Oahu Mom

May 11 & 12, 2013: Mother’s Day Weekend Events

2013-05-10T06:37:27Z

Mother’s Day Weekend is here and with it lots of fun things to do, some to celebrate Mom and some just for fun! Check out the Weekend Events Page which was just updated for this coming weekend. Take a moment to be thankful for the Moms, Aunties and Tutus in your life and have a great weekend!

Family Kayaking on Kaneohe Bay

2013-05-07T02:10:46Z

Note: This past weekend my family and I went kayaking on Kaneohe Bay and it reminded me of this post, originally published in November 2009. Now that our kids are 8 and 5 they try paddling more often and they both like to jump in the water for a swim from time to time, but we still take snacks with us to help keep everyone happy.

A few weeks ago, when the trade winds were absent and it was miserably hot, some friends and I decided to make the most of the weather and we spent a morning on Kaneohe Bay. With no wind, the water was incredibly calm – perfect for kayaking.

My husband and I enjoyed kayaking in our pre-kid days and have been happy to discover that kayaking with kids is very doable. I have yet to try taking both kids with me at once but one of these days I’ll give that a shot. When I take them individually though, I always make sure they wear a life jacket and I do the same. They sit in front of me and I do the paddling. My boy likes taking a little paddle along and sometimes he helps but mostly he enjoys dragging it along in the water. He also likes jumping overboard and swimming or being towed. This was actually my girl’s first kayaking adventure and although I can’t say it was her favorite activity ever, she cooperated really well and didn’t try to climb out of the boat or anything. When I let her drag her feet in the water she really liked that, but it’s hard (impossible) to paddle and hold a child on the edge of the boat so I didn’t do that for long.

There are lots of reefs in the bay and on calm days you don’t need a mask and snorkel to see the coral and fish – a perfect way to introduce kids to the undersea world. My boy and I like to watch the feather duster worms pull back into their base when we put a paddle near them. Here’s a picture of just how clear the water can be.

I love kayaking in KBay. Even on windier days it is more protected than the open ocean and usually it’s an onshore wind so there are no worries about getting blown out to sea. It’s fun to paddle along the waterfront and see the houses and boats, or to paddle around Coconut Island which sits in the middle of the bay (and which was used for the opening sequence of Gilligan’s Island). Every time we go out I see something new and get in a good workout at the same time.

Photos taken by my friend JS. Thank you!

Do it yourself on Oahu:

We are fortunate enough to have friends who live on the bay and let us use their kayaks, but rentals are available (a google search will give you several options) and there are public access areas along the bay. For military members, the marina at the marine corp base rents kayaks and you can launch from there.

May 4 & 5, 2013: Weekend Events

2013-05-03T08:15:05Z

The Weekend Events Page is updated for this weekend. Hear a concert, attend a play, shop for crafts and more. Check out the page for all the details and have a great weekend with your family and friends!

Royal Mausoleum (Mauna ‘Ala)

2013-05-01T18:59:24Z

This post was originally published a couple of years ago but I thought this was a good time to repost it since tomorrow morning (May 2) at 9am they will be placing leis from today’s May Day celebration on the various monuments and tombs in this park. Even if you don’t make it for the ceremony in the morning the beautiful leis will be there all day so head on over to see them and visit this beautiful little spot of Hawaiian history.

Ever wonder where the royal families of Hawaii are buried? The Royal Mausoleum in Nu’uanu Valley is the principal burial site for the Kamehameha and Kalakaua Dynasties. I stumbled upon this place, called Mauna ‘Ala (Fragrant Hills) in Hawaiian, when I was walking along Nu’uanu Road. The beautiful black gates with gold accents caught my eye and last month I finally got a chance to stop in and visit.

On the grounds of the Royal Mausoleum there are a chapel, an underground burial vault and several free standing tombs. The grounds are beautiful and peaceful and you forget how close you are to both downtown Honolulu and the Pali Hwy.

The underground crypt is where the remains of many members of the royal family are kept, with their names and dates of birth and death marking their final resting place. Many of the remains were transferred here after the mausoleum was finished in 1865.

There are free standing tombs and monuments both beside and behind the chapel. As we walked around looking at them I had an opportunity to teach my children about graveyard etiquette and respect, as well as a bit of Hawaiian history.

We also saw many beautiful leis which had been left on the graves. On May 2, leis from Lei Day competitions held on May 1 are ceremoniously placed on graves at the Royal Mausoleum. Our visit was in the afternoon after the ceremony and the leis were intricate and beautiful.

Do it yourself on Oahu

Location: 2261 Nu’uanu Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii

Directions: From the Pali Hwy, take the Wyllie Street exit. If you are coming from Honolulu, you will loop around to the right, crossing over the Pali, and come to an intersection where you will take a left at the stop sign. If you are driving towards Honolulu, you will exit and arrive at the same intersection where you will go straight at the stop sign. You will be on Nu’uanu Ave. and pass two churches on your left and the Mausoleum will be just after them and before the large cemetery.

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am to 4:30pm; Closed on weekends and holidays, except Memorial Day.

Parking: Free and located along the loop inside the gates of the Mausoleum.

Facilities: There are restrooms located behind the chapel.

Other: Picnicing is not allowed on the grounds of the Royal Mausoleum.

April 27 & 28, 2013: Weekend Events

2013-04-26T07:30:57Z

A new exhibit opens at the Bishop Museum, Kailua has it’s annual town party, Charlotte’s Web and Hamlet are playing, Spam is being celebrated, two public libraries are hosting events…there’s definitely plenty of family fun to be had this weekend! Check out the recently updated Weekend Events Page for details on these and other happenings and have a great weekend with your ohana!

April 20 & 21, 2013: Weekend Events

2013-04-19T07:14:48Z

Celebrate Earth Day with a number of events on the island including a concert at Sea Life Park, a program at the Waikiki Aquarium and more! It’s also Free Family Sunday at the Art Museum, you can feed sea creatures at the Marine Center and oh so much more. Check out the Weekend Events Page for a big list of family friendly events happening here this weekend!

April 13 & 14, 2013: Weekend Events

2013-04-11T20:49:25Z

There’s a lot going on both on Saturday and Sunday this weekend so get out and enjoy a fun activity or two with your family! Learn how to be healthy at the YMCA’s event at the Bishop Museum, celebrate the Earth and learn to care for it at a couple of Earth Day events and so much more. All the details are on the Weekend Events Page. Enjoy!

April 6 & 7, 2013: Weekend Events

2013-04-04T02:27:03Z

This is a very artsy weekend with opportunities to dance, paint, act, watch a play, hear live music, listen to a story and much more at a number of family friendly events both big and small. Visit the Weekend Events Page for all the details on the fun to be had, much of it for free!

March 30 & 31, 2012: Easter Weekend Events

2013-03-29T18:54:26Z

There are lots of family-friendly events happening this weekend, many with an Easter theme. Check out the Weekend Events Page for all the details and have a great time with your keiki!

March 23 & 24, 2013: Weekend Events

2013-03-21T07:10:56Z

Easter fun begins in full force this weekend, but that’s not all that is going on. Check out the Weekend Events Page for all the details on a whole lot of family fun happening on island this weekend! Have a great time with your kids and family!