Best of HONOLULU Family 2021
From butterfly kits to a fun place for little speedsters, here are more than 70 winners selected by our editors and readers.
HONOLULU Family 2021 Cover Kid Nainoa. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Best Take Home Butterfly Kits
When Henry Fang bred his first chrysalis in his backyard, he couldn’t sleep. He woke up every hour, hoping to see the butterfly emerge. He missed it. Now, his Paradise Monarchs tries to capture that magic with its kits. Each contains a single chrysalis in a charming clear box, so families can watch the transformation. But the real mission of the former Four Seasons catering manager’s venture is to keep repopulating the monarch butterfly population, which is plummeting across the world. Since he launched while furloughed last fall, he has helped release more than 2,000 butterflies into the wild.
paradisemonarchs.com, @paradisemonarchs
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Best Indoor Racing Track
The past year, we often felt like we were running in circles. Fortunately, Razor Sports has a much more enjoyable option. Its indoor drifting track lets kids as young as 3 race, spin and slide battery-powered carts at speeds of up to 12 mph. Two tracks separate younger and older drivers, sending them past fun murals of local landmarks including Hale‘iwa’s Rainbow Bridge and the Pali Tunnel. Parents can also book the entire track for parties so keiki can collide with their friends.
Ka Makana Ali‘i, Suite 1113, Kapolei, (808) 485-5007, razordrift808.com, @razordrifting808
Photo: Courtesy of My Treehouse Club
Best Art Lessons
Reader Pick
When My Gym in ‘Āina Haina closed last fall, co-director Mina Akamu built something new: a treehouse. Now My Treehouse Club engages smaller keiki in various classes online ranging from preschool prep to fitness to Japanese language. Every session seems to be followed with adorable photos of grinning kids holding their Monet-inspired paintings, donning origami hats or brandishing toy dinosaurs that just emerged from effervescent baking soda eggs. My Treehouse Club also offers babysitters, tutors and even birthday party fun. And in its first year in business, it appears our readers are loving the climb.
mytreehouseclub808.com, @mytreehouseclub
Photo: Courtesy of Pieology
Best Pizza
Reader Pick
One kid won’t touch anything green. The other spreads pesto on everything. Picking a pizza for the whole family often leaves someone (parents usually) unsatisfied. At Pieology, eaters can pick any, or all, of more than 20 toppings for a flat $11.99. Pesto sauce, fresh basil, feta, spicy chicken, banana peppers, spinach and grape tomatoes for you and Spam, meatballs, mozzarella and red sauce for them (with some spinach snuck in).
Multiple locations, pieology.com, @pieology
The Rest of the Best: Reader Picks
Best Afterschool/Enrichment Program
Winner: YMCA
Multiple locations, ymcahonolulu.org, @ymcahonolulu
Finalist: Kama‘āina Kids
Multiple locations, kamaainakids.com, @kamaainakids
Best Amusement Center
Winner: Wet’n’Wild Hawai‘i
400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei, (808) 674-9283, wetnwildhawaii.com, @wetnwildhawaii
Finalist: Dave & Buster’s
1030 Auahi St., (808) 589-2215, daveandbusters.com, @dnbhonolulu
Best Annual Pass Value
Winner: Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 971-7171, honoluluzoo.org, @thehonoluluzoo
Finalist: Wet’n’Wild Hawai‘i
400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei, (808) 674-9283, wetnwildhawaii.com, @wetnwildhawaii
Best Art Lessons
Finalist: Kidzart Windward
93 N. Kainalu Drive, Kailua, (808) 354-5905, kidzart.com, @kidzartwindward
Best Back-to-School Shopping
Winner: Fisher Hawai‘i
Multiple locations, fisherhawaii.biz, @fisherhawaii
Finalist: Target
Multiple locations, target.com, @target
Best Bakery for Keiki Treats
Winner: Liliha Bakery
Multiple locations, lilihabakery.com, @lilihabakery
Finalist: Bits & Bites Café
320 Ku‘ulei Road, Kailua, (808) 778-3352, bbckailua.com
Best Kids Eat Free Deal
Winner: Gyotaku
Multiple locations, gyotakuhawaii.com, @gyotakuhawaii
Finalist: Big City Diner
Multiple locations, bigcitydinerhawaii.com, @bigcitydiner
Best Breakfast Restaurant
Winner: Café Kaila
2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 2, (808) 732-3330, cafe-kaila-hawaii.com, @cafekaila
Finalist: Cinnamon’s
Multiple locations, cinnamons808.com, @cinnamonsilikai and @cinnamonskailua
Best Child Care Referral Service
Winner: PATCH
560 N. Nimitz Highway, Suite 218, (808) 839-1988, patchhawaii.org, @patch_hawaii
Finalist: Care.com
Best Children’s Photographer
Winner: Shannon Sasaki
(808) 224-7974, shannonsasakiphotography.com, @shannon_sasaki
Finalist: Karen DB Photography
(808) 990-5559, karendbphotography.com, @karendbphotography
Best Dance Lessons
Winner: Ballet Hawai‘i
Multiple locations, ballethawaii.org, @ballethawaii
Finalist: 24/7 Dance Force
Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 913-4904, 247dance.org, @247danceforce
Best Face Painter
Winner: Face Painting in Paradise
(808) 778-8570, facepaintinginparadise.com, @facepaintinginparadise
Best Family Vehicle
Winner: Toyota
Multiple locations, toyotahawaii.com, @toyotahi
Finalist: Honda
Multiple locations
Best Family Wireless Phone Plan
Winner: T-Mobile
Multiple locations, t-mobile.com
Finalist: Verizon
Multiple locations, verizon.com
Best Family-Affordable Getaway
Winner: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
2005 Kālia Road, (808) 949-4321, hiltonhawaiianvillage.com, @hiltonhawaiianvillage
Finalist: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
92-1185 Ali‘inui Drive, Kapolei, (866) 443-4763, disneyaulani.com, @disneyaulani
Best Family-Friendly Hotel
Winner: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
92-1185 Ali‘inui Drive, Kapolei, (866) 443-4763, disneyaulani.com, @disneyaulani
Finalist: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort
2005 Kālia Road, (808) 949-4321, hiltonhawaiianvillage.com, @hiltonhawaiianvillage
Best Family-Style Caterer
Winner: Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering
94-903 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, (808) 671-3779, taniokas.com, @taniokas
Finalist: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys
Best Ice Cream Shop
Winner: Via Gelato
1142 12th Ave., (808) 732-2800, viagelatohawaii.com, @viagelatohawaii
Finalist: Black Sheep Cream Co.
Multiple locations, @blacksheepcreamco
Best Item to Sell for a Fundraiser
Winner: Cookie Corner
Multiple locations, cookiecorner.com, @cookiecornerhawaii
Finalist: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys
Best Kid-Friendly Brunch
Winner: Keiki and the Pineapple
909 Kap‘iolani Blvd., (808) 369-7025, keikiandthepineapple.com, @keikiandthepineapple
Finalist: Cinnamon’s
Multiple locations, cinnamons808.com, @cinnamonsilikai and @cinnamonskailua
Best Kid-Friendly Burger
Winner: Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Multiple locations, teddysbb.com, @teddysburgers
Finalist: McDonald’s
Multiple locations, mcdonalds.com, @mcdonalds
Best Local Brand for Kids Clothes
Winner: The Keiki Dept.
thekeikidept.com, @thekeikidept
Finalist: Coco Moon
cocomoonhawaii.com, @coco_moon_hawaii
Best Music Lessons
Winner: Roy Sakuma ‘Ukulele Studios
Multiple locations, roysakuma.net, @roysakumaukulelehawaii
Finalist: Taiko Center of the Pacific
(808) 737-7236, taikoarts.com, @taikocenterofthepacific
Best Pau Hana with Kids
Winner: Dave & Buster’s
1030 Auahi St., (808) 589-2215, daveandbusters.com, @dnbhonolulu
Finalist: Monkeypod Kitchen
94-1048 Olani St., Kapolei, (808) 380-4086, monkeypodkitchen.com, @monkeypodkitchen
Best Pediatric Dentist
Winner: Clyde Uchida, DDS, MS Inc.
Multiple locations, uchidapediatricdentistry.com, @uchidadental
Finalist: Diamond Head Children’s
Dentistry
3150 Monsarrat Ave., (808) 735-5437, diamondheadchildrensdentistry.com
Best Pediatric Doctor
Winner: Dr. Derek Ching
Children’s Doctors, 1029 Kapahulu Ave., Suite 409, (808) 218-7824, childrensdoctorshawaii.com
Finalist: Dr. Ryan Sumida
Children’s Medical Associates, 99-128 ‘Aiea Heights Drive, ‘Aiea, (808) 488-8441
Best Pizza
Finalist: Pizza Hut
Multiple locations, pizzahut.com, @pizzahuthawaii
Best Place for Kids Furniture
Winner: Flexa
885 Queen St., Suite B, (808) 955-4434, flexahawaii.com, @flexahawaii
Finalist: Target
Multiple locations, target.com, @target
Best Place for Potluck Pickups
Winner: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys
Finalist: Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering
94-903 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, (808) 671-3779, taniokas.com, @taniokas
Best Place to Buy a Healthy Snack Your Kids Will Love
Winner: Whole Foods
Multiple locations, wholefoods.com, @wholefoods
Finalist: Jamba Juice
Multiple locations, jambahawaii, @jambahawaii
Best Place to Experience Cultural Activities
Winner: Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Lā‘ie, (800) 367-7060, polynesia.com, @polynesianculturalctr
Finalist: Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., (808) 847-3511, bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum
Best Place to Get a Birthday Cake
Winner: Baskin-Robbins
Multiple locations, baskinrobbins.com, @baskinrobbins
Finalist: Safeway
Multiple locations, safeway.com, @safeway
Best Place to Get Educational Toys
Winner: Thinker Toys
Multiple locations, thinkertoyshawaii.com, @thinkercircle
Finalist: Keiki Kaukau
Best Place to Get Your First Haircut
Winner: Pigtails and Crewcuts
Moanalua Shopping Center, 930 Valkenburgh St., Suite 106, (808) 422-4300, pigtailsandcrewcuts.com, @pigtailshonolulu
Finalist: Supercuts
Multiple locations, supercuts.com, @supercuts
Best Shave Ice
Winner: Waiola Shave Ice
Multiple locations, @waiolashaveice
Finalist: Matsumoto Shave Ice
66-111 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa, (808) 637-4827, matsumotoshaveice.com, @matsumotoshaveice
Best Shopping Center for Families
Winner: Windward Mall
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 235-1143, windwardmall.com, @windwardmall
Finalist: Pearlridge Center
98-1005 Moanalua Road, ‘Aiea, (808) 488-0981, pearlridgeonline.com, @pearlridge
Best Spot for a Parents’ Night Out
Winner: Roy’s
Multiple locations, royyamaguchi.com, @royshawaii
Finalist: Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya
Multiple locations, tanakaramen.com, @tanakaramenhawaii
Best Store for Locally Made Snacks
Winner: Wholesale Unlimited
Multiple locations, wholesaleunlimitedhi.com, @wholesale.unlimited
Finalist: Lin’s Hawaiian Snacks
401 Kamake‘e St., (808) 597-8899, linsmarkethawaii.com, @linshawaiiansnacks
Best Summer Program
Winner: City & County Summer Fun
Multiple locations, honolulu.gov
Finalist: YMCA
Multiple locations, ymcahonolulu.org, @ymcahonolulu
Best Swimming Lessons
Winner: Lē‘ahi Swim School
Multiple locations, leahiswimschool.com, @leahiswimschool
Finalist: YMCA
Multiple locations, ymcahonolulu.org, @ymcahonolulu
Best Teacher Gifts
Winner: Target
Multiple locations, target.com, @target
Finalist: Tiny Hearts
Best Tutoring
Winner: Kumon
Multiple locations, kumon.com
Finalist: Sylvan Learning
Multiple locations, sylvanlearning.com
