Your Weekend: The Best Family Events-Dec. 5, 2018

Wear pajamas to a bookstore, ride free trains and rock out to holiday tunes.

December 5, 2018

Honolulu Family Team,

12-05-18-elephant-piggie-1024-76

Photo by Brad Goda. Courtesy of Honolulu Theatre for Youth

What should Elephant & Piggie wear to a party hosted by squirrels?

Elephant & Piggie “WE ARE IN A PLAY!”

Gerald, the chronically worried pachyderm, and his positive pal, Piggie, come to life in this musical rendition of Mo Willems’ popular books for youngsters. The duo receive a party invitation from their squirrel friends but disagree on what to wear. Is it a swimming party? A fancy gala? In the end, kids in the audience learn about cooperation and friendship. Please note that Saturday, Jan. 26 is the sensory-friendly performance with American Sign Language interpretation.

Want to save money? HONOLULU Family readers can use the discount code HNLFAM to receive 25 percent off ticket purchases at HNLTix.com and htyweb.org

Ages 3 and older
$10 to $20; free for kids ages 2 and younger; 25 percent-off discount with HNLFAM code at checkout.
Friday, Dec. 7. 7 p.m. Then Saturdays through Jan. 26, 4:30 p.m.
Tenney Theatre, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, 229 Queen Emma Square.
htyweb.org

Opening Night of Kapolei City Lights

Oʻahu’s Second City will have its opening festivities Saturday with an electric light parade along Kapolei Parkway, free photos with Santa, food booths and carnival games in the courtyard of Kapolei Hale. From 6 to 7 p.m., watch the parade from Fort Barrette Road to Kama’aha Avenue, then head to Kapolei Hale for the tree-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. When parking for free in the Kakuhihewa State lot, please enter through the entrance on Ulu’ohi’a Street and stay in the left lane. The right lane is for vehicles with designated parking passes.

All ages
Free
Saturday, Dec. 8. 5 to 9 p.m.
Kapolei Hale, 1000 Ulu‘ōhi‘a St., Kapolei
kapoleicitylights.com

Christmas at the Hukilau Marketplace

Real snow. Free train rides for kids. Selfies with Santa. Live entertainment. Scavenger hunts with prizes. Hukilau Marketplace will have all these activities for the next three weekends—excluding Sundays. If your kids want to play in the snow, the free “Winter Wonderlands” are from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 15, and Friday, Dec. 21. Parking is free in front of the Polynesian Cultural Center.

All ages
Free
Friday, Dec. 7. 6 to 8 p.m. Then Dec. 8, 14, 15 and 17-22. Closed Sundays.
Hukilau Marketplace, Polynesian Cultural Center, 55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Lāiʻe
hukilaumarketplace.com

Pajama Storytime and Activities

Don your cozy fleece pajamas and visit Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana Center for a free reading of Polar Express—the holiday classic about a young lad who embarks on a magical train ride. Cap off the night with free hot chocolate and a cookie from the bookstore’s café. The event is less than an hour, but the bookstore stays open until 10 p.m. If you anticipate carrying your sleepy kids to the car, park in the center’s mauka (facing the mountain) lot on the same level as the bookstore.

All ages
Free
Friday, Dec. 7. 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ste. 1272
barnesandnoble.com

Castle Christmas Tree Lighting

Musician Josh Tatofi will headline this year’s tree lighting ceremony at Adventist Health Castle. For a prime spot on the lawn, set up blankets and low-back lawn chairs well before 6 p.m., then participate in keiki activities, eat free popcorn and cookies and listen to Christmas music by the Marine Forces Pacific Band at 6:15 p.m. The tree lights up, and Tatofi takes the stage at 7 p.m. Park for free in the Kailua CVS/Long’s parking lot and ride the trolley from Kailua Town Center (fronting the old Macy’s) to the hospital starting at 5 p.m.