Your Weekend: The Best Family Fun in Hawai‘i for June 24–30, 2021

Photo: Courtesy of Wet’n’Wild Hawai‘i

Dive’n’Movie Night and Prince/Princess Costume Contest

Yes, Wet’n’Wild Hawai‘i is doing movies at the wave pool all summer long. But this weekend, keiki can win a party at the park by creating their own royal costume. The contest is open for kids 4 to 10 years old wearing an original outfit and with an original name; the rules say “NO mainstream characters.” The winner will receive a birthday party for up to 10 people. After that, you can settle in to watch Tianna try to earn her own café with a great pot of gumbo and a big adventure in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.

• All ages
• $35.99 for kama‘āina and military. Admission is 50% off after 4 p.m.
• Park is open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The movie is showing at noon and again at 6:45 p.m.
• 400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei
• (808) 674-9283
• wetnwildhawaii.com, @wetnwildhawaii

New: Glow Golf Hawai‘i

Find your best neon or white outfit to try out the newest black-light golf course. The space has 18 holes for mini-putting around surrounded by a ton of selfie spots. (Keep in mind black lighting is tricky for photos. Some blogs we found suggested setting your phone on low light and making sure your kids stay still when you’re snapping.)

• All ages. Kids 11 years and younger will need adult supervision.
• $15 for one round during the week, $18 on weekends. Military receive a 10% discount
• Open daily. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
• Pearlridge Center, 98-1005 Moanalua Road, ‘Aiea. It’s in the Macy’s wing between Bath and Bodyworks and the new expanded Animation Magic.
• (808) 888-2883
• glowgolfhawaii.com, @glowgolfhawaii

See also: ⛳ We Tried It: Mini-Golf Courses on O‘ahu

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

A spelling bee is not usually the center of comedy, but in the Tony Award-winning musical about a middle-school competition there is laughter, tension and touching moments along with, as expected, a lot of spelling. Cheer for your favorite student as they fight for the win. We haven’t seen the show yet but on Broadway, a few people in the audience were pulled up on stage to become spellers themselves. You have been warned. This Mānoa Valley Theatre production is actually being staged at Kaimukī High School with seats available in pairs with empty seats around each set.

• Best for kids in elementary school and older.
• Tickets range from $22 for kids 12 years and older to $40 for adults.
• Thursday, June 25 through Sunday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday also have a 3 p.m. matinee.
• 2705 Kaimukī Ave.
• (808) 988-6131
• manoavalleytheatre.com, @manoavalleytheatre

Kōlea or Pacific Golden Plover near Kawainui Marsh in Kailua. Photo: Robbie Dingeman

Volunteer: Hui o Koʻolaupoko Project

The group hosts several monthly volunteer opportunities on the Windward side and many fill up quickly. This Saturday is the workday at Kawainui Marsh, where kids and parents will wade into the state’s largest wetland to pull out invasive plants, likely spotting some native birds throughout the morning. With only eight spaces available, check to see if any are left. If not, reserve a spot in July to help clear some of the land along the five-acres Hui o Koʻolaupoko works on along a Heʻeia State Park stream. For toddlers, workdays at Kaha Native Garden in urban Kailua may be more suitable. Weed and work in the xeriscape landscape and leave when you need to or when your little one gets too antsy to do tasks. Time slots for these opportunities also go quickly. The next open space is July 30.

• All ages, but let the group know the ages of your children when you register so they can prepare age-appropriate jobs.
• Free
• Kawainui Marsh
  • Saturday, June 26, 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 pm.
  • Volunteers will access the Kawainui levee through Kawainui Neighborhood Park, 750 Kaha St., Kailua.
• Heʻeia Estuary Restoration
  • Saturday, July 17, 9 a.m. to noon and Wednesday, July 21, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Heʻeia State Park, 46-065 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe
• Kaha Native Garden
  • Friday, July 30, 9 a.m. to noon
  • Inside Kawainui Neighborhood Park, 750 Kaha St., Kailua
• To volunteer or for more information on any of these opportunities, email volunteer@huihawaii.org
• huihawaii.org

See also: 🙋 Volunteering Opportunities Families Can Do Right Now in Honolulu

Reserve: Concert on the Farm at Keiki and Plow

In July, Wednesday nights are play nights at Keiki and Plow. Kids can run around the play areas then the entire family can gather for live performances by local entertainers Tavana, Paul Izak and Bobby Moderow. Tickets are sold in sets—groups of two, four, five and six, although the packages for up to four people are largely sold out. Arrive when the gates open so your keiki have a full hour-and-a-half to run around in the outdoor kitchen, ship and areas, then grab pizza and Kona Brewing beer onsite. The concerts are in memory of Keiki and Plow co-founder and dad Ryan Mohr with all proceeds going to the family farm. Oh, and watch the site for when reservations are available for Open Play in August. July is sold out.

• All ages
• Tickets range from $80 for two people to $240 for a table for six. Kids younger than 2 are free.
• Thursdays in July, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. Play areas close at 5:30 p.m.
• 587 Pakala St.
• keikiandplow.com, @keikiandplow