Events celebrate
‘Children and Youth
Month’
Tours of the state Capitol, Iolani Palace, Washington Place and the Hawaii State Art Museum will be offered 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow during HMSA's "Children and Youth Day" from at the Capitol.
The state Legislature in 1994 and 1997 passed laws designating the first Sunday in October as "Children's Day" and October as "Children and Youth Month."
A number of events to celebrate Hawaii's keiki are planned throughout the month by businesses, community organizations and government agencies.
Tomorrow's event will include live entertainment, food booths, a Keiki-n-Kupuna Korner with Na Tutu's Bounce House and Shriners clowns, HMSA's Five A Day Friends and crime-fighting dogs McGruff and Scruff, car seat checkups, inflatable games, contests, storytime and puppet making, face painting, horse carousel rides and bubble blowing.
Keiki car seat checkups sponsored by the Queen's Medical Center and Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition/SAFE KIDS Hawaii will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the state Department of Health rear parking lot. Enter through Miller Street. Child passenger safety technicians will be available to show residents how to safely install and use a child safety seat.
For information, call 547-4826.
Upcoming events include:
>> Monday through Friday: Hawaii Red Sneaker Week. Students from 14 Oahu schools will walk to and from school with red shoes or shoelaces to emphasize the need to make streets safer for kids and reduce the number and speed of cars in neighborhoods. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services and state Department of Health are sponsoring the event as part of "International Walk to School Week." For more information, call 527-6326.
>> Friday: Deadline for nominations for Hawaii's outstanding advocates for children and youth, sponsored by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Recipients will be honored at a luncheon at Washington Place in November. For information or nomination forms, call 586-6050.
>> Oct. 11: Pearlridge's free "Keiki Celebration," 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., features many keiki activities, including arts and crafts, face painting and balloon artists. Call 488-0981 for more information.
>> Oct. 11: Windward Mall's free "Family Festival," 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Ronald McDonald, 24-VII Dance Force, the Honolulu Police Department's Keiki ID program, Keiki Fun Bouncers, balloons, clowns, costume characters and a Keiki Parade. For more information, call 235-1143 or see www.WindwardMallHawaii.com.
>> Oct. 18: Family Health Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, with free health screenings and activities for the whole family. For more information, call 485-4116.
>> Oct. 19: "McGruff's Keiki and Kupuna Day," noon to 2 p.m., Ala Moana Centerstage. Seniors and children will receive free "Kupuna" and "Keiki" identification cards. Live entertainment and informational tables on crime safety and prevention. Sponsors are the state Attorney General's Office, Honolulu police and fire departments, AARP and State Farm Insurance. Call 586-1487 for more information.
>> Oct. 19-25: Teen Read Week. The State Public Library System will present a "Meet the Author" series at 25 libraries across the state. Participating libraries and authors will be announced later. For more information, call 831-6878.
>> Oct. 24-26: "Talk Story Festival," sponsored by the Honolulu Parks Department, 7 to 9:30 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Park. Oct. 24 will feature "Spooky Tales," Oct. 25., "New Voices from New Tellers Young & Old," and Oct. 26 "Tales of Aloha: Peace, Tolerance & Inspiration." Call 692-5751 for more information or e-mail jeffgere@lava.net.
>> Oct. 25: "Leeward Community College Family Fun & Craft Fair," 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free fair features educational activities, arts and crafts booths hosted by local vendors, a "white elephant sale," live entertainment, games for all ages and an expanded new car exhibit. Call 455-0255 for more information.
For a complete listing of events, visit www.kipchawaii. org/children or call 586-8455.
