Hawai‘i Keiki Museum offers ‘science fueled fun’ at no charge all day for entire family

Hawai‘i Keiki Museum, located in Kings’ Shops at Waikōloa Beach Resort, invites the entire Big Island community to “enjoy a truly unique experience” with “science fueled fun for the whole family” at absolutely no charge May 3 at the museum during the Waikōloa Lei Day Festival hosted by Waikōloa Beach Resort.

The fee-free day is made possible by palliative care nonprofit Compassion & Choices.

Hawai‘i Keiki Museum connects children to Hawai‘i Island through hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, art and math — all of which are always a part of daily life — using open-ended play experiences.

Community members have the entire day, during regular hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., to discover, create, play and learn about island science with the museum’s more than a dozen hands-on exhibits, all without having to pay.

But the main event is happening until 4 p.m. during the Lei Day Festival, including:

• Live music and hula.
• Local Vendors.
• A professional-level lei contest sponsored by Waikōloa Beach Resort with a $1,000 cash prize for the winner, who will be announced at 1 p.m. at Center Stage.
• Parker School decorating the Kings’ Shops Observation Tower with 8 artistic installations.
• First Kings’ Shops and Queens’ Marketplace Scavenger Hunt with prizes provided by Hāmākua Creations.

So don’t miss this opportunity to check out everything the keiki museum has to offer and more.

Do the math: (No charge + all day access) x (tons of fun + hands-on learning) = a win-win for the entire family.

Hawai‘i Keiki Museum continues having a good time and learning new things this summer with several upcoming events, activities and workshops, too. Here’s a look at what’s on the schedule:

HAWAI‘I ISLAND CHESS ASSOCIATION SCHOLASTIC CHESS TOURNAMENT

• When: 10 a.m. May 18
• More: $10 entry fee. Register here. Email to sunbreakerps@gmail.com for additional information.

BUILD A GAMEBOY

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2-6
• More: For ages 8 to 15 years old. Learn simple electronics, soldering, components, assembly and programming. Cost is $250. Click here for additional information.

ISLAND EXPLORERS: EARTH, SEA & STARS

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9-13
• More: For ages 7 to 13 years old. Hands-on exploration of the natural environment. Polish and take home a geode, learn about fossils and petroglyphs, paint with water colors and do some salt art in a bottle. It is sure to be a fun-filled week that rocks! Cost is $250. Click here for additional information.

BREAKING WORKSHOP

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 16-20
• More: For ages 8 to 18 years old. A week of hip-hopping breakdancing fun. Cost is $250. Click here for additional information.

MAKE, MUSIC, MOVEMENT AND MORE

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 23-27
• More: For ages 8 to 15 years old. Groove to the beat and understand how math moves the world while exploring sound, movement, rhythm and more. Cost is $250. Click here for additional information.

BUILD YOUR OWN COMPUTER

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 30-July 3
• More: For ages 10 to 18 years old. Learn the essential skills needed to assemble a computer from scratch, from selecting the right components and putting them into a system to first boot-up. Then work on some coding exercises and more. Cost is $500, which includes the new computer, monitor, keyboard and mouse. Click here for additional information.

CODING CAMP

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 7-11
• More: For ages 8 to 15 years old. No experience necessary. All are welcome to this 5-day camp. Learn block coding, Javascript and Python. Cost is $250. Click here for additional information.

ROBOTICS — ROLLING AND FLYING

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 14-18
• More: For ages 8 to 18 years old. Embark on a robotics adventure starting with Spheros, rolling robots that feature the same automatic gyroscopic technology as BB-8 in “Star Wars,” then dive into the basics of programming robots through interactive challenges, merging coding with play. Cost is $250. Click here for additional information.

3-D PRINTING FUN

• When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 21-25
• More: For ages 8 to 15 years old. Learn to use Tinker computer-aided drafting, or CAD, to design and print toys. Cost is $250. Click here for additional information.

Hawai‘i Keiki Museum since its 2022 founding in Kailua-Kona has welcomed more than 40,000 visitors through its doors to learn about Big Island science.

The Waikōloa location at Kings’ Shops, its second, opened in March 2024. It is the only Hawai‘i Keiki Museum location still operating after the first and original Kailua-Kona site closed the next month because of a spike in rent.

The museum was able to sustain its costs at the Waikōloa location alone, but not both, and continuing operation of the Kailua-Kona location at the increased rent was unfeasible.

It hasn’t stopped the nonprofit from following through on its purpose.

Hawai‘i Keiki Museum continues to conduct drop-off workshops for students on days school is not in session, school-out days, hosts community organizations, welcomes class field trips, employs high school students as interns throughout the year and celebrates dozens of vibrant community events, holidays and observations such as Cinco De Mayo, Chinese New Year and “The Nutcracker.”

The Big Island community at large is also always invited to stop in and have some fun anytime during regular museum hours.

Those who want to help support Hawai‘i Keiki Museum and island science literacy can visit the museum’s website to learn how.

“Let’s give keiki the two things they crave the most: opportunity and choice,” Hawai‘i Keiki Museum said in an email announcing its upcoming fee-free day as well as well as summer workshops and events.