Pacific Islands Art Festival

This weekend we went to Kapoliani Park in Waikiki where they were having the 14th Annual Pacific Islands Arts Festival, featuring the multi-ethnic arts/crafts of the islands, craftmaking demonstrations, Hawaiian music and hula.

Festival features the art and handcrafted products of approximately 100 Hawaii artists and handcraft artisans, including all types of jewelry, clothing, stained glass, ceramics, quilts and bags, wood products, soaps and candles. All products are displayed for sale by the artist personally.

 

Booths included everything from handmade soaps/lotions to beautiful local paintings and children's outfits like the one in the photo above.

The Nostalgic art photos of Hawaii  make great souvenirs or collectables.

After we walked around the booths for bit we decided to check out the live Hawaiian band playing nearby. The performance was very entertaining.

 Hula Dancers prepare for their onstage performance. 

After the Art Fest, our family headed over to Shimazu Store, a popular haunt for shave ice. They are located at 330 N School St open from 11am-6pm.

 

Unfortunately our daughter feel asleep from all the excitement at the Art Festival so she didn't get a chance to enjoy her mango flavored shave ice with ice cream. 

If you missed this weekends Art Festival no need to fret, there will be one every month. For the schedule head to the Art Fest Web Site. 

Waikiki Aquarium and Queen Kapiolani Park

The Waikiki Aquarium is quaint, but has plenty of interesting things to check out. It is great for a rainy day or when the family needs a break from the sun.

Main entrance to the Waikiki aquarium. There are plenty of local fish to see and even a small shark exhibit.  Outside the park they have Hawaiian Monk Seals and other marine mammals to view.

This particular day we decided to take a stroll in the park located right next to the aquarium.

A nice view from the park next to the Waikiki Aquarium. This is also a good spot for the family to learn to surf. You can rent a variety of diffent  board sizes to fit your style of surfing  from the vendors at Waikiki Beach.

Another day in paradise. A visit to Oahu is not complete without a visit to the Waikiki Aquarium and Queen Kapiolani Park.  

For ticket information click here.

Diamond Head Hike

The entrance to Diamond Head seems innocent enough. Parking costs 5$ cash only, or included with the Oahu Go Card .

There are restrooms at the entrance and I suggest using them before the family accends on the stairs. If you forget to bring water there are vending machines located near the restrooms and a vendor that sells last minute provisions.

There is a trail that leads to literally thousands of steps. However, as we learned the hard way it is not smooth enough for a stroller. If you are determined enough, I would strongly advise a baby carrier for hiking with the little ones. This is essential as it will save your back and keep baby happy. I recommend the Chicco Smart Support Backpack, Red or Evenflo Snugli® Cross RoadsTM Carrier Navy/Taupe.  

We ended up having to leave Julia and my then 1 year old behind because we did not have a hiking carrier like the one mentioned above. I wouldn't recommend bringing infants on this hike without that carrier and plenty of water. Also, make sure to wear comfortable tennis shoes and apply sun screen.

.

One of the many breathtaking views from the summit of Diamond Head.

A pretty view of the light house below.  

                                 Along the way, your family will see many amazing views of Waikiki, maybe even catching a glimpse of your hotel.

 That's all for today Ohana. If you have any questions and are planning to include this hike in your itinerary and you need more information for planning ahead, please let us know.

Oahu Family Activities Waikiki Beach

Canoe racing is quite popular on Waikiki Beach. Waikīkī Beach is one of the only places in the world where you can race down a wave with the family on an outrigger canoe. There are various valets on the beach that offer outrigger canoe rides, surfboard rentals, etc.  Another great idea would be to take the family on the  Waikiki Trade Wind Sail tour to take in the picturesque view of the Waikiki shoreline.




If canoe racing doesn't appeal to the family, why not try the Oahu Hawaiian Stand Up Paddling Adventure or the Outrigger Catamaran Cruise, Snorkel, Sail MIX?

There is plenty of world class shopping along the main strip in Waikiki . All of the world renown brands can be found on Luxury row right on the main strip. Coach, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Co, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Gucci, and anything else one's heart desires can all be found here. Fashionista Moms will certainly appreciate the world class selection of shopping steps away from the major hotels near the beach.

This is the famous local legend "Duke" statue. Duke is known in Hawaii as the father of modern surfing.

                 Waikiki Beach is a great place for a relaxing  stroll with your keikis. The Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, and Queen Kapiolani Park are all in walking distance of Waikiki Beach. At night time, the city lights gas torches along the streets of Waikiki giving visitors a true island feel.

Every Friday Evening the Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on a free cornucopia display of fireworks that starts at 7:45 PM and lasts around 10 minutes the family won't want to miss.







 

   

       Waikiki Beach offers a beautiful view of Diamond Head, a mountain that you can hike with breathtaking views. Take a look at our  Diamond Hike excursion for helpful tips and info. The Unforgettable view is worth the 1 hour trek up the stairs.

 

                        .

If the family is hungry while visiting Waikiki Beach, I recommend stopping by Duke's Restaurant. Duke's is kid friendly, located right on the beach, and they even have kids favorite: waffle fries! Their brunch is also fantastic.

                Another great thing about Waikiki beach is there are always other kids to entertain your little one(s)

For family tours and more ideas for cool things to do in Waikiki click on the following link:  Family Fun on the island of Oahu.