Living on Oahu with Keiki
Living on island is such a wonderful opportunity and the chance you get to explore with your children as you take on your new duty assignment makes it even better. There are so many amazing places on Oahu to take enjoy with the kids. Some places do have a fee, some others are completely free… Let’s start with kid friendly beaches. Oahu has phenomenal beaches however not all of them are kid friendly and more so during the winter time when the waves get a bit stronger and bigger. Some of the favorite kid friendly beach spots include: Ko’olina lagoons at the Ko’Olina resort, Pokai Bay, Baby Makapu’u tidepools, JBPHH’s so called “Dog Beach”, Kuhio Beach & Duke’s Lagoon. When we say kid friendly, we describe these beaches as lagoons, tidepools or we know that there is a sea wall stopping major waves. These beaches are calm, little to no waves and parents feel comfortable with their kids splashing in the water on their own if able to swim. Adult supervision is always required but these sure give you peace of mind. One of our favorite places to visit is Moanalua Gardens. Bring a picnic, some bubbles, a ball and enjoy a day out under the monkey pod trees. The estate is full of trees, has a fish pond, is home to ducks and chickens and has structures such as King Kamehameha V’s Summer Cottage which you can get a private tour of. Entrance to the gardens has as small fee but it is a great place to just sit and enjoy the day while the kids play, run around and climb trees. https://www.moanaluagardens.com/about Another inexpensive place to visit which is loved by all coffee drinkers is Green World Coffee Farm. This family owned coffee farm is visited by many tourists daily however it is a great local place to take the kids to play and run around while you enjoy a cup of coffee. The farm has about 3,000 arabica coffee trees which you can walk through, the have a full menu with drinks and bakery items, a retail shop, indoor and outdoor seating, samples for guests and a friendly staff that is always welcoming. https://greenworldcoffeefarm.com/ Like any other place Oahu also has a Zoo, an Aquarium and Sea Life Park. https://www.honoluluzoo.org/ https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/ https://www.sealifeparkhawaii.com/ Sea life park has more of an amusement park feel, their prices are a bit higher and their experiences are different from a regular zoo or aquarium visit. Sea Life park has shows daily, many exhibits and even a luau. If you are looking to support local, Keiki and Plow is a fun experience for the kids. This family owned farm is a great place for kids to go to and understand how the farm to table experience works by checking out their U-pick hours. They kids can pick their own flowers, fruits and vegetables then play in their outdoor area where they have a slide, play kitchen, swing, outside chalk art, sand pit… They also have chickens and goats which you can get close to and pet. Keiki and Plow is loved by so many kids, the experience is great and hands on. https://www.keikiandplow.com/ Another great place to visit is Oahu’s Urban Garden. This place is great for all ages, has plenty of different flowers and plants to see and it is made up of different gardens which were built in an educational way. This is an outside garden, so be prepared with plenty of water, sun hat, bug spray. There is no fee however you must check-in at the front office to get a visitor’s pass. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc/visit.asp If you are looking for indoor play the Children’s Discovery Museum is a great place to take the kids. They have different exhibits and everything is hands on. The museum also offers different weekly events. They offer military discounts with ID. http://discoverycenterhawaii.org/ There are plenty more places to visit around the island with kids. Some places do have age limits on certain attractions like at Kualoa Ranch or CimbWorks zip line which is 7 years old and older. Seasonal events are also a must on Oahu. Every year there are many different events to join with the family. Everything from street fairs, farmers markets, carnivals, pumpkin patches, Christmas lights downtown and more. Do your research before going so you are ready to take on the next adventure with your family! Enjoy!
Military Families: Youth Programs
Extracurricular activities are such an important part of our children’s lives. Many Military families seek programs in the area for kids to socialize, learn new things and take on recreational activities like sports. Keep children active during their day has many benefits and also helps kids with the deployment cycles. Children stay busy and active while being part of youth programs. If you are on Oahu there are plenty of year-round and seasonal activities you can sign your children for. If you are looking to sign up for any Youth Sports activities please visit the link for registration information below: https://jbphh.greatlifehawaii.com/family/youth-sports or visit the Youth Sports Office at Bloch Arena: Bloch Arena, Bldg. 161808-473-0789youthsports161@gmail.comMon - Fri: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. For Gymnastics activities the MWR has contracted Hawaii Academy to facilitate all classes to include, parent and child, preschool, mixed gym, tumbling, Ninja Training and home school courses. Day and evening classes are held Monday through Sunday. Parking can be found in the front of Bloch Arena. You can contact them at: Phone: (808) 422-2223https://www.hawaiiacademy.com/ There are also Aquatics classes on JBPHH however due to Covid their schedule has changed and classes are on hold. Keep in mind that this article is to help you find the information you need, know numbers and locations for the programs however some have been put on hold until restrictions ease up. https://jbphh.greatlifehawaii.com/sports/aquatics/classes Currently the Hickam Pool is open for Families and Singles: Hickam Family Pool: Open to Families and Singles in blocks (see below). NO Lap Swim Wed – Fri: 3 - 5:30 p.m.Sat – Sun: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.Closed Mon – Tue for maintenanceFour families per time slot for an hour of swimming. Five "singles" also allowed during time slots - Weekdays: 3 - 4 p.m., 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. - Weekends: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., 3 - 4 p.m., 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. The facility will be closed for 30 minutes between groups for disinfecting. The Makai Recreation center on Hickam offers youth classes such as ballet and martial arts. https://jbphh.greatlifehawaii.com/rec/makai-recreation-center They also offer music classes such as piano, ukulele and guitar. For class information and availability, please call (808) 449-3354 or (808) 250-1683. 100 McChord Street Bldg 1859 You can check out their classes calendar online for information on days and times available. If your children are interested in Arts & Crafts here is the class calendar for the upcoming classes. https://jbphh.greatlifehawaii.com/rec/arts-crafts- Here you will find different classes from pick and paint studio time, to open crafts and special holiday themed events and craft camps. If you are currently stationed at MCBH they also have their own Youth Programs activities. Dance, Karate, gymnastics… https://mccshawaii.com/youthactivities/ Bldg 5082 Lawrence RoadMon-Fri: 0730-1630Phone: 808-257-7430/7240 If you are currently stationed at Schofield Barracks, they also have their own Youth Programs activities. Arts and Crafts Classes https://hawaii.armymwr.com/programs/schofield-barracks-arts-crafts Aquatics classes and pool times: https://hawaii.armymwr.com/programs/aquatics Army Youth Classes part of the Skies Unlimited Program. https://hawaii.armymwr.com/programs/skies-unlimited Even though some of these classes are on hold for the time being others are open but limited on space and following specific restrictions. Please check each individual link or contact their specific location to learn more and registration and covid related restrictions.
Living on Oahu: Windward Adventures
If you want to escape the city views and take on lush greenery and beautiful mountains then the Windward side of the island is for you. There are plenty of sights and things to do in the area, many which are family friendly. Enjoy the scenic route to Kualoa Regional Park and enjoy the day at the beach and kayak to Mokoli’I Island also know as Chinaman’s hat. This place offers great ocean and mountain views. You can also go for a hike at Crouching Lion. It tends to get muddy so be careful but the view from the top is so worth it. Overlooks Kahana Bay and it is beautiful! You can stop by Kahana Bay Beach Park and enjoy a day at the beach, find a beach swing and have some family fun or pack your things and go camping there. Plan ahead and stop by the 21 Degrees Estate for some events and tour of the Cacao Farm. They are famous for their Cacao and flow yoga with adorable miniature goats. If you want to take on a scenic flat road for a walk or bike ride visit Kawainui Marsh and see the wildlife like migrating birds, ducks, turtles… located in Kailua it is a great way to spend the day. Windward Oahu has many other spots to visit such as Likeke, Lulumahu Falls, Makapu’u Lighthouse trail, Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, Lanikai Beach, Kaneohe Sandbar & so much more. If you are looking for great places to eat or drink local check out our favorites: 1. Wahiahole Poi Factory Try some traditional Kalua pig and Laulau, Lomi Salmon and hand pounded Poi. 48-140 Kamehameha Hwy. Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744 2. Grace in Growlers Craft beer, flatbread and a great atmosphere that is kid and pet friendly. 143 Hekili St #110 Kailua, HI 96734 3. Adela’s Country Eatery Local dishes, known for the sweet potato and avocado noodles. 45-1151 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744 4. Got’z Grindz Local musubi grab n go shop with other dishes available. Try their Japanese Curry, Chicken Kara’age, Noodles and dessert. 45-726 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744 5. Lanikai Brewing Company Enjoy their made to order pizza and craft beer and Hawaiian Wild Ales. 167 Hamakua Dr. Kailua, HI 96734 These are just a couple of our must-see Windward Oahu stops. Try these out, let us know what you think! As always be careful out there, never hike alone, be open to trying new food and here is to making awesome island memories!
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