Your Weekend: The Best Family Events-July 25, 2019

Our picks for the weekend's best family events.

Photo: Kids First Film Festival

Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition

Watch hula dancers, ages 5 to 12, from Hawaiʻi and Japan aim for top awards this weekend in the Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition. This three-day event kicks off Thursday with a solo hula competition and selection of Miss and Master Keiki Hula 2019. Then on Friday, dancers compete in hula kahiko (ancient hula), followed by hula auana (modern hula). While there, shop at the Keiki Hula Open Market, featuring locally made clothes, art, souvenirs and food.

• All ages
• $14
• Thursday and Friday, July 25 and July 26, 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, July 27, 1 p.m.
• Neal S. Blaisdell Center Arena Center. 777 Ward Ave.
• (808) 768-5252
• Keiki Hula Competition Facebook page

Super Saturday

Bring your family to the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, where free activities for kids include: aloha-shirt making, air-dry clay crafts, sheet metal design, make-your-own stickers, a zine workshop, yo-yo lessons, breakdancing, a photo booth and interactive book reading. Leave enough time to play in the I Love Art playroom and shop for souvenirs and fun gifts from the museum’s store on the first floor. You can find kids’ pencils and stickers for as little as $1 each.  

• All ages
• Free
• Saturday, July 27. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; doors open at 10 a.m.
• Hawaiʻi State Art Museum. 250 S. Hotel St.
• (808) 586-0300
• hisam.hawaii.gov

Want more details? Read “We Tried It! Super Saturday at Hawai’i State Art Museum.”

KIDS FIRST! Film Festival

If you haven’t been to this year’s KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, Sunday afternoon is your last chance to see award-winning children’s movies that teach keiki about climate change, girl empowerment, inclusion and immigration. Each film is no more than 20 minutes long and avoids violence, race, gender, or religious bias. In other words, they’re very family friendly. Park for free on campus, then follow the balloon-filled path to the Art Auditorium, where the films are shown. Each child receives a ticket for door prizes, given out at 3 p.m. Also, be sure to stop by the Pacific Disability Center’s booth, where keiki can play games, win more prizes and learn about meet experts who can educate them about neurotrauma injuries.

• Ages 5 to 18
• Free
• Sunday, July 28. 3 p.m. 
• Art Auditorium, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. 2535 McCarthy Mall.  
• (808) 956-9883
• summer.hawaii.edu

Barnes & Noble Storytime   

This weekend’s storytime at Barnes & Noble bookstore is for the 5-and-under crowd and their grownups. On Saturday, preschoolers listen to readings from the book We Don’t Eat our Classmates and engage in fun activities to help prepare for kindergarten. Afterward, each child receives a $4 coupon for grilled cheese sandwiches and drinks at the book store’s café. On Sunday, babies ages 24 months and younger can participate in sensory-growth activities inspired by the book Happy Llama. When that’s done, baby chaperones receive a free (and much needed!) drink from Starbucks.

• All ages
• Free
• Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and July 28. 11 a.m.
• Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., suite 1272 on the mauka street level.
• (808) 949-7307
• barnesandnoble.com 

Koʻolau Kids at Windward Mall

This Tuesday marks the last weekend of Windward Mall’s summer program for keiki ages 10 and younger! To participate and register, visit the mall’s website to sign up your children for free membership to the Koʻolau Kids Club. Then head over to the mall to watch your kiddos enjoy games, crafts and family-friendly programming by My Gym Kailua. Please note that space is limited, and there are two sessions based on children’s ages. Participants also receive a Kids Club flyer at the event, so don’t forget to show yours to participating restaurants and stores at the mall from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. for special “Pau School Keiki Hour” discounts. 

• Ages 3 to 10
• Free
• Tuesday, July 30. 11 to 11:45 a.m. for ages 3-5; and noon to 12:45 p.m. for ages 5 to 10.
• Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe
• (808) 235-1143
• windwardmall.com