How will you and your kids celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Do you do anything special, like a treasure hunt laid out by leprechauns? Decorate shamrock cookies? Whether you're Irish or not, St. Patrick's Day is an excellent excuse for some child-like fun.
Make sure to take them to see the St. Patrick's Day Parade at noon. It winds its way through Waikiki, starting at Saratoga Rd./Kalakaua Ave., to Kalakaua Ave., to Monsarrat Ave., to end at Queen Kapiolani Park.
Or take them out to see traditional Irish entertainment at Aloha Tower Marketplace’s St. Patrick’s Day on the Harbor, Wednesday, March 17, 2010.
Of course, as a good parent, you will also make sure to serve up an entirely green meal, right? Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale....
The Honolulu Festivals Parade starts at 4:30pm on Sunday, March 14, 2020 and is expected to have 3,000 marchers, 35 vehicles & 6 bands. It starts at Kalakaua Ave. at Saratoga Rd and ends at Waikīkī Shell parking lot, Queen Kapiolani Park.
TONIGHT: Find out what stars, planets and moon phase you can see in the sky on March 10, 2010 at 7 pm at the Hokulani Imaginarium. It’s just $3 to participate. MORE...
On Friday, March 12, 2010, from 7-9 p.m., it’s “Aquarium After Dark” at the Waikiki Aquarium.
The Disney Store at Ala Moana invites guests 3 years old and up to a free frog visor and Mardi Gras dance game on Saturday, March 13, 2010; this will be held at 11 a.m. and also at 3 p.m. It’s in honor of The Princess and The Frog Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition Combo Pack, which is being released on Tuesday, March 16.
Did you know that you can subscribe to receive a free daily email alert from Honolulu On The Cheap? No spam - just some great money saving deals for you and your family.
On Saturday, February 20, 2010 and Sunday, February 21, the 4th Japan Nishikigoi Expo, in conjunction with the 3rd Annual International Aloha Koi Show, takes place at the McKinley High School field in Honolulu. That’s at the corner of South King and Pensacola, next to the Blaisdell Center. It is free.
It’s the biggest koi show in Hawai‘i, we hear, and one of the major koi shows in the country. Around 200 entries of top quality koi from hobbyists throughout the U.S. and Canada will be on display.
Sometimes referred to as Nishikigoi or ‘living jewels,’ koi are the national fish of Japan and are widely prized by collectors around the world. Quality koi sometimes change hands for over $30,000 each.
Seminars on several topics by koi experts will be given, along with a talk by Mr. Hisashi Hirasawa, a top breeder from Niigata, Japan and President of the Niigata Koi Breeders Association. A fun day for the whole family, the event also includes presentations from a ninja group, taiko drummers, and hula dancers. Food and refreshments will be available.
For questions, contact Dr. Andrew Rossiter (Show Chairman) at andrewro@hawaii.edu.
We're right in the midst of much ado as we welcome in the Year of the Tiger. If you've yet to acknowledge the Chinese New Year, not to worry. There are still a few more opportunities to celebrate:
Help welcome in the Year of the Tiger with the ancient Chinese lion dance as it spreads good wishes to the family of Pearlridge Center customers, merchants and employees.
Big Island:
Celebrate with a small town parade through Honoka‘a.
Life can be expensive, but don't lose track of all the cheap and free things there are to do around Honolulu. We rounded up a few of them here:
Cry Baby Matinee is at the Kahala Theatres (Kahala Mall) for parents with little ones; no need to worry if your kids fuss, and there is even stroller valet parking in the lobby. (I love that.) Kids under 5 are free.
The 2010 Chinese New Year Festival in Honolulu spans two weekends: Friday and Saturday, January 22 & 23 and January 29 & 30. All that fun? It’s free. Presented by the United Chinese Coalition at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza from 10 am – 10 pm the event features plenty of great food vendors with a variety of Chinese and other Asian cuisine favorites, as well as exhibits and entertainment. You’ll find feng shui presentations, arts and crafts vendors, martial arts demonstrations, Chinese fortune readings, and Chinese dancing and singing.
Plus, here’s a bonus. Through the end of February, 2010 you can get a 10% discount on dining at many Chinatown restaurants and businesses. Simply wear your Year of the Tiger Ribbon or bring in your “Month-in- Chinatown” booklet. Here’s a list of participating restaurants:
Chin’s Kahala
4230 Waialae Ave., 737-7188
Duck Yun
Aina Haina Shopping Center, 373-1303
Eastern Food Center
118 N. King St., 536-4121 (restaurant menu only)
Empress Restaurant
Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 521-5055
Fook Lam Seafood Restaurant
Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 523-9168
Golden Palace Seafood Restaurant
111 N. King St., 521-8268
(Mon.-Fri. only)
Good Luck Chinese Restaurant
Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 524-9988
Harbor Village Cuisine
Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, 395-2311
Kit n Kitchen
1010 University Ave., Varsity Center, 942-7622
Lung Fung Chinese Restaurant
Niu Valley Shopping Center, 377-5555
As part of its New Year’s traditions, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i rings in 2010 with its New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival on Sunday, January 10, 2010 from 10 am to 4 pm. This fun-filled event will feature food, crafts, entertainment and cultural demonstrations from the people who make up this island state. Keiki can enjoy games and make-and-take activities throughout the day. Celebrate the Year of the Tiger in 2010 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i & Mo’ili’ili Field.
That'll keep you occupied on Sunday, but what about the rest of the weekend? Well, just look. There are tons of things to do this weekend: music, trapeze...roller derby.
Kris Bordessa is a features writer and author of several books for kids and teachers. Leslie Lang is a copywriter and author of "Exploring Historic Hilo" and "Mauna Kea." Together they write the blogs www.HonoluluOnTheCheap.com and www.BigIslandOnTheCheap.com, with intel about Hawai'i's free, cheap or discounted entertainment, food deals, cultural happenings, keiki activities, travel and more.
