Best Local Cacao Farm Tour
Photo: Courtesy of Madre Chocolate
[ Editors' Pick ]
Madre Chocolate
Award-winning Madre Chocolate raises the bar with its farm-to-factory tour. Families start at a local farm to see cacao trees and taste fresh pulp, right out of the pod, then move on to winnowing and grinding the beans and tempering the chocolate into bars. Of course, the tour would not be complete without samples of chocolate drinks, bars and local fruit dipped in chocolate. Class tours are also available.
Tour operates out of the Kailua location, 20A Kainehe St., 377-6440, madrechocolate.com
Best Budget Place to Take a Tumble
[ Editors' Pick ]
Hawaii Academy Fun Nights
There are no frills at this Kalihi gymnasium, just a big warehouse full of equipment, trampolines and other fun ways for kids to get fit. The best bargain is the weekly Fun Nights on Mondays and Fridays. For just $7 an hour, kids 6 years and older are welcome to try out “mini-lessons” while parents step out to grab a bite to eat, run errands or get a workout themselves.
1314 Moonui St., 842-5642, hawaiiacademy.com
The Rest of the Best
[ Readers' Picks ]
Best Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Clyde Uchida
Two locations: Kahala and Pearlridge, uchidapediatricdentistry.com
Best Pediatric Doctor
Dr. Michael Sia
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, 945-9955.
Best Place to Get Your First Haircut
Pigtails and Crewcuts
930 Valkenburgh St., Ste 106, 422-4300, pigtailsandcrewcuts.com
Best Child Photographer
Karen DB Photography
990-5559, karendbphotography.com
Best Babysitter Referral Service
PATCH Hawaii
Six locations statewide, patchhawaii.org
Best Family-Friendly Workplace Bank of Hawaii 38 locations on Oahu, boh.com Best Family Wireless Phone Plan T Mobilet-mobile.com
Best Place for Kids' Mani-Pedis
Rainbow Nails 1148 Koko Head Ave., 735-1751
