Your Weekend: The Best Family Fun in Hawai‘i for November 4–10, 2021

Create binary code, ice cream and your own lip balm at a free virtual fair, get a free tree and reserve your space in holiday workshops before they fill up.
Christi Young,

 

Leeward Discovery Fair 2021 Photo Leeward Community College

Making your own ice cream is just one of 20 how-to videos at the 2021 Leeward Discovery Fair. Photo: Courtesy of Leeward Community College

Leeward Discovery Fair

Try science experiments, arts and crafts and learn about everything from the germs on your hands to writing in binary code at this free day of fun from the faculty and staff at Leeward Community College. Starting Saturday, 20 how-to and educational videos for kids of all ages will be available on the fair’s website. Preschoolers will enjoy shaking up their own ice cream, planting succulents or creating a symmetrical painting. Older kids can learn to finger crochet, make their own natural deodorant or lip balm. Do note that each tutorial has its own list of supplies (even how to request a free worm kit for composting) which you can find by clicking on each activity. But the team at LCC graciously also sent us a master grid of materials for easy parent planning.

 

Arbor Day Kaimuki Credit Hawaii Dlnr

Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources

Arbor Day Give Away

Celebrate Arbor Day in Hawaiʻi by picking up a free tree to plant in your yard or keep on your lanai. A mixture of local plants ranging from naupaka and stephanotis to fruiting trees are available in various places. Time slots are still available in Waimānalo. Events at Waiʻanae Mall, Hoa ʻĀina O Mākaha, KCC Farmers Market and Waimea Valley are accepting walk-ins for a limited number of plants. Arbor Day was first established on the first Saturday of November in the Territory of Hawaiʻi in 1905. We hold ours in the fall not April because it is the start of the rainy season which makes it a good time for planting. Read more about the history at arbordayhawaii.org.

 

Kapok Department Of Agriculture Ay Trees 1450 Cropped

This kapok tree is one of three exceptional trees on the grounds of the Department of Agriculture on South King Street. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

 

Another way to honor Arbor Day is to spend time with some of Honolulu’s Exceptional Trees. Many are in parks or other public areas and are great places to sit and enjoy time outside while you teach your kids about the life of of different trees on the island. Learn more about the history of a few of these notable giants recognized by the city here.

 

SEE ALSO: 🌳 Honolulu is Losing Trees When We Need Them More Than Ever. Can New Initiatives Save Us?

 

Register: Thanksgiving STEAM Workshop

The keiki-focused team at the Hawaiʻi Children’s Discovery Center is hosting another STEAM-inspired workshop for the fall. Kids will try several hands-on activities centered around Thanksgiving themes then have an hour to play in the center. The morning session is already full (waitlist is available) but the afternoon time slot still has availability. Registration is required by Nov. 20 but in our experience, Discovery Center programs fill up far before the deadline.

 

The lake at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. Photo: Christi Young

Register: DIY Nature Ornaments

In-person workshops are back at some of the botanical gardens. The holiday crafts are for kids 12 years and older who will learn how to make door swag, wreaths or ornaments out of natural items found at the gardens. There are only two workshops for the ornaments at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden and the afternoon one is already full.

  • 12 years and older
  • $25 for materials
  • Saturday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.—noon
  • For DIY ornaments, you must sign up in person at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. 45-680 Luluku Road, Kāne’ohe, (808) 233-7323
  • You can register online for the wreath and door swag workshops at Hoʻomaluhia and Foster botanical gardens. Foster Botanical Garden, 180 N. Vineyard Blvd., (808) 768-7135
  • pros9.hnl.info

 

 

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