Your Weekend: The Best Family Fun in Hawai‘i for December 16–23, 2021

Editor’s Note: We will be taking next week off to spend the holidays with our families. We’ll be back with our Weekend Guides in 2022!

The “snow globe” in the planetarium. Photo: Courtesy of Bishop Museum

Winter Weekend: A Saturday of Play at Bishop Museum

Go on a hunt to stamp a wintry passport to earn a prize at this family event. The museum is also offering trivia questions, festive character cutouts and games on the lawn. The planetarium, which marks its 60^th anniversary with free admission all month long, will transform into a “snow globe” with showers of star-shaped snowflakes all around you. Remember, it is an additional $5 to see the Expedition Dinosaur exhibit, which will close at the end of January.

• All ages
• Activities are free with admission, $14.95 general admission for kama‘āina and military, $10.95 for kids 4 to 17 year old, kids 3 years and younger are free.
• Saturday, Dec. 18, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The museum is open until 5 p.m.
• 1525 Bernice St.
• (808) 847-3511
• bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum

SEE ALSO: Make It: Holiday Fluffy Slime

Lōkahi Kailua Winter Wonderland and Skate

Go shopping, snap some pictures at the holiday-themed photo booth and strap on your skates at this pop-up market. The roller rink is open to everyone but skate rentals are not available. So bring your own or, if you arrive early enough, you can sign up for a fitting and buy a new pair from Roller Skate O‘ahu. You will need to sign a liability, photo and COVID-19 waiver before hitting the rink and masks are required. We spotted several experienced skaters pulling some tricks in Roller Skate O‘ahu’s Instagram video, but it looked like beginners still had enough room to roll.

• All ages
• Free
• Saturday, Dec. 18, 4:30–8:30 p.m.
• 340 Uluniu St., Kailua
• lokahikailuamarket.com, @lokahi_kailua_market. rollerskateoahu.com, @rollerskateoahu

Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu Museum of Art

Family Sunday at Honolulu Museum of Art

It is the final Family Sunday of 2021, which means free admission for kama‘āina and military and extra activities for the keiki. Sorry, all the spaces for the ‘ōhi‘a propagation workshops are full (we hope you registered when we told you about it last week!) but there will still be story time at 11 a.m. and noon, art activities, a gallery hunt and more centered around the theme Earthworks. Make sure to stop by the store to look for last-minute gifts and don’t forget that the museum cafe serves brunch on Sunday, but it is safest to make a reservation. It is also a good opportunity to visit the Artists of Hawai‘i Now to try the virtual reality game, walk on the deck of the Hōkūle‘a and see all the locally created pieces before the exhibit closes Jan. 16.

• All ages
• Free
• Sunday, Dec. 19. The museum is open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Most family activities wrap up at 2 p.m.
• 800 S. Beretania St.
• honolulumuseum.org

SEE ALSO: See Groundbreaking Works in Honolulu Museum of Art’s New “Artists of Hawai‘i Now” Exhibition

Elf

Yes, we’ve all watched it at home hundreds of times. But there is something special about seeing some of your favorites on the big screen without the usual distractions. This weekend, Consolidated Theatres shows its final holiday film, Elf with Will Ferrell. Buddy, the human with the heart of an elf returns to New York City to search for his unsuspecting biological dad. The early movie is billed as a pajamas party, so feel free not to get dressed for the day.

• The movie is rated PG
• $9
• Saturday, Dec. 18 at 10 and 10:30 a.m.
• ‘Ōlino by Consolidated Theatres, Ka Makana Ali‘i, 91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei
• consolidatedtheatres.com

SEE ALSO: 28 Fun Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Photo: Courtesy of Storybook Entertainment Hawai‘i

Elf Education Station

What do the elves do during the Christmas season? Family-favorite Storybook Entertainment Hawai‘i’s team of friendly elves show kids some of their most important jobs with crafts and activities that includes decorating Christmas cookies. Kids will finish up with a goodie bag to take home.

• All ages
• $20 per child.
• Friday, Dec. 17 through Sunday, Dec. 19, Wednesday, Dec. 22 through Friday, Dec. 24, 11 a.m.—6:30 p.m. The elves take a break from 2:30—3:30 p.m.
• Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe
• (808) 235-1143
• storybookstationhawaii.com, @storybookhawaii

Ending Dates

Most schools are out next week, so if you are trying to fit in your last round of holiday fun, here are the ending dates for some family events. See our full list in our Holiday Corner.

• Dec. 22-Trolley Rides from McCully Shopping Center, Santa Photos at Royal Hawaiian Center
• Dec. 24– Santa Photos at Ala Moana Center, Ka Makana Ali‘i, Pearlridge Center and Windward Mall
• Dec. 26-Waikīkī Trolley’s Holiday Lights Trolley Tour
• Jan. 1-Show Aloha Land
• Jan. 2-Honolulu City Lights, Light the World Giving Machines at Pearlridge Center
• Jan. 9-Kapolei City Lights