A theme park located about an hour's drive from Honolulu, the Polynesian Cultural Center offers children and their families an entire day's worth of games. With seven villages representing various island cultures, kids can play Tongan shuffleboard, learn a Maori stick game called tititorea and compete at konane, an ancient form of checkers that uses stone boards. Pala'ie, a game featuring a coconut handle with a hoop on one end and a cloth ball secured by a string to the other, allows kids to practice their dexterity. Ula maika, a form of Hawaiian bowling, pits kids against parents to take home the win.
Although adolescents might appreciate the museum's exhibits, Hawaii Children's Discovery Center primarily features activities designed for younger kids. The "Tot Spot" offers games for toddlers and "Your Town" lets elementary-school children play grownup for a day. Costumes and props transform them into firefighters, judges, bankers and TV interviewers. In "Hawaiian Rainbows," children can pretend to navigate a ship, fly a plane or harvest pineapples. "Your Rainbow World" introduces kids to a globe-trotting lifestyle, as they enjoy tea in a Japanese home, cast a net in an island fishing boat and travel to the Philippines.
Built by a community of over 7,000 volunteers, Kamalani Playground at Lydgate State Park has been entertaining children and the young at heart since 1994. Kids play hide-and-seek among the rock caves, as well as in an extensive labyrinth that features an elaborate mirror maze. Younger children compete at tic-tac-toe on colorful cement blocks and swing on miniature jungle gyms. Older kids can play Hawaiian lullabies on numbered musical pipes, then race each other down giant volcano slides. Three full-sized soccer fields let kids burn off extra energy, while parents burn off second helpings of chicken luau and pineapple cake.
Kapiolani Park, located in Honolulu, boasts family-friendly activities seven days a week. Kids can play softball, volleyball and rugby, accompanied by ukelele performances. Tennis courts let them practice their swing, while surrounded by huge banyan trees. Older kids can test their skills at the archery range and younger kids can participate in a kite-flying contest. Kapiolani Park also features Honolulu Cricket Club, the only cricket club in the state. Courts can be reserved in advance for day or night games.
