FAMILY FARE
Just for fun
By Kawehi Haug
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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There's a reason it's called summer fun. And even when some of the fun doubles as learning (don't tell the kids!), these family-friendly summer events are pure good times for everyone.
GET OUT
Outdoor activities for the cabin feverish.
THE TORNADO
10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays
Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park
$37.99 general, $27.99 children 3-11; kama'aina group rates available
The newest ride to hit the island's only water park is now open for business. Scared of heights? Stay away. The $1.8 million ride blasts riders from a five-story-high platform through a 130-foot tunnel right into the eye of a man-made storm of wind and whirling water.
STARBUCKS WILDEST SHOW IN TOWN
4:35 p.m. Wednesdays, through Aug. 13; live music at 6 p.m.
Honolulu Zoo
$2 donation
971-7171
The Honolulu Zoo and Starbucks Coffee's annual summer concert series kicked off last month and continues with scheduled performances by Eddie Kamae and The Sons of Hawai'i, Holunape and Jimmy Borges, among others.
Drinks (the frothy, frozen, kid-friendly kind) are courtesy of Starbucks, and there's a weekly 'ukulele giveaway, too.
HAWAII STATE FARM FAIR
9 a.m.-8 p.m. July 26; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 27
Bishop Museum
$5 adults, $3 children 4-12
848-2074
This year's farm fair is a scaled-down version of past events, but the stars of the show will be there. Who needs big fancy rides when there are goats and pigs and ducks and cows? And if the keiki are still jonesing for a thrill, there will be a few kid-sized rides.
2008 HONOLULU FAMILY FESTIVAL
5-10 p.m. Aug. 7 and 14; 5 p.m.-midnight Aug. 8 and 15; 10 a.m.-midnight Aug. 9 and 16; 10 a.m.10 p.m. Aug. 10 and 17
Magic Island
924-1907
www.honolulufamilyfestival.com
If you missed the 50th State Fair, this is your chance to get your fix of cotton candy and thrill rides.
E.K. Fernandez partners with the City and County of Honolulu to host the third annual fest that's like an urban carnival. And everyone knows those are the best kind.
STARGAZING AT THE ZOO
6:30 p.m. Aug. 8
Honolulu Zoo
$12 adults, $8 children 4 to 12
971-7195
The University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy hosts the final installment of its summer stargazing events at the zoo.
Telescopes and wildlife provided.
FUN ON THE BRAIN
Learning can be fun, too — just don't tell the keiki it's good for them.
COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN
10 a.m-3 p.m. July 19
Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
$5 for children entering kindergarten, $6.75 for other children, $8 adults
524-KIDS (524-5437)
Get the keiki ready for their first day of school with a day of fun prep activities for kids and parents. Experts on school readiness will be there to answer questions and ease anxieties.
KIDS' NIGHT OUT
5-8:30 p.m. Aug. 15
Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
$22 for the first child, $16 each additional child
524-KIDS (524-5437)
The Children's Discovery Center throws its first nighttime party with games, pizza, homemade ice cream and free access to the center's exhibits for kids only. Parents drop them off and enjoy their own night out.
WHALES: WONDERS OF THE OCEAN
9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 21
$15.95 general, $12.95 kids 4-12; kama'aina/military, $8.95, $7.95; free for keiki 3 and younger; other discounts available
Bishop Museum
847-3511
"Whales: Wonders of the Ocean" is a traveling exhibit that combines hands-on activities with visual wonders (robotic whales!) to teach kids all about the ocean giants.
FOR CULTURE'S SAKE
Art, dance and other right-brained stuff.
BRICK ART
10 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays; through July 20
Interactive play area is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Free
Pearlridge Center
Bet you've never seen Legos like this before.
Lego artist Nathan Sawaya builds Lego sculptures that will blow your mind. His current exhibit features sculptures of a dog, a spider, a replica of the Parthenon and person swimming through water, Lego water included.
Marvel at the Lego art and then stay and play for a while.
Bonus: The Lego Enthusiasts Association of Hawaii will display its new and vintage (some date back to 1958) Lego creations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Among the creations: Star Wars, Transfomers, castles and the Hawai'i Theatre.
ARTSPREE 2008
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Free
The Contemporary Museum
526-1322
The Contemporary Museum holds its annual fest tomorrow with a full day of art activities and demonstrations, as well as performances by dancers, acrobats, jugglers, synchronized swimmers and singers. It's a veritable carnival of fun.
IN THE SPACE PROVIDED
11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 20
Free
The Honolulu Academy of Arts
532-8700
The Honolulu Academy of Arts continues its free monthly family Sunday events sponsored by Bank of Hawaii. On the schedule for this one: an art tour geared toward the young 'uns, a scavenger hunt and an outdoor chess game with life-size pieces.
The ongoing series continues every third Sunday of the month, each with its own theme.
See a full schedule on the Web site.
SCREEN TIME
Beat the summer heat and catch a movie.
DIVE 'N' MOVIES
7:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 29
$23 adults, $17 children
What better formula for summer fun than an amusement park and a movie?
Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is hosting movie night every Friday night, along with the option of splashing around the park. Tonight, catch "The Golden Compass" at 7:30 on the park's 49-by-32-foot screen. Go early and catch a few watery thrills.
Next up: "How She Move," July 18.
See a full schedule on the Web site.
HAYAO MIYAZAKI FESTIVAL
Saturday-July 18
$7 adults, $3 children under 12
Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts
532-8700
Turn the kids on to the classic animation of Japan's superstar artist Hayao Miyazaki:
Two girls move to the country to be close to their ailing mother and discover magic in a nearby forest.
1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
The whimsical tale of Italian bounty hunter Marco Pagot, who, despite having the head of a pig, wins the heart of a girl way out of his league, thanks to his own big heart and irresistible charm.
7:30 p.m. Monday; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
An abandoned theme park is the gateway to a world of magical spirits for young Chihiro, whose heroic efforts save the day. The film won an Academy Award in 2003 for best animated feature.
1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday
A witch turns 18-year-old Sophie into an 80-year-old woman. Sophie seeks help from a wizard who lives in a moving castle before realizing that her transformation might be more good than bad.
1 and 7:30 p.m. July 18
KIDS FIRST! FILM FESTIVAL
3 p.m. Sunday and July 20
Free
University of Hawai'i-Manoa, Art Auditorium
956-9883
The second annual Kids First! Film festival continues with its final two screenings of the summer:
A girl tries to find her way after her mother's death with the help of family, friends, a horse, and a dog named Atticus.
Recommended for ages 8 and older.
This showcase includes five short films about everything from a boy who collects words instead of coins or stamps, to a mouse who can do anything as long as it's on his list, to a boy who builds himself a grandpa, to a traditional Yoruba tale about a brave young boy who saves his village from famine, to the rascally Madeline and her Big Apple adventures.
Recommended for ages 5 to 9.
ON THE BIG SCREEN
Check local listing for showtimes.
Summer blockbusters are making a comeback, and that includes plenty of fun fare for the younger set.
Abigail Breslin plays Kit, an ambitious girl growing up during the Great Depression. She has dreams of having her work published in a newspaper and with her friends Sterling and Ruthie, she goes about making them come true.
The charming tale of a lovable robot who chases his dreams across the galaxy — and ends up finding his destiny. Rated G.
Pudgy Po is a clumsy panda who has big dreams of becoming a kung-fu master. He gets his chance, and it's an underdog victory all the way. Rated PG.
An animated comedy adventure about two NASA chimps that are sent into space on a fantastical journey to save a planet from its evil leader. Rated G.
The sequel to the tween coming-of-age tale about finding love and acceptance. This time, the four girls embark on their growing-up adventures in college. Rated PG-13.
Read her blog, "Scene It," at http://sceneit.honadvblogs.com.
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 Nathan Sawaya's "Brick Art," creations made of Lego bricks, continues at Pearlridge Center.
The Tornado is the newest ride at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park.
Abigail Breslin stars in "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl," one of several kid-friendly flicks.
The star of the acclaimed "WALL-E."
ArtSpree, Saturday at The Contemporary Museum, is a full day of arts activities and performances.
The anime film "My Neighbor Totoro" screens Saturday and Sunday at the Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts.
"Kung Fu Panda" continues on theater screens.
The traveling, interactive exhibit "Whales: Wonders of the Ocean" continues at the Bishop Museum through Sept. 21.
The Honolulu Family Festival, presented by the city and E.K. Fernandez, returns for two weekends at Magic Island in August.
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Reach Kawehi Haug at khaug@honoluluadvertiser.com.
