Your Weekend: The Best Family Events-February 7, 2018

Celebrate the Year of the Dog (yes, one celebration is still on), buy some roses, sit for a professional soccer match and reserve a space in fun, outdoor keiki workshops.
Honolulu Family Team,


Photo: Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Lunar New Year Festival

A Night in Chinatown and the parade has been canceled. Fortunately, you can still celebrate the Year of the Dog at this cultural celebration at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza at the edge of Chinatown. Parents and kids of all ages can watch lion dances, both on the ground and on poles, treat themselves to traditional New Year’s foods including the sticky and sweet gin dui, enjoy live entertainment and buy red charms, toys and trinkets for good luck. Here are a few tips from regular festival goers: Reserve a space on the second floor for the best view of the stage away from the crowds. Also, if you want to eat in a restaurant go early, lines will be especially long, and make sure to pack dollar bills to feed the lions for good luck in the new year.

  • All ages
  • Free admission
  • Friday, Feb. 9, 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 
  • Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St.
  • 533-3181, chinatownculturalplaza.com

Second Saturday at O‘ahu Urban Garden Center

Pack insect repellant and sunscreen for the first open Saturday at the Pearl City garden. Stop to smell the Honolulu Rose Societyʻs potted roses for sale in time for Valentineʻs Day. Educational booths will have experts to advise families about plant care and make sure to save some time for the kids to explore the childrenʻs garden. Stop by the office to get a scavenger hunt list then let the keiki roam to find the mini dinosaurs, hedge maze and more. 

  • All ages
  • Free
  • Saturday, Feb. 10. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
  • O‘ahu Urban Garden Center, 955 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City
  • (808) 453-6050, ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc/location

Pacific Rim Cup

Football season is over. This weekend, soccer is the focus this weekend at Aloha Stadium. The Pacific Rim Cup features professional teams from Japan, Canada and the U.S. facing off. The games begin Thursday with the championship and consolation games on Saturday. If you can’t make it, the Pacific Rim Cup will stream the games live on its website. 

  • All ages
  • $17 for general admission, $14 for kids 6 to 17 years, seniors and military, Kids 5 years and younger are free. Reserved seats are available for $20.
  • Matches are Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5 and 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 10 at 4 and 7 p.m.
  • Aloha Stadium, 99-500 Salt Lake Boulevard
  • pacificrimpcup.com 

‘Ukulele Picnic in Hawai‘i

Grab a blanket and sunscreen for a day of music in Kaka‘ako. More than 20 musicians from Japan, Taiwan, the Mainland and Hawai‘i will perform live on the lawn until the sun goes down. Eight food vendors, including Hank’s Haute Dogs and Burgers and Things, will sell snacks while Art + Flea Market will feature local designers selling their items. 

Reserve: Hawai‘i Nature Center Programs

The schedule is out for the nature centerʻs spring workshops. If you want the kids to play with bubbles, learn to make music from natural items, make paper from trees or go casting for fish and stream creatures, you will want to sign up now. Many of the workshops are booked weeks prior. Do note, in the past, the activities for the youngest explorers, 3 to 5 years, filled up first.

  • 3 years to adult
  • $10 per person for nonmembers
  • First workshop, “Mother Nature’s Music,” is Sunday, Feb. 25. The last is Sunday, June 3. Most workshops are 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Hikes are longer.
  • Hawai‘i Nature Center, 2131 Makiki Heights Drive
  • (808) 955-0100, hawaiinaturecenter.org/oahu-weekend-programs 

Looking for more events for adults? Click here for HONOLULU Magazine’s picks for the weekend. 

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