Best of HONOLULU Family 2022
The 94 family-friendly picks our editors and readers love.
SEE ALSO: Best of HONOLULU 2022
Best Food and Drinks: Editors’ Favorites, Plus Winners and Finalists By Readers
Best of Fitness and Outdoors: 20 Ways to Get Out and Play
Best Services: 84 Picks By Editors and Readers
Best Shopping on O‘ahu: 21 Winners
Best Celebrations and Getaways: Readers Choose Their Top 6 Places
Photo: Courtesy of Fig & Ginger Honolulu
Best Keiki Snack Box
No stinky cheese here! Leave the brie and blue cheese behind, and let the kids graze on this snack pack that is almost too adorable to eat. Founded by two local female entrepreneurs—and BFFs—Yim Kwok and Jackie Park, Fig & Ginger Honolulu has wowed Honolulu with its grazing boards. Kids love the Keiki Graze & Go Box—it’s like an upscale Lunchable! Packed with string cheese, a mini Babybel cheese, fresh fruit and veggies, gummies and an assortment of crackers, including local favorite nori senbei crackers, it’s everything kids want to eat—which means less whining (and more wine-time for you). And when the pandemic puts a pinch in indoor party plans, the individually packaged boxes built for one are perfect for park or beach celebrations. —LD
McCully Shopping Center, 1960 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Suite 103, fghonolulu.com, @fig.gingerhonolulu
Photo: Courtesy of Teruya’s Andagi & Bento
Best Bento
Reader Pick
Teruya’s Andagi & Bento started in 1987 as a small vendor in the old Shirokiya store at Ala Moana Center, serving andagi and taiko-yaki, drum-shaped pancakes filled with azuki beans, custard or Okinawan sweet potato. Over the years, the family-run business added okazuya-style foods packaged into bentos, popular for quick lunches, picnics and potlucks. When Shirokiya moved to the west wing of Ala Moana Center in 2016, second-generation owner Albert Teruya moved to the shop’s current location on Pensacola Street. While the shop still makes its andagi from a generations-old family recipe, and sweet potato mochi too, its bentos are bestsellers, filled with shrimp tempura, garlic chicken, vegetable croquettes, eggplant, stir-fried long beans and more. “We carefully and with thought piece together items we enjoy ourselves in the bentos,” Teruya says. “One of the best compliments customers say is how the food reminds them of Grandma’s cooking.”—CTF
1104 Pensacola St., (808) 389-1714, teruyasandagi.com
Photo: Laura Dornbush
Best Public Library Branch for Kids
Built in 2014 and awarded the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification, the ‘Aiea Public Library has high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, loads of natural light and children’s artwork on display, making the atmosphere fun and cheery. Half of the library’s square footage is dedicated to keiki, with rows and rows of books and four pint-sized tables and chairs for reading and daydreaming. We love that the children’s books are neatly arranged on short shelves, so kids can reach their favorite titles with ease. With seasonal coloring pages always on hand, rotating keiki activities like Book Bingo, monthly family movie nights and plenty of free parking, this is a branch you’ll want to check out—literally. —LD
99-374 Pōhai Place, ‘Aiea, (808) 483-7333, librarieshawaii.org
Photo: Jennifer Carlile Dalgamouni
Play Space/Attraction: Outdoor
Reader Pick
Keiki and Plow, a family-run, 4-acre farm in Hawai‘i Kai, was built with kids in mind: There are two friendly Nubian dwarf goats (Koko and Shaka Socks) you can pet, dozens of chickens you can feed and outdoor play areas with a sand pit, pirate ship and a giant slide. And, for an extra fee, you can fill a basket of herbs, fruits and vegetables (radishes, carrots, beets, peppers, tomatoes) you pick yourself. The farm restarted its open farm days in March 2022—and immediately sold out the first two months. Reservations are required and visitors are capped at 75 people. “Honestly, I was nervous that we had just fallen off the map and people didn’t have Keiki and Plow on their brains anymore,” owner Heather Mohr says. “But it’s been so rewarding to have families back at the farm, to have kids running around and laughing, to see school buses pulling up again. It’s been amazing.” —CTF
587 Pākalā St., keikiandplow.com, @keikiandplow
The Rest of the Best: Reader Picks
Best Afterschool/Enrichment Program
Winner: My Treehouse Club
600 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite #5A, mytreehouseclub808.com, @mytreehouseclub
Finalist: Tutor Doctor Hawai‘i
2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-204A, (808) 439-6777, tutordoctor.com/hawaii, @tutor_doctor_hi
Best Amusement Center
Winner: Kids City
Multiple locations, kidscityhawaii.com, @kidscityhawaii
Finalist: Fun Factory
Multiple locations, funfactorygames.com, @funfactorygames
Best Annual Pass Value
Winner: Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 926-3191, honoluluzoo.org, @thehonoluluzoo
Finalist: Wet ’n’ Wild Hawai‘i
400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei, (808) 674-9283, wetnwildhawaii.com, @wetnwildhawaii
Best Art Lessons
Winner: My Treehouse Club
600 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite #5A, mytreehouseclub808.com, @mytreehouseclub
Finalist: Rainbow Art Studio Hawai‘i
4348 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite #200, (808) 497-4488, rainbowartstudiohawaii.com, @rainbowartstudiohawaii
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: A Cake Life
2320 S. King St., (808) 542-0131, acakelife.com, @acakelife
Best Bento
Finalist: Higoto Japanese Eatery
3221 Wai‘alae Ave., #A4, (808) 892-1199, @higoto_japanese_eatery
Best Breakfast Restaurant
Winner: Café Kaila
2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., (808) 732-3330, cafe-kaila-hawaii.com, @cafekaila
Finalist: Moena Café
7192 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Suite #D-101, (808) 888-7716, moenacafe.com, @moenacafe_hawaii
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: LucieXYZ Photography
(808) 744-7574, luciexyz.com, @luciexyz.photography.hawaii
Finalist: Karen DB Photography
(808) 990-5559, karendbphotography.com, @karendbphotography
Best Dance Lessons
Winner: Page Academy of Dance
3478 Wai‘alae Ave., (808) 222-6642, pageacademyofdance.com
Finalist: Hawai‘i Dance Bomb
hawaiidancebomb.com, @hawaii_dance_bomb
Best Face Painter
Winner: Kyera Dalesandro
Finalist: Storybook Entertainment
(808) 428-9698, storybookentertainmenthawaii.com, @storybookhawaii
Best Family Vehicle
Winner: Toyota
Multiple locations, toyotahawaii.com, @toyotahi
Finalist: Honda
Multiple locations, honda.com, @honda
Best Family Wireless Phone Plan
Winner: Verizon
Multiple locations, verizon.com, @verizon
Finalist: T-Mobile
Multiple locations, t-mobile.com, @tmobile
Best Family-Affordable Getaway
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-Friendly Hotel
Winner: The Kāhala Hotel & Resort
5000 Kāhala Ave., (808) 369-9471, kahalaresort.com, @kahala_resort
Finalist: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
92-1185 Ali‘inui Drive, Kapolei, (866) 443-4763, disneyaulani.com, @disneyaulani
Best Family-Style Caterer
Winner: Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering
94-903 Farrington Highway, Waipahu, (808) 671-3779, taniokas.com, @taniokas
Finalist: Enfuego Grill and Catering
590 Farrington Highway, #534, Kapolei, (808) 674-8805, enfuegogrillhawaii.com, @enfuegogrillhawaii
Best Ice Cream Shop
Winner: Via Gelato
1142 12th Ave., (808) 732-2800, viagelatohawaii.com, @viagelatohawaii
Finalist: Dave’s Ice Cream
Multiple locations, daveshawaiianicecream.com, @davesicecream
Best Item to Sell for a Fundraiser
Winner: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys
Finalist: Cookie Corner
Multiple locations, cookiecorner.com, @cookiecornerhawaii
Best Kid-Friendly Brunch
Winner: Keiki and the Pineapple (closed)
keikiandthepineapple.com, @keikiandthepineapple
Finalist: Koa Pancake House
Multiple locations, koapancakehouse.com, @koapancakehouse
Best Kid-Friendly Burger
Winner: Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Multiple locations, teddysbb.com, @teddysburgers
Finalist: The Counter
4211 Wai‘alae Ave., E-1, (808) 739-5100, thecounter.com, @thecounterhonolulu
Best Kids Eat Free Deal
Winner: Gyotaku
Multiple locations, gyotakuhawaii.com, @gyotakuhawaii
Finalist: Big City Diner
Multiple locations, bigcitydinerhawaii.com, @bigcitydiner
Best Local Brand for Kids Clothes
Winner: Cocomoon
cocomoonhawaii.com, @coco_moon_hawaii
Finalist: Fighting Eel
Multiple locations, fightingeel.com, @fightingeel
Best Mini Golf Course
Winner: Bay View Mini-Putt & Zipline
45-285 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 247-6464, bayviewminiputt.com, @bayviewminiputt
Finalist: Glow Putt Mini Golf
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Space G4, Kāne‘ohe, glowputtminigolf.com, @glowputtminigolf
Best Music Lessons
Winner: Roy Sakuma ‘Ukulele Studios
Multiple locations, roysakuma.net, @roysakumaukulelehawaii
Finalist: Music Together Aloha
Multiple locations, musictogetheraloha.com, @musictogetheraloha
Best Pau Hana with Kids
Winner: Monkeypod Kitchen
92-1048 Olani St., Kapolei, (808) 380-4086, monkeypodkitchen.com, @monkeypodkitchen
Finalist: Liko’s Tap & Table
377 Keāhole St., Suite C2, (808) 394-5456, likoshawaii.com, @likoshawaii
Best Pediatric Dentist
Winner: Clyde Y. Uchida, DDS, MS, Inc.
Multiple locations, uchidapediatricdentistry.com, @uchidadental
Finalist: Diamond Head Children’s Dentistry
3150 Monsarrat Ave., #201, (808) 735-5437, diamondheadchildrensdentistry.com, @diamondheadchildrensdentistry
Best Pediatric Doctor
Winner: Children’s Doctors Hawai‘i
1029 Kapahulu Ave., #409, (808) 218-7824, childrensdoctorshawaii.com, @childrensdoctorshawaii
Finalist: Dr. Lance Taniguchi
98-1247 Ka‘ahumanu St., Suite 301, ‘Aiea, (808) 488-1990
Best Pizza
Winner: Boston’s Pizza
Multiple locations
Finalist: La Pizza Rina
1425 S. King St., (808) 941-6634, @lapizzarina
Best Place for Kids Furniture
Winner: Flexa Hawai‘i
885 Queen St., Suite B, (808) 955-4434, flexahawaii.com, @flexashop_hawaii
Finalist: Ross Dress For Less
Multiple locations, rossstores.com, @rossdressforless
Best Place for Potluck Pickups
Winner: Zippy’s
Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys
Finalist: Mana Musubi
1618 S. King St., (808) 358-0287, hawaiimusubi.com, @manamusubihi
Best Place to Buy a Healthy Snack Your Kids Will Love
Winner: Whole Foods Market
Multiple locations, wholefoodsmarket.com, @wholefoods
Finalist: Lanikai Juice
Multiple locations, lanikaijuice.com, @lanikaijuice
Best Place to Experience Cultural Activities
Winner: Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., (808) 847-3511, bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum
Finalist: Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Lā‘ie, (808) 367-7060, polynesia.com, @polynesianculturalctr
Best Place to Get a Birthday Cake
Winner: A Cake Life
2320 S. King St., (808) 542-0131, acakelife.com, @acakelife
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 & Crewcuts
930 Valkenburgh St., (808) 422-4300, pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/location/honolulu, @pigtailshonolulu
Finalist: Satori Salon and Spa
9 A Maluniu Ave., Kailua, (808) 261-5000, satorisalonspa.com, @satorisalonspahi
Best Play Space/Attraction: Indoor
Winner: Kids City
Multiple locations, kidscityhawaii.com, @kidscityhawaii
Finalist: Storybook Station
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 428-9698, storybookstationhawaii.com, @storybookhawaii
Best Play Space/Attraction: Outdoor
Finalist: Honolulu Zoo
151 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 926-3191, honoluluzoo.org, @thehonoluluzoo
Best Shave Ice
Winner: Waiola Shave Ice
Multiple locations, @waiolashaveice
Finalist: Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha
820 W. Hind Drive, #116, houseofpurealoha.com, @uncleclays
Best Shopping Center for Families
Winner: Kāhala Mall
4211 Wai‘alae Ave., (808) 732-7736, kahalamallcenter.com, @kahalamall
Finalist: Windward Mall
46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 235-1143, windwardmall.com, @windwardmall
Best Spot for a Parents’ Night Out
Winner: Kapa Hale
4614 Kīlauea Ave., Suite 102, (808) 888-2060, kapahale.com, @4614kapahale
Finalist: Maile’s Thai Bistro
Multiple locations, mailesthaibistro.com, @mailesthaibistro
Best Store for Locally Made Snacks
Winner: Wholesale Unlimited
Multiple locations, wholesaleunlimitedhi.com, @wholesaleunlimitedhi
Finalist: Lin’s Hawaiian Snacks
401 Kamake‘e St. (808) 597-8899, linsmarkethawaii.com, @linshawaiiansnacks
Best Summer Program
Winner: City & County of Honolulu Summer Fun
Multiple locations, honolulu.gov/parks/program/summer-fun-program.html
Finalist: Hawai‘i Nature Center
2131 Makiki Heights Drive, (808) 955-0100, hawaiinaturecenter.org, @hawaiinaturecenter
Best Swimming Lessons
Winner: Lē‘ahi Swim School
715 Ho‘omoana St., Pearl City, (808) 234-7946, leahiswimschool.com, @leahiswimschool
Finalist: The O‘ahu Club
6800 Hawai‘i Kai Drive, (808) 395-3300, theoahuclub.com, @theoahuclub
Best Teacher Gifts
Winner: Target
Multiple locations, target.com, @target
Finalist: Red Pineapple
1135 12th Ave., (808) 593-2733, redpineapple.net, @redpineapple
Best Tutoring
Winner: Tutor Doctor Hawai‘i
2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-204A, (808) 439-6777, tutordoctor.com/hawaii, @tutor_doctor_hi
Finalist: My Treehouse Club
600 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite # 5A, mytreehouseclub808.com, @mytreehouseclub
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