Your Weekend: The Best Family Events-May 18

Our roundup of the best family events on O‘ahu

May 18, 2017

Honolulu Family Team,

Photo: Rich Downs courtesy of Manu O Kū Festival

Manu O Kū

Manu O Kū Festival

Celebrate Honoluluʻs official bird with activities and bird watching at ‘Iolani Palace. Kids can make bird-related crafts including creating Manu O Kū chicks our of white pom poms, feathered and finger puppets and make-and-take headbands. Then keiki can play bean bag toss, pick up Manu O Kū food with chopsticks, balance eggs on tree branches and other games to win kid binoculars, bug boxes, frozen treats from Meadow Gold and more prizes. Donʻt forget to take a look at skeletons and eggs of the white tern and other birds from the Bishop Museum, dress up like their favorite animal for the nature costume contest for prizes and look through scopes to spot the bird and chicks around the grounds. If youʻre still hungry after snacking on furikake popcorn, apple wedges, vegetable sticks and hummus and fruit juice.The Kau Kau Grill Lunch Wagon will be selling plate lunches or you can bring your own picnic for lunch on the lawn. Parent factoids: The Manu O Kū is only found on southern O‘ahu. The birds lay just one egg at a time and hunt for small fish at sea to bring back to their chicks on shore.

All ages
Free admission. All activities and games are also free. See our full list of games, crafts and prizes in our honolulufamily.com calendar entry.
Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
‘Iolani Palace Coronation Lawn, 364 S. King St.
808-593-0255, manuokufestival.org

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Community Garden Day at Windward Community College-Volunteer Opportunity

Spend a day working in the garden in Kāne‘ohe. Families are welcome to help take care of plants at the nursing schoolʻs Mala ‘Ai Ho‘ola, In the past, keiki have planted seedlings, decorated garden boxes, painted rocks and other arts and crafts related to the garden. Students can put the hours toward community service credit for school. Wear sunscreen, bring a hat and water.

2 years and older.
Free
Saturday, May 20, 8 a.m. to noon.
Windward Community College, 45-720 Kea‘ahala Road, Kāne‘ohe. The garden is located across from Hale ‘Imiloa.
windwardcce.org/volunteer

Family Film Sunday-Cultural Animation Film Festival

The third Sunday of the month means Family Film Sunday at the Honolulu Museum of Art. This month the event is tied to the museumʻs Cultural Animation Film Festival. In 83 minutes, kids will see six short animations from six different cultures including Aztec, Nigerian, Mexican and Hawaiian. Local comic book artists will also be around for meet and greets. One of our favorite parts is the price. Family Film Sunday is free for adults too. Learn more about the festivalʻs four programs on the Honolulu Museum of Artʻs website.

All ages
Free
Sunday, May 26. Shows are at 11:10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Doris Duke Theatre, in the back of the Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania St.
532-8700, honolulumuseum.org

Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawai‘i Horse Show and Country Fair

Spend a day on horseback at this fundraiser for a group that provides horseback riding opportunities to people with special needs. Kids can jump in a bouncer for free or get on THHʻs specially trained ponies for $4. Play ring toss and other carnival games, get your face painted, buy a snack or shave ice and watch a youth polo match.

All ages. Pony rides are for kids 4 years and older.
Free admission. Activity prices range from $1 for carnival games to $4 for pony rides and face painting.
Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Waimānalo Polo Fields, 41-1062 Kalaniana‘ole Highway across from Bellows Beach.
808-342-9036, thhwaimanalo.org

Ka Haku o Hawai‘i Keiki Day

Make a lei, see a fire engine and do kapala printing at this free day at Queen Emma Summer Palace. Docents will also give kid-friendly tours of the home in honor of Prince Albertʻs 159th birthday. Tip: Kids may be done with the palace early but do love wandering through the beautiful grounds. Make sure to bring insect repellant. The recent rains may mean more mosquitoes in the gardens of this Nu‘uanu museum.