Your Weekend: The Best Family Events-Dec. 19, 2019

See animals unwrap gifts, snack on free milk and cookies and watch a planetarium show.
Honolulu Family Team,


Christmas With the Animals

Saturday morning update: Christmas with the Animals has been postponed until next week. The zoo will be closed until Sunday.

If you think it’s funny to watch little kids unwrap Christmas presents, wait ’til you see Honolulu Zoo’s animals rip open their gifts on Saturday morning! This fun holiday tradition at the zoo begins at 9:30 a.m. in front of the sun bears and chimpanzees. At 10 a.m., the African wild dogs receive their presents, followed by the Sumatran tigers and Indian elephants at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively. We don’t know how long it takes for sloths to open gifts, but their party starts at 11:15 a.m., followed by the parrots and Keiki Zoo animals at 11:30 a.m. After visiting the animal, don’t forget to take photos with Santa Claus and check out kids’ activity booths on the main lawn from noon to 2 p.m. 

  • All ages
  • $8 for guests ages 13 and older with military or local ID; $3 for ages 3 to 12; free for ages 2 and younger; free for zoo members
  • Saturday, Dec. 21. 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  • Honolulu Zoo. 151 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu 
  • 808-971-7171
  • honoluluzoo.org

Want to buy membership passes to Honolulu Zoo, Sea Life Park and other family-friendly attractions? Read “Top 5 Memberships to Gift Your Keiki For Christmas.”

Flat-Rate Shows at Hokulani Imaginarium 

If you’ve never seen the keiki films at Hokulani Imagarium, this Saturday is the day to go—tickets are discounted to $5 per person on this day only. (Admission typically ranges between $6 and $8 per person). At 1 p.m., preschoolers and toddlers might enjoy the film titled, One World, Big Sky: Big Bird’s Adventures. The 2 p.m. film Season of Light is for older children interested in astronomy and the origins of Christmas, Hanukkah and Santa. Please note that starting in January 2020, Hokulani Imaginarium no longer will take reservations. Tickets for public shows will be on a walk-up basis. 

  • All ages
  • $5 flat rate per person per show 
  • Saturday, Dec. 21. One World, Big Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure begins at 1 p.m.; Season of Light begins at 2 p.m.
  • Hokulani Imaginarium, Windward Community College. 45-720 Kea’ahala Road, Kāneʻohe 
  • 808-236-9170 or 808-235-7350
  • aerospace.wcc.hawaii.edu/imaginarium
Free Milk and Cookies 

The title above says it all: Free milk and cookies for everyone on Saturday evening at the Honolulu City Lights! It’s first-come, first-served in front of the Honolulu Hale building on the corner of King and Punchbowl streets. While there, visit the giant Christmas tree, and snap photos with Shaka Santa, Tūtū Mele, Rudolph and other holiday characters. Crews will dismantle the displays on Dec. 29. 

  • All ages
  • Free
  • Saturday, Dec. 21. 6 to 8 p.m. 
  • Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds. 530 S. King St., Honolulu 
  • honolulu.gov
Haleʻiwa Surf Santa 

Visit the Haleʻiwa Store Lots on Sunday afternoon when Surf Santa steps off his board to meet keiki starting at 2 p.m. There will be live entertainment by Halau Hula ma ka Puuwai A Ka Manao at 2 p.m., Denny Ono at 3 p.m. and Sonny Kapu at 4 p.m. While there, play a spin-the-wheel game for a chance to win prizes.

Snow Flurries  

Keiki can see “falling snow” at shopping malls this weekend, daily, through the end of the year! Windward Mall’s daily snow flurry takes place every 15 minutes between 2 and 8 p.m., in front of the Christmas tree in the Backyard Wing adjacent to the food court. Please note that on Sunday, the flurry stops at 6 p.m. If you’re at Ka Makana Aliʻi in Kapolei, the magical tree in front of Macy’s snows daily every half-hour from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. On Thursday evenings, you can catch falling snow from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  

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