko Head Ave., (808) 737-1022, kaimukicrackseedstore.com, @crack_seed_store

Best Swimming Lessons

Winner: YMCA
Multiple locations, ymcahonolulu.org, @ymcahonolulu

Finalist: Lē‘ahi Swim School
Multiple locations, leahiswimschool.com, @leahiswimschool

Best Teacher Gifts

Winner: Paradise Monarchs
(808) 341-1888, paradisemonarchs.com, @paradisemonarchs

Finalist: Target
Multiple locations, target.com, @target

Best Tutoring

Winner: Tutor Doctor Hawai‘i
2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-204A, (808) 439-6777, tutordoctorhawaii.com, @tutor_doctor_hi

Finalist: Kumon
Multiple locations, kumon.com, @kumonnorthamerica