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Updated on: Thursday, April 5, 2001
For Parents
The scramble is underway for parents having to cope with the public school teachers strike.
Whether your need is child care for the younger ones or things to do for teenagers, this list can get you started in dealing with the classroom walkout.
If you have a resource to share, please e-mail us at online@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Child-care options
Most offer care all day (often beginning at 7 a.m.). Typical cost is about $20 per day. YMCAs and Boys and Girls clubs may require a fee for annual membership (about $10). Boys and Girls clubs are on school campuses; schedules are subject to change, depending on picketing.
Statewide
• PATCH (People Attentive To Children) is the child care resource and referral agency. Phone 839-1988.
• Ask Aloha United Way, formerly Ask 2000, is offering referral services to assist parents in finding child care. Ask Aloha United Way will also help striking teachers with referrals to rent, financial assistance and other services. O'ahu residents may call Ask Aloha United Way at 275-2000. Neighbor Island residents may call toll-free 1-877-275-6569.
O'ahu
• Kama'aina Kids is offering "strike care" for up to 2,000 children kindergarten through the sixth grade beginning tomorrow. Child care would be from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (no meals provided) and would cost $20 per day. "Strike care" will be offered at more than a dozen locations across O'ahu. For more information, call the Kama'aina Kids main office at 262-4538.
• Boys and Girls Club of Honolulu offers programs for children. Phone 949-4743.
Care for kindergarten through 6th grade:
• Windward YMCA: 261-0808
• Mililani YMCA: 625-1040
• Wahiawa YMCA: contact Kilani at 621-6100
• Leeward YMCA: 671-6495
• YWCA of O'ahu: 538-7061, ext. 246.
• Wesley United Methodist Church Child Care Center, contact Billy Henson: 732-3273
• Moili'ili Community Center: 955-1555
Care for kindergarten through 5th grade:
• Mililani Hongwangi: 625-0925
Care for kindergarten through 3rd grade:
• Playmate Kindergarten Day Care Care Center and Grade School, contact Mrs. Ko: 536-6442
Care for children ages 2-7:
• Salvation Army, contact Nishat Kaze: 521-6551
Care for children and teens ages 7-17:
• Boys and Girls Club of Honolulu, contact John Fujioka: 949-4203 (locations: Washington Middle School, 'Ewa Beach at Ilima Middle School, Wai'anae Clubhouse at Wai'anae Elementary School, Nanakuli Clubhouse at Nanakuli Intermediate)
Care for children with special needs
• Easter Seals of Hawai'i, contact Joruel Seatriz: 536-1015
Kona
• PATCH: 329-7101
• Kona YMCA: 329-9622
• Waimea YMCA: 885-7420
• Solid Rock Ministries: 327-6543
Hilo
• PATCH: 961-3169
• Kama'aina Kids is offering "strike care" at the Hawaii Naniloa resort on the Big Island. For more information, call the Kama'aina Kids main office at 262-4538.
• Waiakea Settlement YMCA: 935-3721
• YWCA: 935-7141
• Boys and Girls Club of Hawai'i, Hilo Clubhouse: 961-5536
• Hale Aloha: 959-4949
Kaua'i
• PATCH: 246-0622
• Boys and Girls Club of Hawai'i, Kapa'a: 821-4406
• Boys and Girls Club of Hawai'i, Waimea: 338-1418
• Kaua'i Children's Discovery Museum, Kapa'a: 823-8222
Maui
• PATCH: 242-9232.
• Maui Family YMCA Drop-In Day Camp. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the YMCA on Kanaloa Avenue in Kahului. Cost is $10 per child daily for YMCA members; $20 per child for nonmembers. Scholarship assistance available. Call 242-9007. Limited to 60 children.
• YCS Corp. Supervision for grades K-6 available from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays at the agency’s preschool on the grounds of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Wailuku. Cost is $20 per child daily. Preregistration isn’t required. Call 985-0550, Ext. 0. Limited to 50 students.
• Art School at Kapalua. New Spring Keiki Camp hours will begin Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school, 800 Office Road. Cost is $35 per day or $150 for a full week. The school will accept as many as 15 children ages 5 to 10. The school might accept more children, depending on supervision help. Call 665-0007.
• Hui Malama Learning Center. Supervised study sessions for grades 5 to 12 will be provided for free from 1 to 5 p.m. at the agency’s main facility, 375 Mahalani St., Wailuku. Space is limited. Call ahead for arrangements, at 244-5911. Executive Director Sam Millington said sessions are for “serious students” who want some quiet study time during the strike.
• Maui County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. At least one facility in each district is planned to be staffed in the event of a strike. Organized games and activities may be offered depending on the interests of the participants. Locations and hours are as follows: War Memorial soccer field, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Eddie Tam Gym, Makawao, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Hana Ball Park, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (run by volunteers only); Kihei Community Center, swimming pool and Kalama Park, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Lahaina Recreation Center and Boys and Girls Club, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Lahaina Civic Center gym, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Contact: 270-7383.
Lana'i/Moloka'i
• PATCH: 242-9232
• County of Maui, Lanai Gym and Lanai Parks Cottage, 9 a.m.-5 p.m
• County of Maui, Mitchell Pauole Center, Kaunakakai Gym, 8 a.m.-2 p.m
Other options
• Check with your employer to see if arrangements have been made to assist workers with child care.
• Trade off with friends or relatives: watch your kids and theirs for several days and they do the same on other days.
Things to do for older kids
• The Advertiser 'Ohana section publishes a list of events and classes suitable for children every Sunday. You can also find the Family Ties calendar at tgif.honoluluadvertiser.com.
• The Bishop Museum (847-3511) , Hawai'i Nature Center (955-0100), Waikiki Aquarium (923-9741), Honolulu Zoo (971-7171), Waimea Valley Adventure Park (638-8511), Sea Life Park (259-7933) and Children's Discovery Center (522-8910) feature exhibits and classes for children. Call the venue for details.
• For older children, take in the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park (945-3928), Arizona Memorial (422-05610), USS Missouri (423-2263), Honolulu Academy of Arts (532-8701) or miniature golf courses (such as Bayview Golf Links, 247-0451, or Jungle River Mini Golf, 488-8808).
• Spend time in the libraries or book stores. While there, check for schedules of children reading hours and programs.
• Head for the parks. Ride down the hills on cardboard at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, climb the jungle gym at Stadium Park, take your bike to the Pearl City District Park. For information on state parks, visit www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dsp/dsp.html. Information on city parks can be found at www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks.
• There's always the beach. Check The Advertiser's feature on favorite beaches at http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/tgif/article.php?section=visitors&id=beaches.
• Hike up Diamond Head, though be sure to check the times the trail is open beforehand. For information on hiking trails, visit the state Department of Land and Natural Resources site at http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/IdxCampHike.htm.
Tips for parents
The Hawaii State Parent, Teacher, Student Association has produced a brochure providing tips to parents about how to cope with a strike.
• Communicate with your child. Tell your children that the strike is not their fault. Adults sometimes disagree and they can feel strongly about certain issues, but no child caused the strike.
• No matter how old your children are, encourage them to read. Whether you read to them, ask them to read to you, or ask that they read to themselves, reading is one of their most important life skills.
• Encourage your children to be physically active instead of watching TV or playing video games. Make sure that they have healthy food to eat.
For more information, or for a brochure, call the Hawaii State PTSA at 834-7872 or e-mail: hi_office@pta.org.
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