‘Dinosaur’ begins science-plays series

Flying pterodactyls and a grouchy triceratops star in a dinosaur romp that kicks off Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s 2010-11 season, which has been dubbed the "Season of Science."

"The Dinosaur Play" by Steve and Kathy Hotchner will be presented at 4:30 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 25 at Tenney Theatre on the grounds of The Cathedral Church of St. Andrew. A performance featuring American Sign Language is slated for 4:30 p.m. Sept. 11.

HYT’s design team has created elaborate, kid-friendly puppets and costumes to represent a variety of dinosaurs on stage. Volunteers from the audience will be asked to help unlock the secret of a gigantic dinosaur egg, feed an apatosaurus (no worries, it’s an herbivore) and use their mammalian smarts to help outwit a hungry T-rex (definitely not an herbivore).

The cast includes Junior Tesoro, Moses Goods, Nina Buck and Danielle Zalopany.

Tickets are $16 for adults, and $8 for those ages 18 and under and seniors over 60. For information, call 839-9885 or order tickets online at www.htyweb.org.

Sports league focuses on fun for the kids

Want your kids to enjoy sports without getting too competitive? Then sign them up for an i9 Sports league. Sign-ups for flag football, soccer, basketball and cheerleading are now open for East Honolulu, Honolulu and Windward youngsters.

I9 Sports, a Florida-based company with a local franchise, aims at promoting "sportsmanship, values and having fun," said Roger Dequina, who works with the local program. "We don’t keep score for some of the soccer or basketball."

The "9" in i9 stands for the organization’s principles: imagination, innovation, interactiveness, integrity, impassion, inspirational, instructional, insightful and inclusive.

Participants get a uniform, a medal and an award for completing the season. There are no tryouts and all skill levels are welcome. The organization does background checks and certification of coaches.

Boys and girls age 3-14 can sign up at i9sports.com. Costs range from $90 for soccer to $140 for cheerleading. Early registrants get a discount.

Tomorrow, flag football teams sponsored by i9 Sports will be playing at Aloha Stadium all day. "It’s an opportunity for them to play on stadium turf," Dequina said.

Tasty festival in Liliha

The seventh annual I Love Liliha Festival takes over the intersection of Liliha and Kuakini streets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow. The free event features live music, a farmers market, food booths, keiki games, bouncers, a climbing wall, storytelling and a lion dance. Parking is available at Pizza Hut and Lanakila Elementary School. For information, log on to www.iloveliliha.org.

Workshop teaches how to make gourd whistle

Families are invited to a workshop on how to make the Hawaiian gourd whistle, or ipu hoki’oki’o. Sponsored by the Malama Learning Center, the workshop will teach participants how to make the small, traditional instrument and how to play it.

The instructor will be Mahi LaPierre, who is also the site coordinator for the nonprofit Papahana Kuaola.

The workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 4 at Kapolei High School, 91-5007 Kapolei Parkway. Cost is $10 per person or $25 for a family up to three members. Registration is required and space is limited. Call 351-9465 or visit www.malamalearningcenter.org.

Library offers balloon art for kids

Balloon Monsoon twisters will create cartoon characters and animals for keiki from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. today at Kapolei Public Library. The free event is part of the library’s sixth-anniversary celebration. The library is at 1020 Manawai St. Call 693-7050.