Best Class for Future Trapeze Artists
Photo: Karen DB Photography
[ Editors’ Pick ]
Kids Classes at Samadhi Hawaii
Spinning, swinging and gliding from silks suspended from the ceiling; you can see why it’s easy to get wrapped up in aerial arts classes. Samadhi Hawaii began kid classes in 2008. Now, as many as 80 keiki, as young as 4 years, are learning how to do tricks and developing skills on silks and the dance trapeze.
330 Cooke St., 683-6080, samadhihawaii.com
Best Place for Swimming Lessons
Photo: Courtesy of Leahi swim school
[ Readers’ Pick ]
Leahi Swim School
Run by the same family for 42 years, Leahi teaches thousands of kids how to be safe in the water every year. The most popular classes are parent-child programs for kids as young as 6 months old. But Leahi’s customized pools are popular with everyone, designed to be just 6 inches deep on the shallow side with ledges for student seating. Plus, the water is always a more-than-balmy 90 degrees.
Two locations: Honolulu and Pearl City, leahiswimschool.com
Best Kids Fitness/Yoga Classes
[ Readers’ Pick ]
YMCA of Honolulu
Nine locations and camp: Ala Moana, Kailua, Kaimuki, Kalihi, Manoa, Mililani, Nuuanu, Waialua, Waipahu, ymcahonolulu.org
Best Place for Art Lessons
photo: COURTESY of honolulu museum of art
[ Readers’ Pick ]
Honolulu Museum of Art
With 77 different classes for kids 3 years and up, the Honolulu Museum of Art has something for every child’s artistic side. Sessions include everything from parent-child classes for preschoolers to advanced art projects for high schoolers taught at the downtown location and the Kroc Center in Ewa. Tip: The Museum’s popular Summer Program Art Camp often sells out in less than half an hour.
1111 Victoria St., 532-8741, honolulumuseum.org
Best Weekend Workshop for Little Scientists
[ Editors’ Pick ]
GENE-ius Program
For two hours every Saturday, first through eighth graders turn into scientists, conducting experiments to learn about everyday science such as molecules, DNA, recycling and seeds. Every workshop is hands-on, interactive and focused on fun. Classes fill up quickly so you might want to sign up for the e-newsletter to get first notice.
University of Hawaii at Manoa, ctahr.hawaii.edu/geneius-day/
Best Summer Program
photo: COURTESY of kamaaina kids
[ Readers’ Pick ]
Kamaaina Kids
Kayaking in Kaneohe Bay, educational dolphin and sting ray encounters, speedy water slides and overnights at Camp Timberline—and those are only a few of the options for kids in Kamaaina Kids’ summer programs. Up to 3,000 school-age keiki enroll by the week or by the month for everything from after-summer-school programs to Junior Lifeguard and Surf Camp sessions.
262-4538, kamaainakids.com
Best Tutoring
photo: COURTESY OF Sylvan learning
[ Readers’ Pick ]
Sylvan Learning
Although Sylvan has been helping Hawaii students for 30 years, the program keeps things fresh with the latest technology. Sylvan recently added Robotics and Coding, or game design courses, for kids as young as second grade. The learning never stops. Students can access lessons 24/7 through iPads or Sylvan’s website and parents can constantly keep track of their kids’ progress through MySylvan.
Two locations: Kāhala and Mililani, sylvanlearning.com
The Rest of the Best
[ Readers’ Picks ]
Best Afterschool/Enrichment Program
Little Ambassadors
Five locations: Aina Haina, Kakaako, Kaimuki, Manoa, Waipio, 256-4861, littleambassadors.com
Best Place for Music Lessons
Ohana Music Together
Four locations: Aiea, Kailua, Kaimuki, Kapolei, ohanamt.com
Best Place to Learn Dance
Ballet Hawaii
777 S. Hotel St., #101, 521-8600, ballethawaii.org
