Best of HONOLULU Family 2020: PARTY
Our readers’ and editors’ picks for the best places and ways to celebrate with your family in Honolulu.
Best Artsy Party for Kids With Neat-Freak Parents
Photo: Courtesy of Oʻahu Bright Lab
EDITORS’ PICK
O‘ahu Bright Lab
Owner Dana Adler, an elementary school teacher and mom of two young boys, embraces glitter bombs and paint explosions all in the name of creativity and imagination. The studio puts together quaint birthday parties tailored to the guest of honor. Partygoers will decorate a personalized birthday banner, paint a larger-than-life 3D cardboard birthday cake and take home a custom art project.Laura Dornbush
Parties start at $350. O‘ahu Bright Lab, 2804 E. Mānoa Road, (808) 798-7501. oahubrightlab.com
Best White-Tablecloth Event For Kids
Photo: Courtesy of Moana Surfrider
EDITORS’ PICK
Keiki Tea Party at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider
The Moana Surfrider’s Keiki Tea Party is an indulgence that families should try at least once. Held in the sun-lit Veranda restaurant overlooking Waikīkī Beach, each table setting comes with dainty cups and teapots (filled with juice or water), bite-sized sandwiches and pastries, a candy display, fancy linen, and plush toys and balloons to take home. The sophisticated venue can be a relaxing getaway for parents—even if their kids are loudly crunching on candy and slurping from teacups.Cathy Cruz-George
The Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa, 2365 Kalākaua Ave., (808) 924-4778. moanasurfrider.com
See also: 🏆 Best of HONOLULU Family 2020: PLAY
Best Party Entertainment
Photo: Courtesy of storybookentertainmenthawaii.com
READERS’ PICK
Storybook Entertainment Hawaiʻi
Luckily, you don’t need a fairy godmother to get your child to meet his or her favorite princess or superhero. Storybook Entertainment Hawai‘i specializes in finding talented (and always sweet) performers who mirror over 260 fictional characters that everyone loves. We’ve seen girls frozen with delight upon meeting life-size Elsa and Anna. Captain America can entertain a wild pack of boys for hours—that’s an incredible power. And, of course there’s always Moana and demigod Maui to ignite some Island fun. The locally based company also offers face painting, balloon artists, magicians and jugglers as part of its making-dreams-come-true packages. When Honolulu locked down, Storybook started facetimefun.com to let kids chat with Batman, Cinderella or Tinkerbell—since we all could use some magic fairy dust.Stacey Makiya
storybookentertainmenthawaii.com
Finalist: Chris da Clown. (808) 358-8445. chrisdaclown.biz
Best Animal-Shaped Cotton Candy
Photo: Courtesy of @katekatiekatharine
EDITORS’ PICK
Aloha Sweet
When HONOLULU Magazine held its big Burger Bash last November, one treat caught the eye of most kids (and adults, if we’re being honest): Aloha Sweet’s adorable duck, bear and pig cotton candy characters. On a trip to South Korea, Amy Shin saw fluffy animal-shaped sweets her niece and nephew loved, so she started her own business in the Islands last September. Think bunnies done up with keiki-friendly light blue and lavender ears, pink bow and an oh-so-sweet smile on top. Shin can spin up more than a dozen different looks including Yoda, pumpkins for Halloween, snowmen for winter festivals and even perfectly positive baby sharks.—Christi Young
Direct message @alohasweet on Instagram.
See also: 🏆 Best of HONOLULU Family 2020: EAT
THE REST OF THE BEST
READERS’ PICKS
Best Face Painter
WINNER: Miss Twinkle Toes. On Instagram @misstwinkletoes808
Finalist: Cutie Cake Face. (808) 683-9864. cutiecakeface.com
Best Place for a Birthday Party (Ages 5 and Younger)
WINNER: Chuck E. Cheese. Multiple locations. chuckecheese.com
Finalist: MyGym. ʻĀina Haina and Kailua. mygym.com/kailua
Best Place for a Birthday Party (Ages 6 and Older)
WINNER: Dave & Buster’s. 1030 Auahi St., (808) 589-2215. daveandbusters.com
Finalist: Chuck E. Cheese. Multiple locations. chuckecheese.com
Best Balloon Artist
WINNER: Balloon Twisters Hawaiʻi. (808) 216-9672. balloontwistershawaii.com
Finalist: Balloon Monsoon. (808) 455-3186. balloonmonsoon.com
Best Place to Get a Birthday Cake
WINNER: Baskin-Robbins. Multiple locations. baskinrobbins.com
Finalist: Safeway. Multiple locations. safeway.com
