Honolulu offers a variety of kid-pleasing activities.
Honolulu, the state capital and cultural center of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, attracts Hawaii's visitors to its historic sites, museums and royal palaces, as well as to its beaches. Nicknamed "The Gathering Place," this city is a great vacation spot for families and has several activities that kids and their parents are sure to love.
Honolulu Zoo
The Honolulu Zoo stands out for its array of kid-friendly activities and programs. Located between the slopes of Diamond Head and Waikiki, the zoo has cheap and free parking for its visitors. Some of its programs include Snooze in the Zoo, a walking tour that begins with a buffet dinner and ends with campfire s'mores and sleeping under the stars or in tents in the zoo. Twilight Tours are available Friday and Saturday evenings when kids are able to learn fun facts unknown to the zoo's daytime guests. Kids between the ages of 11 and 18 can participate in the Junior Zoo Keeper program in which they learn what it's like to be a zookeeper and go "behind the scenes" of the park. Kids between the ages of 6 and 10 can enjoy the Keiki Zoo Keepers program, which includes animal feedings and behind-the-scenes interaction with zookeepers.
Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96815
808-971-7171
honoluluzoo.org
Honolulu Academy of Arts
Kids will enjoy a trip to the Honolulu Academy of the arts, Hawaii's highest quality art museum, featuring a collection of more than 60,000 works, focusing on Asian art, European and American painting, graphic arts and decorative arts. Pavilion Café is a great dining spot for kids, with its indoor-outdoor facility set among gardens that feature Jun Kaneko sculptures and a waterfall. The museum is closed Mondays.
Honolulu Academy of Arts
900 South Beretania St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-532-8700
honoluluacademy.org
Ala Moana Beach Park
Ala Moana Beach Park is an ideal spot for families, especially with younger children. With a slightly sloping beach protected by an artificial reef, the waters on Ala Moana Beach are calm and mild, making it great for younger ones to swim and play.
Ala Moana Beach Park
1201 Ala Moana
Honolulu, HI
800-464-2924
Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum is a great spot for kids to learn about Hawaii's history and culture. The museum includes the Jhamandas Watumull Planetarium, the admission for which is included in the main admission price; the planetarium is next to the Museum Café. The daily schedule of planetarium programs includes The Sky Tonight, Explorers of Polynesia and the Astronomy of Galileo. The museum's main exhibit halls feature the continuing exhibits of the three-floor Hawaiian Hall, where kids can learn all about Hawaii, from its legends and gods to its major historical events; the Polynesian Hall, which explores the origins and culture of the Polynesians. Kids will also enjoy the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, which provides interactive exhibits on areas of Hawaii's acclaimed scientific research, such as oceanography and volcanology, and Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame. The Bishop Museum is near downtown Honolulu and the Honolulu International Airport, and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, with plenty of free parking on the campus.
Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St.
Honolulu, HI 96817
808-847-3511
bishopmuseum.org
Tags: Bishop Museum, Moana Beach, Beach Park, Honolulu Academy, Moana Beach Park