Hop over to Kea‘au for a day filled with fun for the entire ‘ohana

When organizers call it the “largest, free egg hunt in the state,” they aren’t hopping around the subject.

The fourth annual Kea‘au Family Fun Day has more than 37,000 Easter eggs full of treats and goodies ready for keiki to find starting at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, March 29, at Kea‘au Shipman Park.

Even adults get to have some egg-finding fun — in foam.

An inclusive hunt — for all keiki of any ability — and kids up to 4 years old kick off the egg hunting, with parents allowed to be on the field. Fun shifts to kids ages 5 to 9 years old at 11:30 a.m. followed by the 10- to 17-year-olds at 11:45 a.m.

Adults 18 years old and older get to have their foamy finding fun at 12:30 p.m.

“Another year, another huge thank you to Tim Sumera at Matheson of Hilo for donating helium so we can make the inclusive egg hunt a little more special,” organizers posted on the Kea‘au Family Fun Day Facebook page. “Besides bringing more color, the balloons tied to the eggs can help those keiki that can’t bend over to pick up the eggs, instead they grab the string or the balloon.”

Bags to hold all of their colorful finds will be provided for keiki.

Organizers also ask that those who participate in the egg hunts return the empty plastic eggs before leaving the event. There is an egg return tent where they can be dropped off.

“Every egg returned helps us save resources — and keep the tradition alive!” organizers said in another Facebook post.

The day doesn’t end with the egg hunts either; there’s a ton of fun to be had until 3 p.m. during this year’s event.

It comes in the form of bounce houses and eight waterslides for the keiki, face painting, pictures with the Easter Bunny, lots of food and craft vendors, live music and more.

And it’s all free to attend.

“Bring the whole ‘ohana out for a day full of fun,” says the Food Trucks Big Island Instagram page. “Come out, support the community and make some sweet ‘ohana memories.”

Parking is available at the park, but the parking lot fills up fast — even before the event starts at 10 a.m. So there is a shuttle running from Shipman Gym/Kea‘au Middle School to the park.

Puna Hongwanji also is allowing use of its parking lot across the street from the event.

“Parking anywhere else between the Hongwanji, the gym and the park you’ll be on your own,” event organizers said in another Facebook post. “That’s the only places we have permission to park.”

The shuttle service is provided by Hawai‘i County, courtesy of Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council Executive Director Chad Hasegawa.

Nearly 30 vendors are making the day that much more unforgettable:

• Hui Come Eat.
• Sweet Treatz.
• Blade’s Local Delights.
• Tiny Toes.
• Yarn Tails.
• Pork Hash Mama.
• Triple 7.
• Ipulicious.
• Chunky’s Smokemeat.
• Fat Boy Noms.
• Mirua’s Party Things.
• Forever Lei.
• Your Next Fix.
• Tropical Dream Ice Cream.
• Itsuko’s.
• Goody Pops.
• Kealawai.
• Kow Kow Kitchen.
• Kravin Munchies.
• Double Zero Pizza.
• Sweets by Leo.
• Juicy Girl.
• Sweet Mama Co.
• Big Island Print Lab.
• TLC 21 Creations.
• Triple S.
• Gigi Lu’s Fried Ice Cream.
• Simply Homesteady Kitchen.

“Wonderful event!!” exclaimed Nanci Munroe in a comment on a Kea‘au Family Fun Day Facebook post. “Blessings to all who work so hard to make this happen!!”

Kealani Ganser agreed in a comment on the same post: “You guys are the best.”

So don’t wait. Hop in the car and head to Kea‘au Shipman Park, located at 16-510 Old Volcano Road, to an event for the community, by the community, overflowing with fun for the entire family.

Call 808-989-7758 for additional information or any questions.