Krazy for Kendama

Kendamas are EVERYWHERE.

If you don’t know what a kendama is, you probably don’t have a school-age kid. Or you haven’t been paying attention at the malls, parks or any other public area in the past few months, because this simple but challenging traditional Japanese game has become the most popular children’s toy in Hawaii not requiring an electrical outlet or battery.

Like yo-yos, marbles and pogs, kendamas are not a new invention — they’ve been around for more than 200 years — but they’re back in the spotlight.

The wooden, cross-shaped toy consists of a long main body (ken) with a ball (tama) attached by a string. The body is pointed at the end, with a corresponding hole in the ball, and has two cups on its sides with which to catch the ball.

The object is simple: Get the ball to rest on one of the three ends. But because of its unique shape, and the inventive minds of players, there are endless possibilities when it comes to tricks.

"It can’t be mastered. You continuously improve," said Brad Ishii, whose store Little People Hawaii is partnering with Faith Marketing Group to host a "Battle of the Kendamas" competition Dec. 14 at Windward Mall.

A quick perusal of YouTube turns up tons of videos of young adults and children, including some from Hawaii, showing off amazing stunts. Some of the most visually impressive tricks involve intricate string routines reminiscent of yo-yos.

You can see some of those tricks in person at "Battle of the Kendamas," which will be a single-elimination tournament with a head-to-head format. Similar to the basketball game H.O.R.S.E., the competition will feature players trying to mimic the tricks of their competitor. For each failed attempt the competitor will receive a letter, with elimination after the fourth letter — to spell D.A.M.A.

The competition will be separated into age groups and capped at 100 participants. The entry fee is $7, and if any spots are available, an onsite sign-up will be held before the start of the competition.

About $1,000 in prizes will be awarded, but all proceeds will be donated to Cub Scout Pack 229 from Kaneohe.

While Ishii had looked into donating to a public school, he was turned down because some schools have started banning kendamas.

"It’s a great toy for the kids (that) really helps with hand-eye coordination," he said.

Kendamas also help children to communicate and connect with one another as opposed to playing electronic games on their phones or tablets, Ishii said.

Stephanie Nakasone

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Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo!

Whether keiki are interested in a ride with a grown-up or all on their own, this holiday season offers an array of train-riding thrills.

The City and County of Honolulu will once again offer its holiday-lit express train for keiki and grown-ups during the evenings from Tuesday to Dec. 29 as part of its annual Honolulu City Lights festivities. The train takes passengers on a five-minute ride past the lighted monkeypod trees and displays, with a few swirls in between.

At Windward Mall the Cubby Caboose Mini Express runs year-round, offering a run through the mall’s lower level, but will be decked out for the holidays, with an occasional appearance by Cubby Bear from the North Pole. Get on board near the food court in the lower-level Sears Wing.

Both children and adults can ride the colorful train. Children under the age of 5 must ride with a paid adult.

Keiki who are independent, and less than 48 inches tall, may ride the Pearlridge Express at Pearlridge Center through Dec. 31. The custom-built locomotive leaves from the roundhouse at Uptown Center Court at 10 a.m. daily, and a ride lasts about 10 minutes.

Holiday Train Rides

» Honolulu City Lights train runs from 6 to 10 p.m. from Tuesday to Dec. 29 at Honolulu Hale grounds, 530 S. King St. Cost is $4 per person (no age limit). Visit www1.honolulu.gov/csd/citylights.htm.

» Cubby Caboose Mini Express runs daily at Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, during mall hours. Tickets are $4 per passenger (infants under 6 months free on the lap of a paid rider). Call 800-704-6036 or visit www.windwardmall.com.

» Pearlridge Express at Pearlridge Center, 98-1005 Moanalua Road. Train runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31). Cost is $3 per ticket or $25 for a 10-ride booklet. Call 488-0981 or visit www.pearlridgeonline.com.

Nina Wu, Star-Advertiser

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Play’s message topical despite its context in historic event

The Japanese attack on Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941, pulled the islands headlong into a war many residents were already involved in. Hawaii’s Chinese community was actively supporting China in its four-year struggle against Japanese aggression there. Japanese-language newspapers in the islands were covering the war in China from Japan’s perspective with Domei news agency reports on the heroism of the Japanese soldiers. Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s revival production of playwright Y York’s "Nothing Is the Same," premiered by HTY in 2004, covers the impact of the Japanese attack on the lives of children in Wahiawa in clever and entertaining style.

Mits (Alvin Chan) is proud of being Japanese. He brags about using "da samurai kine" to beat other kids at marbles. Mits’ world is turned upside down by the attack; his culture is now the enemy’s culture, his father is suspected of being a spy, and kids are saying that Mits signaled to the Japanese pilots.

George (Hermen "Junior" Tesoro) is a happy-go-lucky Filipino whose motto is "take the risk" even though risk-taking doesn’t always turn out well for him. Bobi (Maile Holck) is an energetic Korean-American tomboy with an overactive imaginative who wants to hang out with George. Daniel (Kala’i Stern), the hulking neighborhood bully, is Korean and has good reason to hate the Japanese; his father grew up in Japanese-occupied Korea.

Kids quickly identify with George, Bobi and Mits and share their apprehension each time Daniel makes an appearance.

Although the story is about the experiences of kids in wartime Hawaii, much of the action is timeless. George, Bobi and Mits play games, learn how to get along with others, solve small problems, deal as best they can with Daniel and adapt to things that are beyond their control.

The broad comic elements of the story appeal to folks of all ages. There are some funny one-liners and finely played bits of physical comedy.

Bobi’s imaginative ploys for attention, George’s survival skills as a optimistic underdog and Mits’ emotional turmoil are vividly portrayed.

There are also some darker contents. George hides some Japanese heirlooms for Mits’ family but then avoids him as much as possible. Daniel amps up his harassment of Mits now that the Japanese attack has provided a politically correct justification for it.

There are no surprises. Of course, its Mits who risks his life to save Daniel when the bully literally gets in over his head while swimming in Lake Wilson.

"Nothing Is the Same" is about the experiences of children more than 70 years ago, but teaching kids the importance of friendship, sharing and not judging people by their ethnicity is as important now as it was then.

John Berger, Star-Advertiser