Your Weekend: The Best Family Fun in Hawai‘i for March 31–April 6, 2022

Donate cans for a cause, help clean up an O‘ahu neighborhood and party in a bookstore this weekend.

March 31, 2022

Laura Dornbush,

You family weekend: Da Shop Bookstore In Kaimuki Photo by Elyse Butler Mallams — Celebrate Da Shop’s birthday on April 2. Photo: Courtesy of Da Shop/Elyse Butler Mallams

Donate to the Market City Food Drive

Donate canned goods for a cause with your keiki. Photo: Courtesy of Market City Shopping Center

Do a pantry edit—with your keiki—and do good! Starting April 1, drop off canned goods, dry goods, non-perishable items and toiletries at Ben Franklin Crafts, Sumo Ramen & Curry or Gina’s BBQ in Market City Shopping Center to benefit Central Union Church’s Serving Aloha program. Then, on April 9—the last day to donate—you’ll be rewarded with family-friendly Easter activities at the center, including photos with the Easter Bunny, balloon art and flower crafts.

All ages
Free, except $10 per person for the Forever Flower Craft by Ben Franklin Crafts
Donate items April 1 through April 9, and return for Easter activities on April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Market City Shopping Center, 2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Honolulu
(808) 734-0282
marketcityhawaii.com, @marketcityhi

Pull a Prank on April Fools’ Day

Photo: Getty Images

Don’t let your kids have all the fun this Friday! Be prepared with a few tricks of your own to try on them. A parental favorite is to freeze a bowl of cereal overnight, serve it to your kids in the morning with a straight face, and wait for the reaction! If you need more ideas, check out this list of too-cute antics that the whole ‘ohana will laugh about.

Clean Up Kaka‘ako

Photo: Courtesy of Our Kakaʻako

Kick-off Earth Month by working together with your family and friends at the Mālama ‘Āina Community Cleanup, which starts at Salt at our Kakaʻako. Need some motivation? Hot chocolate, coffee and snacks will be provided! Plus, your furry fido is welcome to come along, too. Tip: The playground at Mother Waldron Neighborhood Park is within the clean-up radius, which makes for a perfect incentive for when your keiki have filled their trash bags. (There’s a playground, basketball court and lots of shade.)

All ages
Free and maps, gloves and trash bags will be provided
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 2
Pre-register here. Check in at The Barn at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako at 327 Keawe St.
(808) 545-4835
ourkakaako.com, @ourkakaako

Party at a Bookstore

Photo: Courtesy of Da Shop/Elyse Butler Mallams

One of our favorite local bookshops is turning 4 years old! Da Shop: Books & Curiosities in Kaimukī is celebrating in style with the return of in-person author events, a sidewalk sale and pop-ups from Jana Lam, Via Gelato and Papi’s Empanadas. Also, keiki will get hands-on by creating their own bookmark to take home!

All ages
Free
Saturday, April 2
- 10:30 a.m. storytime and bookmark craft with Keiki Kaukau
- 11 a.m. book signing with Christopher Caravalho of MANA Comics
- 1 p.m. reading and signing of “Snow Angel, Sand Angel” with author Lois-Ann Yamanaka
Da Shop: Books & Curiosities, 3565 Harding Ave., Kaimukī
(808) 421-9460
dashophnl.com, @dashophnl

Take in a Concert at Washington Place

Your family weekend at Washington Place. Courtesy Of The State Archives

Photo: Courtesy of the Hawaiʻi State Archives

Rarely open to the public on weekends, the landmark is celebrating its 175^th anniversary with an open house and concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band. Just make sure to register soon, as spots are filling up fast. You’ll also want to watch the chicken-skin moment when fourth graders from 38 elementary schools across the state perform “Liliʻu Ē,” also known as “The Queen’s Hula,” together virtually in the morning to kick off the celebration. (View it now on the Governor’s Facebook page.)