Your Weekend: The Best Family Events-July 11, 2019

Volunteer at a lo‘i, visit cattle, watch kids films from around the world for free and meet dozens of local artists.
Honolulu Family Team,


Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Ulupō Heiau Work Day

The heiau and lo‘i behind the Windward YMCA has been part of our HONOLULU Family Volunteer Day for the last two years for a few reasons. The historic site is just a short walk from the Kailua YMCA (ie. restrooms are nearby), the work harvesting and weeding the lo‘i is fun and keiki-friendly and the volunteers from the nonprofit Hika‘alani and the Windward Y are great educators and patient leaders. The work usually starts with a lesson and ends with snacks. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent as well as gloves, if you have them. Know that you will get muddy, so you may want to pack a change of clothes for the ride home. 

  • Best for kids 4 years and older. 
  • Free
  • Saturday, July 13. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Behind the Windward YMCA, 1200 Kailua Road, Kailua
  • (808) 261-0808
  • Find details on the Windward YMCAʻs Facebook page.

Save the Date! HONOLULU Familyʻs fifth Volunteer Day is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Registration will open around Thanksgiving. Read more about the types of opportunities offered at last year’s volunteer day (the complete list varies annually) here.

UH Kids First! Film Festival

This series of free film showings is just for kids and you can tell. Not only are all the selected movies guaranteed to be free of gratuitous violence and bias of any kind, but each Sunday features about 10 short, mostly animated movies from around the world. None are longer than 16 minutes, so even if your little one gets antsy, chances are you won’t have to miss the end of the story. Get there early to get a good seat in the air-conditioned theater and so you don’t miss the free door prizes.

SEE ALSO: Our list of 22 other activities in How to Have the Best Summer Ever for Honolulu Families

Hawai‘i State Farm Fair

Cows, pigs, bunnies, produce and rides will all set up at Kualoa Ranch for the annual fair. Get a photo with your child on a keiki-size tractor, see chicks hatch, jump in bouncers or enter the messy watermelon-eating or Pie Find contests. Adults can take on the Jurassic Burger, a 6-pound monster that you have 10 minutes to finish. While you’re there, look for Kualoa Ranch’s petting zoo for an opportunity to see the sheep and possibly even a llama.

See our 8 tips for this yearʻs event in our Inside Look: Hawai‘i State Farm Fair.

Hale‘iwa Arts Festival

More than 100 local artists will be selling everything from paintings and photographs to jewelry at this annual festival on the North Shore. Wear sunscreen and head straight to the keiki tent for several free arts activities including paint your own hats, sand art, scratch art and face painting. Then browse the booths and talk to the artists. Food vendors will include pizza, shrimp, tacos, bubble tea and lemonade.

  • All ages
  • Free
  • Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Hale‘iwa Beach Park, 62-449 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa
  • (808) 637-2277
  • haleiwaartsfestival.org
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical

A 5-year-old girl with kinetic powers is the center of this musical version of Roald Dahl’s book. Matilda is a genius and avid reader with horrible parents (a common trait of Dahl’s books), a mean school headmistress and a wonderful teacher. Soon, she displays real girl power to try and change her, and her classmates’ lives. Most of the early shows have only solo seats left, but the final Friday and Saturday have plenty of seats left.

  • Suggested for ages
  • Tickets start at $25
  • Opens Friday, July 12. Most of the shows are almost sold out, except for the last Friday and Saturday night, Aug. 9 and Aug. 10.
  • Diamond Head Theatre, 520 Makapu‘u Ave.
  • (808) 733-0277
  • diamondheadtheatre.com

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