Ship's 1820 visit to Kona marked

The Mission Houses Museum (MHM) and Hawaiian Mission Children's Society are hosting a series of events today to commemorate the arrival of the brig Thaddeus in Kona.

The Thaddeus landed in Kona 190 years ago, on April 4, 1820, with the first company of American Protestant missionaries.

Celebration activities will include casual get-togethers with MHM's new director, Tom Woos, as well as a field trip to Pearl Harbor, library orientation sessions, a lecture by historic architect Spencer Leineweber, a Rain Gutter Regatta and photos with historic costumes.

Admission is free. More information is available at www.missionhouses.org.

YMCA event gets kids to move it

The YMCA of Honolulu is hosting YMCA Healthy Kids Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Bishop Museum as part of a nationwide effort to get kids moving.

Activities for the day include an obstacle course, native Hawaiian games, healthy cooking demonstrations and a farmers market presented by the Kapiolani Community College Culinary Institute of the Pacific, in addition to entertainment showcasing groups performing hip-hop, hula, jazz, zumba, break dancing and martial arts.

Hanohano award winner Natalie Ai Kamauu will provide lunchtime entertainment. There will also be CPR training, health screenings, exercise demos, nutrition information, carseat safety, keiki IDs and more information provided by more than 30 nonprofit and government organizations.

The event, which is free and open to the public, also encourages families to bring canned goods for the Hawaii Foodbank.